Taylor Girard Explained
Taylor Girard (born July 17, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey forward for PWHL Boston of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). She previously played for the Connecticut Whale of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). She was drafted first overall in the 2021 NWHL Draft.
College career
Girard began her collegiate career for Lindenwood during the 2016–17 season. During her freshman year, she recorded three goals and one assist in 33 games. She scored her first career goal and point on October 1, 2016, in a game against Minnesota.[1] She was one of five players to appear in all 33 games and led the team with 80 shots on goal. During the 2017–18 season in her sophomore year, she recorded 13 goals and 11 assists in 25 games. She led the team in goals (13) and points (24).[2] She was named the CHA Player of the Month for the month of December 2017, after she led Lindenwood with three goals and two assists during the Lion's four games in the month. Following the season she was named first-team all-CHA.[3] During the 2018–19 season in her junior year, she recorded three goals and four assists in eight games.[2]
On May 20, 2019, Girard announced she was transferring to Quinnipiac. She finished her career at Lindendwood with 19 goals and 16 assists in 66 games.[4] During the 2019–20 season in her redshirt junior year, she recorded six goals and 12 assists in 24 games. During the 2020–21 season in her senior year, she recorded seven goals and nine assists in 15 games, and ranked second on the team in scoring.[5] She finished her collegiate career with 32 goals and 37 assists in 105 games.[6]
Professional career
On June 29, 2021, Girard was drafted first overall by the Connecticut Whale in the 2021 NWHL Draft.[7] [8] On July 15, 2021, she signed with the Whale.[9] During the 2021–22 season in her rookie year, she recorded 11 goals and 13 assists in 20 games and was named the PHF Newcomer of the Year. She finished the season tied for third in points (24), sixth in goals (11), tied for fifth in assists (13), and tied for second in game-winning goals (4).[10] [11]
During the 2022–23 season, she recorded ten goals and 18 assists in 24 games. She led the league in short-handed goals (4) and ranked in the top four in the PHF in points (28), assists (18), and power play goals (4).[12] On May 10, 2023, the Whale and Girard renegotiated her contract, agreeing to a $110,000 contract for the 2023–24 season.[13] The PHF ceased operations on June 29, 2023.[14]
On September 18, 2023, Girard was drafted 51st overall by PWHL Boston in the 2023 PWHL Draft.[15] [16] On November 8, 2023, she signed a two-year contract with Boston.[17] She would play in 23 regular season games in the 2023-24 season, but missed the playoffs entirely after suffering an injury during Boston's April 27 game against Minnesota.[18]
Career statistics
Awards and honors
Notes and References
- Web site: Welsh and Girard Score at No. 2 Minnesota . lindenwoodlions.com . October 1, 2016 . December 17, 2023 . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218044343/https://lindenwoodlions.com/news/2016/10/1/womens-ice-hockey-womens-hockey-bested-at-no-2-minnesota.aspx . live .
- Web site: Taylor Girard Bio . lindenwoodlions.com . December 17, 2023 . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218044341/https://lindenwoodlions.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey/roster/taylor--girard/11517 . live .
- Web site: Taylor Girard Earns CHA Player of the Month Award . lindenwoodlions.com . January 3, 2018 . December 17, 2023 . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218044341/https://lindenwoodlions.com/news/2018/1/3/womens-ice-hockey-taylor-girard-earns-cha-player-of-the-month-award.aspx . live .
- Web site: Women's Ice Hockey Adds Taylor Girard to 2019-20 Roster . gobobcats.com . May 20, 2019 . December 17, 2023 . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218044341/https://gobobcats.com/news/2019/5/20/womens-ice-hockey-womens-hockey-adds-taylor-girard-to-2019-20-roster . live .
- Web site: Taylor Girard Bio . gobobcats.com . December 17, 2023 . December 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231209153907/https://gobobcats.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey/roster/taylor-girard/10246 . live .
- Web site: NWHL Roundup: Lewicki Retires, Top Pick Girard Signs with Whale . thehockeywriters.com . Dan . Rice . July 21, 2021 . December 17, 2023 . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218044341/https://thehockeywriters.com/nwhl-lewicki-retires-girard-ganser-woods-sign/ . live .
