It’s impressive when one player passes the 100-point mark in a season, no matter what league they’re competing in.
But when two people on the same team do it in the same season? Well, it’s almost unheard of.
However that is exactly what two members of the Yorkton UCT Terriers, Carson Miller and Kaeden Taphorn, did in the 2014/15 SBAAHL regular season, as the two absolutely lit up the 22-team circuit with Miller amassing 49 goals and 58 assists for 107 points while Taphorn popped 41 goals and collected 60 assists for 101 points.
Their impressive seasons are even more so as they are the only two hockey players in league history to hit the triple digit mark in points.
“It’s an honour to reach 100 points,” suggested Taphorn. “Not many people have done it before and it’s a great achievement for both of us.”
“It really does feel special,” echoed Miller, who finished just one goal shy of 50 on the season. “It’s just been a lot of fun this year playing with the Taphorn’s and now Kemp, it’s been a lot of fun.”
But while Miller says it feels special, what’s more special is the fact that both Miller and Taphorn both accomplished the trick in just 31 games; meaning Miller has averaged 3.5 points per game (PPG) while Taphorn wasn’t far behind at 3.3 PPG. “They’re both extremely talented hockey players,” offered UCT Terrier head coach Graham Garrett on his two 100-point workhorses. “Carson is a really skilled player that can lead lines. Obviously he’s very good at controlling the puck and creating plays but he’s one of the purest shooters that I’ve seen at this level as well.
“And Kaeden, he’s just gotten bigger and stronger as the year went on. His shot has gotten way more affective and he’s a big guy that can move his feet and move the puck.”
Moving the puck is something that Taphorn says he really enjoy doing, especially when the puck ends up on a teammates stick in a perfect scoring position. “I think I’m more of a playmaker. I like to move the puck over and set up my linemates and get them to score some goals,” mentioned Taphorn, who led all players in the SBAAHL with 60 assists in the regular season. “Obviously I like to score goals as well, but setting up my brother or Miller, that’s pretty great, too.”
Miller, too, admits that being a team player is something he really enjoys. “I like to try and make the players around me better,” mentioned Miller, adding, “My teammates, linemates, have been great. They’ve been with me there for the entire year and I wouldn’t have been able to put up as many points without them.”
That goes both ways, however, as his linemates most likely wouldn’t have been able to put up as many points without him as well; something that the 100 point Taphorn is quick to point out. “My linemates, Keenan (twin brother) and Carson are guys that I have to give huge credit to,” suggested Taphorn. “They helped me all season long and it’s really because of them that I got over 100 points.”
But while scoring 100-plus points in the regular season certainly is impressive, the two offensive powerhouses are fully aware that it means nothing in the postseason. “I know we have to carry it over to the playoffs now,” said Miller, continuing, “Hopefully we’ll do our best and whatever happens, happens and hopefully we’ll get back to Western’s.”
In addition to Miller and Kaeden Taphorn, the UCT Terriers also boasted the top three and four scorers in the league as Keenan Taphorn, Kaeden’s twin brother, finished with 30 goals and 46 assists or 76 points in 24 games, while Brett Kemp, a late season first line replacement, dominated opposition all season long no matter where he played, amassing 37 goals and 42 assists for 79 points in 30 games.
Defenceman Reid Perepeluk led all SBAAHL defencemen with 28 goals and 12 assists for 40 points in 26 games.
All are expected to be drafted in the upcoming WHL Bantam Draft.
