Taylor Vause

Taylor Vause (Texas Stars) (thehockeywriters.com ())

My Hero is Taylor Vause.  Taylor Vause is my Hero for many reasons but mainly because he has developed and is beginning his successful in hockey after being diagnosed with diabetes.  Diabetes had a dramatic imact on him as a young player and may have been the reason he never got drafted to the NHL. Taylor is a guy that never gave up on his dream and recovered quite well after the diagnosis and is now going forward and making something out of his career as he has been taken by the Texas Stars of the AHL.  Knowing how good he was before the diagnosis and setback, it makes a person wonder how good he would be if it wasn't for the set back in his career, but that's just all apart of his adversity.

Since he was just a little child, Taylor had always dreamed of playing for the Swift Current Broncos because his dad played for them.  From the time Taylor was born he's been a dedicated fan from Calgary.  Taylor's dream came true in the 2007 season when he cracked the roster of the Broncos.   A few years later he was diagnosed with diabetes which made a big change in his life.  Once getting comfortable with the disease, Vause started back working on hockey which he was set back quite a bit but that didn't stop him.  He kept working hard at it and began to show signs of becoming the star player that he once showed before the diagnosis.  It wasn't until his final season in the WHL that his superstar talent showed at a consistent basis.  Vause had 83 points that season on a struggling team, being the leader that they needed.  From the impressive season he had the Texas Stars signed Vause for the remainder of the season.  Even though he played on the 3rd and 4th lines, Vause did his share of helping and contributing to the team and sacrificed himself for them.  By doing so he broke his ankle blocking a shot.  Taylor is somebody that looks to do the best for his teammates and in the midst of being a brave, fearless teammate he will have to keep working until his ankle heals.  He is a true warrior.

Once Taylor Vause had recovered from learning about the new disease he would have to deal with, he got lots of support from from individuals from the NHL to help him with learning to play hockey and control his diabetes.  Nick Boynton and Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke gave Taylor lots of support and helped him along the way with his diabetes.  Being able to play a sport with this disease takes a lot of commitment and self discipline, and is certainly a huge achievement.  Since Taylor's diagnosis, he began getting out into the community, helping lots of young beginners with the diagnosis of diabetes and getting with programs to do so.  Taylor even made special game jerseys that the Broncos wore for a game and sold all the jerseys after to raise money for diabetes.  In total he raised just under nine thousand dollars for research funds for the disease.

Out in the community (mrpavely.weebly.com ())

Taylor Vause never really did have an impact on me until I had gotten the chance to play with the Broncos a few days after Christmas.  I got the call to come play for the team and the first thing that happened to me when I walked through the door was Taylor Vause coming and shaking my hand to congratulate me.  This was the spark to the admiration I had for him as a person and as a leader.  Throughout all the practices and being around in the dressing room I got the chance to watch and learn from him and see what he does that works so well for him.  I noticed that he's not a real big talker and didn't say a ton but when he did, it was always in a positive manner and he said what needed to be said.  I noticed he was the hardest worker on the ice all the time, every time he went on the ice or off the ice.  He definitely lead by example, whether it was his hard work on the ice and helping out younger players like myself or even off the ice he was a very classy guy, respectful and showed younger players what they still need to learn.  He did all this and yet still made time to help out young new diabetics every now and then.

To me it is clear that Taylor Vause is the biggest hero in my life so far.  He has been the greatest leader this far in my life and has taught me such qualities that I need to know, not only for what I am needing to know what to do on the ice at higher levels of hockey but he's also taught me how to act professional off the ice, whether it's your attitude or actions.  You still have to get out into the community and do stuff with the community.  By his example, Taylor has shown it's important to get out into the community; the better the bond between you and the community, the more support you will have.  On the ice, the biggest thing he has shown me is that it is very important to never take a shift off.  You've got to go your hardest all the time and don't give up.  It is important to believe in yourself.  He is definitely the greatest leader I have been under and watched.