- Web site: Girard '21 Selected First Overall in 2021 NWHL Draft . gobobcats.com . June 29, 2021 . December 17, 2023 . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218044342/https://gobobcats.com/news/2021/6/29/womens-ice-hockey-girard-21-selected-first-overall-in-2021-nwhl-draft.aspx . live .
- Web site: Michigan native Taylor Girard goes 1st overall in NWHL draft . . July 13, 2021 . December 17, 2023 . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218044341/https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2021/07/13/michigan-native-taylor-girard-goes-1st-overall-in-nwhl-draft/ . live .
- Web site: Whale sign top pick Taylor Girard . theicegarden.com . Mike . Murphy . July 15, 2021 . December 17, 2023 . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218044341/https://www.theicegarden.com/connecticut-whale-sign-top-pick-taylor-girard-quinnipiac-lindenwood/ . live .
- Web site: PHF announces 2022 Award Winners . theicegarden.com . Dan . Rice . May 19, 2022 . December 17, 2023 . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218044341/https://www.theicegarden.com/phf-announces-2022-award-winners/ . live .
- Web site: Whale's Taylor Girard is recognized by PHF for play this past weekend . Collinsville Press . Gerry . deSimas, Jr. . December 21, 2022 . December 17, 2023 . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218044341/https://collinsvillepress.com/2022/12/whales-taylor-girard-is-recognized-by-phf-for-play-this-past-weekend/32099/ . live .
- Web site: Girard, Whale agree on new contract terms . Collinsville Press . Gerry . deSimas, Jr. . May 10, 2023 . December 17, 2023 . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218044342/https://collinsvillepress.com/2023/05/girard-whale-agree-on-new-contract-terms/33475/ . live .
- Web site: Girard Second Whale To Renegotiate, Signs For $110,000 . . Ian . Kennedy . May 10, 2023 . December 17, 2023 . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218044341/https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/taylor-girard-second-whale-to-renegotiate-signs-for-110000 . live .
- Web site: What we know about the PHF shutdown, and more on the new pro women's hockey league . . Hailey . Salvian . 30 June 2023 . 15 November 2023 . subscription . 30 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230630211422/https://theathletic.com/4655207/2023/06/30/premier-hockey-federation-why-mark-walter/ . live .
- Web site: Seven Quinnipiac Women's Ice Hockey Alums Selected in 2023 Inaugural PWHL Draft . gobobcats.com . September 18, 2023 . December 17, 2023 . November 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231114164120/https://gobobcats.com/news/2023/9/18/seven-quinnipiac-womens-ice-hockey-alums-selected-in-2023-inaugural-pwhl-draft.aspx . live .
- Web site: Five Potential Steals From The PWHL Draft . . Ian . Kennedy . September 22, 2023 . December 17, 2023 . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218044341/https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/five-potential-steals-from-the-pwhl-draft . live .
- Web site: Boston Signs PHF Star Taylor Girard . . Ian . Kennedy . November 8, 2023 . December 17, 2023 . December 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218044341/https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/boston-signs-phf-star-taylor-girard . live .
- Web site: Kuehl . Tyler . PWHL Boston places Taylor Girard on LTIR, signs Kelly Babstock to standard contract . Daily Faceoff . 24 July 2024 . en . 4 May 2024.
- Web site: PHF awards: Connecticut Whale's Kennedy Marchment wins MVP . justwomenssports.com . May 20, 2022 . December 17, 2023 . January 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230129220910/https://justwomenssports.com/phf-awards-2022-mvp-kennedy-marchment/ . live .
- Web site: Premier Hockey Federation All-Star Showcase (1/29/22) How to Watch, Start Time . mlive.com . Michigan Live . March 21, 2024 . January 29, 2022.
- Web site: Shilton . Kristen . 2023 PHF All-Star Game: How to watch, schedule, rosters . espn.com . ESPN . March 21, 2024 . January 27, 2023.