Q and A with University of Alaska-Fairbanks Sniper Andy Taranto
There was a time when Andy Taranto didn’t want to play competitive hockey, a move that would have been a huge mistake as the Illinois native’s hockey skills are opening the doors to a bright future. No other freshman was bigger for their club in the NCAA this season than 6′0″, 213-pound Taranto, who plays at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. The right winger put up an impressive 42 points (18G,24A) in 39 games for the Nanooks this season, finishing one point behind senior Dion Knelsen for the team lead. Taranto also finished with a team high plus-minus rating of +10. He was named as CCM CCHA Rookie of the Month twice and CCM CCHA Rookie of the Week three times, and captured the freshmen scoring title by 10 points as he took home the CCHA’s Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old had two mediocre seasons in the USHL with Omaha and Ohio due to injury, before breaking out with the Fargo Force in the 2008-09 season and racking up 59 points (34G,25A) in 60 games, en route to leading the league in goals. Taranto is a good skater, who protects the puck extremely well, has a great shot, and elusive moves as he is fairly agile for his size. He is a pure goal scorer, but does have decent vision and hockey sense. NHL scouts are taking notice, as the Nonooks power forward was invited to the Chicgao Blackhawks prospect camp earlier this summer. Taranto has come a long way from the player that was on the verge of hanging them up just a couple years ago, and may just be carving out his path to the pros while he pursues his degree in Business Administration at UAF. I had the pleasure of catching up with the superb sniper this summer, for a quick Q and A.
You grew up in Downers Grove, IL, that may be more known for it’s Heritage Festival rather than hockey. What got you into playing?
Andy: When I first moved to Downers Grove I was thinking about just playing hockey for fun, and not at such a competitive level anymore, but the first day my family moved in I threw on my roller blades and skated into the cul-de-sac across the street only to meet my now best friend who played AAA and invited me out to play on his team the following year. I ended up making the team and playing at a competitive level since then.
The highschool footbal games drew large crowds there, did the highschool hockey games garner as much attention?
Andy: High school hockey has never been big in Illinois. If you want to play at a competitive level AA or AAA is where you need to go. Its pretty unfortunate but I don’t even think our school has a hockey team anymore.
You had a big freshman year with Alaska, what, if anything made the transition from the USHL to NCAA Div.1 hockey so smooth for you?
Andy: What helped me a lot was the coaching staff and my teammates. The leadership we had last year was great. I got a lot of help from my linemates adjusting to the game, and the coaching staff gave me a lot of confidence right from the beginning.
What made you choose the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, rather than staying closer to home?
Andy: I chose Alaska-Fairbanks because I got a really good feeling when I started talking to them versus other schools. I knew that the distance wasn’t too bad because we would be playing close to home almost every other weekend anyway, and most teams are within driving range for my family. But the biggest reason was that I would get an opportunity to jump in the line up right away and be an impact player my first season.
What was your ‘welcome moment’ to the NCAA?
Andy: I can’t really remember any significant moments but beating Michigan our first game of the year was a great way to start my college career. The welcome I recieved from my teammates made me feel right at home in Alaska.
You didn’t really emerge on too many radars until your last season in the USHL with the Force, where you put up a league leading 34 goals. Do you think you are a bit of a late-bloomer, or is it just being in the right situation for yourself?
Andy: I think the biggest reason for my success in my last USHL season was that, compared to my first two years, I was healthy and determined. I thought about hanging them up prior to that season because I was told that I didn’t have the best chance of making the team after the first tryout camp. My mom told me to give it one more chance and to work my hardest and if nothing came of hockey then I would say I gave it my best shot. Since then its been a lot more clear to me as to what I have to do, and how hard I have to work to continue to get better. And I guess I’ll be listening to my mom a little bit more.
You’ve scored a lot of goals over the past few seasons, is there one that stands out as your biggest so far?
Andy: My biggest goal in the past two years would have to be the Notre Dame game winner for a few reasons. I think it was my first against a CCHA team, and I was a very big Fighting Irish fan growing up so that definetly felt good. Another big reason was that it gave me that confidence I had the year before and really got me rolling after that. And lastly, my dad was in the crowd that game and I was happy he got to be there for it.
What is the highlight of your young career so far?
Andy: I don’t think there is a specific highlight but making it to the National Tournament this past season was a huge accomplishment for me and our team. It was one of those tournaments that you watch growing up and to be a part of it meant a lot.
After the last two years you’ve had, NHL scouts have started to take notice. Is making it the the pros in the back of your mind at all?
Andy: The only thing that is in the back of my mind is winning the next game. If I know that there are scouts in the stands it does get to me a bit, but the only thing I try and focus on is winning each and every shift I’m on the ice for.
You participated in the Chicago Blackhawks prospects camp this summer. How did it go, and who impressed you the most?
Andy: The Blackhawks camp was a great experience. Being a huge fan growing up made it a lot more intense for me and I think nerves got the best of me. Although it wasn’t the best performance I took a lot of positives out of the experience that I can work to improve on. There were a lot of players that were very talented at the camp but someone that impressed me the most was actually a close friend of mine, Terry Broadhurst. Not only did he stick out to me, but I know how hard he works off the ice and it’s always nice to see a good friend and a great person being successful.
What do like doing in your downtime from hockey?
Andy: In my downtime, it’s really important I visit with my family as much as I can. One of my cousins, Michelle, always keeps me informed with the family news so I don’t lose out on too much during the season. The other people I spend time with are my close friends in Chicago, and my girlfriend Whitney who I met while playing for the Force in Minnesota.
Who is your roommate on the road, and how was he to stay with?
Andy: I roomed with my linemate Dion Knelson on the road, and we had a lot of good times. We talked a lot about hockey and different plays that we should make on the ice and it seemed like we were more on the same page with trying new ideas because we got to know each other so well. He was a pretty smart kid also so he helped me with a lot of my homework too.
Most embarrasing hockey moment?
Andy: I forgot my jersey in midgets and had to wear a practice jersey with black tape on it in order to play. It was very embarrassing playing a game with it, but was able to get my real jersey sent up the following day.
