About Taylor Chace.
Taylor Chace, Paralympic Gold Medalist
Taylor Chace, born May 9, 1986, excelled at every sport he played including soccer, hockey, lacrosse, football, track, basketball and golf. Passionate about hockey, his sights were set on playing Division I college hockey and beyond as the youngest member of the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs in the Eastern Junior Hockey League.
On October 6, 2002, at age 16, in a charity game with the Monarchs in Cannington, Ontario, Taylor's dreams were shattered. In his first shift out, after beating a defender and taking a shot, the second defender checked Taylor, sending him back first into the dasher behind the net. He collapsed to the ice, unable to feel or move from the waist down.
Taylor suffered an incomplete spinal cord injury, changing his world forever. After hours of surgery, weeks of hospitalization, and months of rehabilitation, he relearned to walk using his remaining muscle groups. The thought of never playing a competitive sport again was devastating.
In the winter of 2003, Taylor was introduced to Northeast Passage at the University of New Hampshire and the sport of Sled Hockey. Although heartbreaking to watch on his first attempt, he did not give up. This was hockey and a challenge and he continued to improve. He played with NEP and with a New England Team. In June, 2005, he was invited to try out for the United States Sled Hockey Team in Colorado Springs. Missing his high school graduation to attend the try-out, Taylor, 19, made the US Team.
Since 2005, Taylor, was an integral part of the US Team's success, earning a Bronze Medal in the 2006 Torino, Italy Paralympics, and a Gold Medal and Top Defenseman in the 2010 Vancouver, British Columbia Paralympics. He was named Paralympic Sportsman of the Year for 2010 and Athlete of the Month in December 2012 by the USOC. In 2014, Taylor competed in his third Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia, earning Gold in a 1-0 victory against Russia. Back-to-back gold medals was a first in the history of the sport.
Taylor graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2011, majoring in Sports Studies. He enjoys working as a strength and conditioning coach in NH. He is the Head Coach for Adult Sled Hockey at Northeast Passage/UNH where he also speaks to groups promoting awareness of recreation and competitive opportunities for youth and adult athletes with disabilities. He is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He speaks before numerous groups throughout the country on topics such as overcoming adverisity, fitness and Paralympic sport.
