Gophers Add Top Prospect in Defender Taylee Manion

Proctor/Hermantown standout will play for Hill-Murray for senior season

Taylee Manion, a 2009-born defenseman from Hermantown,
recently committed to the University of Minnesota after helping the United States win the U18 World Championship. 

By Robert Brent, Let’s Play Hockey

The University of Minnesota women’s program has wasted no time bringing in elite recruits under new head coach Greg “Boom” May. The team recently added another high-end prospect with the addition of Taylee Manion, from Hermantown, MN.

Manion announced her commitment to the University of Minnesota at the end of August. She recently spoke about her decision to join the Gophers.

“I was really excited to receive a call from the Gophers on June 15… I just knew once I stepped on campus and really got to know the coaches and the facilities. They have a really good program. I was so excited.”

The blueliner is a 2009-born right-handed defender who played her first three seasons of high school hockey with the Proctor/Hermantown Mirage. During that time, Manion established herself as one of the strongest defenders in Minnesota.

The defender registered 22 points in 23 high school games last season. Manion describes herself as a stalwart defender. She likes to get physical in front of the net, and also contributes offensively. Manion’s stellar season earned her All-Area Girls’ Hockey Player of the Year honors from the Duluth News Tribune.

Manion’s individual success led to strong results for the team, with the Mirage appearing in the state tournament before falling to the Dodge County Wildcats in overtime. 

While Manion achieved significant success during the high school season, she also stood out on the international stage. The blueliner played a key role in the USA’s U18 World Championship victory in Nova Scotia.

Manion was one of 10 Minnesotans on a team that went undefeated in the tournament, including a 2-0 shutout victory over the Canadian hosts. 

Greg May served as an assistant coach on that team. Manion credits the relationship they built there as being an important part of her decision to join May with the Gophers. The defender says it will be exciting to help build something new at the University with new coach May.

“That’s a big factor. I’m really excited to see where this new coaching staff takes the program. I think it’s going to be great,” Manion said. “I’m really excited to see what the future holds, and just putting on that jersey and going out and playing the game I love.”

Before stepping foot on campus as a Golden Gopher, Manion will make another big change in her career. The defender will suit up for Hill-Murray starting this season after transferring in the Summer.

The Hill-Murray Pioneers are two-time defending Class AA state champions. The addition of Manion will bolster their case for another strong season. Manion says the Pioneers’ pedigree and drive for success were key in her decision to join the team.

“I feel like there’s just that grit to keep going and keep getting better, and it’s just that competitive level where everyone wants to do the same thing. Everybody wants to win, no matter the points,” Manion says. “No matter what happens, you just want to win, and that doesn’t matter if you’re on the power play. It doesn’t matter if you have three goals in a game.”

Competing in big games with Hill-Murray was an attractive proposition for Manion, but an even more important factor was how the team prepares players for the next level. The Pioneers have a standing history of preparing players for life in Division I hockey. 

I’m really excited to play with all those players that are going to move on. I feel like they’re really going to push me,” Manion says. “To practice with them, I feel like the competition, the physicality, is what’s huge to prepare me for college and even further on, hopefully.”

Manion has already achieved massive amounts of success in her young hockey career, but she also makes it clear her achievements are only the beginning. She already has the goal of working on her game further this season.

“I want to work on my offensive skills. Getting pucks deep and getting pucks through on the net. Walking the blue line. I feel like that’s one of my goals for this season.”

With a competitive mindset, an upcoming season with one of the top teams in the state and a college commitment already under her belt, Taylee Manion will certainly be a name to watch in the coming years.