NEWS

The OJHL announced today that Whitby Fury forward Taylor Best (photo credit - Shawn Muir/OJHL Images) has been named the Gongshow Gear North-East Conference Player-of-the-Month for October after recording 21 points in ten games played during the month.  

The third year Fury alternate captain, who was also named runner-up for this award in September, improved on last month's totals to lead all North-East Conference scorers with 12 goals and 21 points, while also confirming an NCAA Division I commitment to attend Mercyhurst University beginning with the 2014-15 Atlantic Hockey season.  Since being kept off the scoreboard during the Fury's second game of the season on September 15, Best has gone on a tear, recording 30 points during a 16 game scoring streak before heading to Team Canada East camp and the 2013 World Junior 'A' Challenge.  Throughout the month of October, Best recorded multiple points in six of ten games, including two four point efforts versus Mississauga and Georgetown, and a hat trick against the North York Rangers.

“Taylor has not only pleased our staff with his comeback season from last year's average, for Taylor, on-ice season to be presently the OJHL’s leading scorer,” said Fury General Manager Frank Robinson.  “But he has also been the off-ice leader expected of a third year player.  All our young players look up to Bestie and respect him for his work ethic both on-and-off the ice.”

Robert Powers of the Stouffville Spirit was named runner-up to Best as the North-West Conference Player-of-the-Month.  The defenceman recorded 14 points in 9 games played for the Spirit to finish second among all North Division scorers throughout October.
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Born on June 14, 1994 in Whitby, Ontario, Taylor Best developed his skills in the Whitby Wildcats minor hockey program.  After winning the OMHA Bantam 'AA' championship in 2008-09, he finished his minor hockey career playing Midget 'AAA' for the Wildcats, getting his first taste of junior action in 2009-10 during a five game stint with the Fury as an affiliated player.  

Best has been with the Fury ever since and continues to show improvement each and every year in the league, posting 33 and 44 points respectively in 2011-12 and 2012-13.  After finishing fifth on the Fury in scoring as a rookie with 33 points, Best notched another 18 post-season points in leading Whitby to the South-East Conference title and a berth in the league championship series, finishing as runner-up to the Stouffville Spirit.

Last season he would improve his offensive output to 16 goals and 40 points to finish fourth in scoring on the club and earn a spot as a member of the OJHL East Division All-Stars that captured the 2012 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge held in Wellington, Ontario.  Now as one of the Fury's veteran leaders, Best is off to a tremendous start in 2013-14, taking the early OJHL scoring lead with 33 points in 18 games played, earning runner-up honours as the Gongshow Gear North-East Conference Player-of-the-Month for September before winning the award in October.  Best would also crack the Team Canada East roster and is currently playing at the 2013 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge that is being held in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia