MEET YOUR MOOSE – TAYLOR FORD
The Mooseheads have a number of new faces on the back-end this season, and Taylor Ford is one player that fans have been anxiously awaiting their chance to get a glimpse of ever since he was selected by Halifax in the 2nd round of the 2013 QMJHL Draft.
The 17-year-old defenseman is one of five rookie blueliners on the hockey club and has seen a healthy amount of ice-time already thanks in part to some injuries to his fellow d-men.
Ford grew up in LaSalle, a borough in the southwest portion of Montreal, where hockey took over his life at an early age.
“I played soccer, football and baseball but that was only until about the age of five and that’s when I decided to stick with hockey.”
The young defenseman is the product of the Lac St-Louis Lions Midget AAA program and says he has one key fan rooting for him back home in Quebec.
“I have a little brother Chase, he’s 10-years-old and I guess he’s been bragging to all of his classmates about having a brother in the Quebec League, so it’s pretty funny.”
Ford is quick to give credit to his parents for their help in getting him to this point in his career.
“My Step-Dad for sure, even now I text him like after every game and ask him how I did because he’s always watching and he’ll point out the good things and the bad things that I did. He’s always giving me positive advice.”
The well spoken Ford says the Mooseheads haven’t had the best start to the young QMJHL season, but that things are steadily improving with each game.
“It’s had its ups and downs right now I guess. I mean the beginning of the year was a little tough for me personally but I think I’ve found my groove now and it’s just a matter of the team finding a groove too. Yeah, we’re learning all the time and I expect it to only go up from here.”
Taylor had one familiar face join him on the team on draft day in 2013. In fact Maxime Fortier was selected only four spots ahead of Ford.
“I always played against him growing up, we actually went at it like pretty hard when we were in minor hockey. I guess I won most of those battles and you can tell him I said that,” he said with a smile.
Ford admits it was an incredible feeling the day the Mooseheads called him to the draft floor at the Centre George-Vezina in Chicoutimi.
“I blacked out honestly. All I remember is my Mom next to me who was like screaming at the top of her lungs and I jumped up as soon as I could it was really just amazing.”
He says the fans and the staff have made him feel more than welcome in his adopted city.
“It’s probably the best organization there is to play in Junior Hockey, everything is so classy and they take care of their players really well.”
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