Clarkson University Athletics

SOPHOMORE YEAR (2025-26):  Taylor followed his ECAC All-Rookie campaign with a breakout sophomore season, emerging as Clarkson’s leading offensive defenseman. Taylor recorded eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 37 games, more than doubling his goal total from the previous year. He led all Clarkson defensemen in goals and points while tying for fourth in overall team scoring...77 shots on goal and a team-high-tying 54 blocked shots...Special teams became an important part of Taylor’s offensive impact. Five of his eight goals came on the power play, tying Justin Côté for the team lead. Taylor produced two goals and six assists in 22 ECAC Hockey games, with both conference goals coming on the man advantage...Taylor opened his scoring account with a goal at fourth-ranked Penn State and later scored during a five-on-three opportunity against Lake Superior State. He delivered one of his strongest performances in Clarkson’s 6–2 victory at Niagara, recording a power-play goal and an assist as the Golden Knights converted four times with the extra skater. The following weekend, he blasted another power-play goal past Brown’s goaltender in a 3–2 Clarkson victory...Taylor continued to contribute in important situations late in the season. He helped create Owen Van Steensel’s overtime winner in Clarkson’s dramatic 8–7 victory over Union and set up Justin Côté’s power-play goal in an overtime win at Brown...His postseason performance further highlighted his growth. Taylor scored Clarkson’s opening goal in a 2–1 victory over RPI in the ECAC opening round. One week later, he found the empty net to complete a 3–0 win at top-seeded Quinnipiac, helping the Golden Knights begin a quarterfinal upset that sent them to Lake Placid for the second consecutive season.

FRESHMAN YEAR (2024-25):  Taylor established himself as an important member of Clarkson’s defensive corps during an impressive freshman season. The right-shot defenseman recorded three goals and 13 assists for 16 points in 33 games, finishing tied for fifth on the team in assists and tied for sixth in overall scoring. He produced 51 shots on goal, blocked 34 shots and posted a plus-five rating...Taylor was particularly effective during ECAC Hockey competition, registering two goals and eight assists for 10 points in all 22 conference games. His plus-eight rating ranked among Clarkson’s best, while his 22 blocked shots helped support one of the league’s strongest defensive teams...His first collegiate goal came during Clarkson’s 6–3 victory over Stonehill. Taylor joined the rush and finished a feed from Luka Sukovic as the Golden Knights scored three times in the opening period. He also helped create Clarkson’s first goal in a 4–0 shutout of Yale by carrying the puck into the offensive zone and beginning the sequence that resulted in Erik Bargholtz’s eventual game-winner...Taylor’s poise with the puck, ability to contribute offensively and steady work in his own zone earned him a place on the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team. He also played throughout Clarkson’s postseason run, which included a dramatic quarterfinal victory over Harvard and an appearance at the ECAC championship weekend in Lake Placid.

The back of the Hockey Card: Tate is a right shot defenseman from Richmond, British Columbia…Played last season for the Fargo Force of the USHL…Skated in 60 games, scoring 2 goals and 22 assists.

Get to know Tate: Son of Merv and Julia Taylor…Younger brother of current Knights defenseman, Trey Taylor…Has a brother, Ty Taylor, who was a goalie at UNH and now plays professionally…brother Teyce Taylor is a future pilot…Enjoys playing golf…Will start as a Business Studies Major at the Reh School of Business at Clarkson.

Why Tate chose Clarkson: “With my brother here, it just felt like home”