PR’s Taulien takes next step

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The decision Alexander Taulien had to make was difficult from one aspect.

Taulien could have returned to Prairie Ridge, been a part of a good hockey team and perhaps would have been regarded as one of the state’s top players.

Yet, for his budding career, the Wolves junior right wing knew what he needed to do. Taulien signed a tender with the Springfield Junior Blues on April 29 and will try out with the North American Hockey League club in the next few weeks.

College coaches scout junior teams heavily, so playing at that level will expedite Taulien’s chances to land a scholarship and compete at the NCAA Division I level.

“It’s bittersweet,” Taulien said. “The people I know I’m going to miss, all my coaches, all my friends and teammates. But I’m grateful for the opportunity to try out. Hopefully, I go there, make the team and do well.”

Taulien said the Blues are the oldest NAHL team and have sent 198 players on to D-I schools in their 19 years of existence. Taulien, a three-year varsity player for the Wolves, racked up 42 goals and 37 assists this season for Prairie Ridge. He will live with a family in the Springfield area and finish his last year of high school in Springfield.

Taulien is 6-foot-4, 190 pounds and played forward and defense for the Wolves. Prairie Ridge coach Casey Van Damme thinks Taulien’s best position will be right wing, where he usually played for the Wolves.

“Alexander is a skilled power forward who is a pure finisher, and who can create chances for his teammates,” Van Damme said. “He produces a heavy shot and is very physical in the corners. With his speed, puck control, physical play and skating ability, Alexander will transition smoothly from high school to juniors.”

By signing a tender, Taulien becomes the Blues’ property and will not be in the NAHL’s May 26 draft. Junior teams do not pay their players, but they can find part-time jobs and provide them with equipment. Springfield saw Taulien up close at the recent EHK Showcase in Vernon Hills.

Taulien started skating at age 3 and was on a team by the time he was 5. His father, John, and mother, Valarie, have one other son, Trevor, 7, who also plays hockey. Taulien thanks a long list of people who helped him reach this level.

“My parents have been there for me all the time and been my biggest supporters,” Taulien said. “I’ve had a lot of great coaches and learned specific things from each of them and built up that knowledge over the years.”

Taulien thanked his Prairie Ridge coaches, Van Damme and assistants Rick Rewiako and Guy Caliendo, his skating coach Kenny McCudden and skills coach Justin Nelson, and his teammates.

“I thank my teammates for working hard and pushing me to be better every day,” Taulien said.

Van Damme said Taulien is the first Prairie Ridge player to leave for junior hockey since he took over as coach in the 2006-07 season.

“Alexander has been blessed with the physical skills to play at the junior level,” Van Damme said. “Understanding and embracing good character was paramount in him becoming a truly special athlete, one the Prairie Ridge Hockey Club can admire and be proud of.”

Bernstein makes Nike list: Crystal Lake South junior offensive lineman Jake Bernstein (6-foot-4, 282 pounds) was selected as one of the top 25 players at the Nike Football Training Camp last weekend at Ohio State University.

Bernstein was a Northwest Herald All-Area first-team selection last season. More than 270 players from the Midwest, and other parts of the country, attended the camp. By being selected in the top 25, Bernstein can be invited to the ESPN RISE All-Nike Camp team.

The camp evaluators called Bernstein “a great athlete who held up well during one-on-ones and should be a solid guard in college.”

• Joe Stevenson covers high school sports for the Northwest Herald. He can be reached by e-mail at jstevenson@
nwherald.com.