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Roseneath’s Jake Taylor will call the sunny climes of Florida his hockey home this fall.

“I am excited about it. I am looking to take my hockey to the next level and see how far I can go. Florida was interested and it is a great opportunity,” says Taylor.

Taylor has signed a contract to try out with the Florida Seals of the Southern Professional Hockey League this October. The Roseneath native played with the Port Hope Predators last season and started his Provincial Junior A hockey career with the Cobourg Cougars.

“It was an honour to play in my hometown,” says Taylor. “Hockey is great for making friends and keeping friends. It was also a thrill to play in Port Hope.”

The Seals finished third in the eight team SPHL with a record 32-17-7 record. In his only season with the Predators Taylor notched 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points and 190 penalty minutes in 40 games. Tommy Stewart, Seals head coach, says he is excited about Taylor joining his club.

“I have done some homework on him and it is great for a kid that works hard and comes to play every night to make it to the next level,” says Stewart. “That tells everybody it is just about hard work and competing every shift and that is what the Seals hope he brings to us this season.” Taylor says the Predators loss to the Bowmanville Eagles in the East Division finals last year still stings.

“When I went to go watch the Royal Back Cup (the national Junior A championship) I saw the four teams there and it did not make me think we could not compete there,” says Taylor. “We had a lot of talent it just did not work out.”

The former Cougar says he requested a trade from Cobourg so he could get a chance at a championship because Cobourg was rebuilding and the Predators were defending their East Division crown. Tim Clayden, Predators hockey operations director, says the entire organization is excited for Taylor and the hockey opportunity Florida represents.

“He went through a lot to become a Predator and hung in there and worked extremely hard even when the wheels fell off last season,” says Clayden. “Jake Taylor, in my opinion, is a late bloomer that has the heart and the skating abilities to make the jump to the next level. The Predators wish him the very best as he moves on after junior hockey.”

Taylor says he will continue to skate wherever he can find ice during the summer and with the Predators during their training camp to help prepare for his Florida tryout.

“Last year I fought too much,” admits Taylor. “I want to work on finishing my checks and getting offensive. I know Florida wants a gritty forward who can kill penalties too.”

Two of Taylor’s favourite Junior A memories were scoring the Predators 300th goal of the year last season and defeating the Wellington Dukes in the second round of the playoffs. “I scored two game winners in that series and Wellington are always tough to play against,” notes Taylor.