Early training guided Braedan Taggart to 100 points for Skaneateles hockey
Braedan Taggart’s hockey career began at age 3, and later turned into six-hour shooting sessions on his front porch to prepare for older competition. Courtesy of Braedan Taggart
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Braedan Taggart lined up on the side of the ice rink, begging his parents not to go on the ice. But, they wanted him to learn how to skate like his older brothers, so they gave the reluctant 3-year-old a nudge onto the rink.
Taggart’s hockey career had begun.
It wasn’t until two years later, when he had learned to handle the puck and skate faster than other kids, that he fell in love with the sport, his parents said.
“That’s how we could tell this wasn’t another phase. He’s loved it ever since that day,” said Heather Taggart, Taggart’s mother.
Taggart’s early dedication paid off. The Skaneateles High School junior recently surpassed 100 career points on the rink and leads the Lakers with 38 goals this season. His numbers sit atop the Section III scoring list. His greatest achievement, though, was a single game, when he exploded for four goals in a narrow 4-3 win over Whitesboro to clinch the top seed in Division II.
Taggart’s path wasn’t always smooth, as demonstrated by his initial hesitance to enter the ice rink. But, he had a natural athletic ability.
“He’s committed. We’ve seen him put in a lot of hard work over the years,” said Chase Taggart, Taggart’s father.
Since his freshman year, Taggart has spent six hours on his back porch each day, shooting pucks. He said he’s gotten bigger, faster and stronger, especially after spending time in the gym as an underclassman to avoid being outmatched by upperclassmen.
Skaneateles’ elite program helped, too. Longtime coach Mitch Major, who retired at the end of the 2024-25 season after 25 years at the helm, built a culture that included team dinners, development and respect. He had the whole team read “Wooden,” a book by legendary basketball coach John Wooden, which features life lessons on achieving excellence.
“The culture is amazing,” Chase said.
This season, the junior Taggart reached 100 career points at Skaneateles, coming in a takeover 4-3 win over Whitesboro, where Taggart scored all four goals. Courtesy of Braedan Taggart
After losing 12 seniors to graduation following his freshman season, Taggart’s leadership increased. Whether he’s reassuring his teammates to relax or get some water, his mentality remains simple.
“You just have to relax, and play your best and do everything you can possibly do to win,” Taggart said.
A narrow win over Whitesboro on Jan. 29 epitomized that mindset. The stakes were high. The winner would be crowned the D-III Section II champion. In a playoff atmosphere, Taggart put the Lakers on his back, scoring four goals in the one-goal victory and notching his 100th career point.
His parents still recall the game with one simple headline: “Braedan 4, Whitesboro 3.” But Taggart’s success couldn’t come without his peers.
“I have great playmakers in front of me. They just give me the puck and I score a bunch,” he said.
Taggart bases his shot and playmaking on Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews. He said Major and new Skaneateles head coach Jeffrey Bobbett have also been influential in his development, allowing him to find openings on the ice.
Off the ice, Chase and Heather keep tabs on Taggart’s progress rather than his numbers. They focus on what he can improve on — not only in sports. Taggart’s grades are his main priority, he said, and he also plays lacrosse.
Taggart has high hopes for his senior season next year. He aims to win the section title again and increase his goal tally from 38 to between 45 and 50, he said. He’s interested in playing lacrosse at Clarkson and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, meaning he likely won’t pursue hockey in college.
His parents said they will support whatever path he chooses after high school. They were the ones who gave him his introduction to hockey. Now, as he possibly leaves the sport behind, Heather acknowledges what will happen if the end comes.
“You’re really going to miss hockey if you stop playing it,” Heather said.
