Fred "Cyclone" Taylor
Born June 23, 1883
Tara, Ontario
Stats:
Season Games: 180
Goals: 198
Assists: 104
Points: 312
P.I.M. 65
Stats:
Playoff Games: 16
Goals: 17
Assists:
Points: 23
P.I.M.:18
Fred "Cyclone" Taylor, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, was one of the most sought after hockey players of his time. Although he could play centre or forward with an equal amount of skill, he was best known as a defenseman, with his signature play fast rushes up the ice, earning him goals and his nickname, 'Cyclone'.
After playing in the minor leagues in Ontario and Manitoba, he first signed as a pro with Houghton, Michigan in 1906. From there, he joined the Ottawa Senators, helping them win the Stanley Cup in the 1908 - 09 season.
But it was the Renfrew Millionaires that really caught Taylor's attention, when they lured him away from Ottawa with an unprecedented salary of $5,250 for a 12 game season. Then the highest paid athlete of the day, Taylor was also smart, and insisted on having the entire salary deposited into his bank account before he stepped onto the ice.
After the Renfrew Millionaires franchise withdrew from the National Hockey Association, Taylor signed on with the Vancouver Millionaires and three years later helped that team win the Stanley Cup.
Retiring from professional hockey after 10 years in the game, Taylor had won back to back scoring titles in 1916 and 1917 which included 32 goals in a 18 game season. His average was better than one goal a game lifetime. He retired in 1921 as a Vancouver Millionaire, and in 1945 was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.