(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
There’s always more to an athlete than most people realize. They aren’t simply just a teammate, a leader, or a friend, there’s an actual person who lives inside that body.
Junior Taylor England grew up in Tempe, Arizona, like many of the other ASU women’s hockey players. England attended Horizon Honors High School and played one year with the Colorado Tigers, a travel hockey team located in Colorado Springs.
Playing in Colorado wasn’t always the plan for England though. She first went to try out for the Lady Coyotes in Scottsdale and after the first try out, was told bt the coach that they didn’t have enough players for a team.
She then heard about the Colorado Tigers from a mutual friend, catching her interest. She tried it out and ended up playing for a season with the team.
England didn’t begin playing hockey like many do from a young age. She was always the one playing a variety of sports and it wasn’t until one day her friends’ parents convinced England’s parents to bring her out onto the ice when she was eight.
After getting off the ice for the first time she wanted to know when she could go back on again.
“I’ve been playing ever since, I even traveled to two parts of Canada: Calgary and Banff just to learn how to play hockey, I went to Olympic camps and just went to a lot of developmental camps to learn,” England said.
But, the junior is much more unique than just being a hockey player, she changes lives.
Outside of being on the ice, England helps couples who want to have children, yet are struggling to do so, by donating her eggs to help these couples have a child.
In the state of Arizona, females are only allowed to donate their eggs six times in their lifetime. England just finished up her final round that went over a three-year period.
“I have a lot of people in my life, a lot of couples who are incapable of having children and it holds a very special place in my heart, so I decided to do something for couples who aren’t able to have kids,” said England.
She usually worked around hockey to do this process because during the time she is going through treatment she is unable to exercise or even play hockey. The first time it actually interfered with hockey was only this season.
She recently had surgery to remove her eggs, then turned around to play in the 2-1 win over Colorado State back in mid-October.
“I wouldn’t say it’s an accomplishment, I think it’s just something I am very, very happy about and I hold very close to my heart that I did,” England commented.
Recently, England got her sixth tattoo, consisting of the coordinates to Main Street U.S.A in Disneyland.
Disneyland holds a special place in her heart, going since she was being pushed around in a stroller by her parents. Now, annual passport holders, she has made Disney a part of her everyday life with her tattoo.
Besides changing lives, being a Disney fanatic and a hockey player, England also has her own business called Therapeutics by Taylor. She is only working with friends and family right now before expanding into a bigger pool of people. One of her current clients is fellow teammate KC McGinley.
On the ice, England is one of the assistant captains for the ASU women’s club hockey team.
“She is one of the ones we never have to worry about, you tell her to work harder and things like that, she will,” said head coach Lindsey Ellis. “Even when we are doing suicides she is always pushing herself, so her hard work as a leader is phenomenal and it helps the team out that much more.”
This season, England has netted two goals and earned three assists.
“When the time is right, when I need to step in, when I have some thoughts, I won’t be afraid to say it, but I definitely believe I am more lead by example than a vocal leader,” England explained.
Her teammates and coaches wholeheartedly agree that she leads by example.
“We appreciate her a lot, she’s a great leader in the locker room but a great person on and off the ice,” said goaltender Jordan Nash-Boulden. “There’s something natural about her that draws people in and she makes you feel like she appreciates you for the little things and I think that’s great to have in a friend.”
England is more than just a hockey player for the ASU women’s club team. She is a leader, a life changer, driven and ready to achieve the goals that she has set for herself.
