North Bay native Karl Taylor coached his first NHL game and win Thursday night as the Nashville Predators won their sixth straight game, a 5-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche
Normally Taylor is the affiliate coach of the Predators, the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League.
Taylor's good fortune came as the Predators were without their five-man coaching staff, all in NHL COVID-19 protocol.
"We just tried to come in and not get in the way, make sure we just rode the wave they're on right now. Add a few things here and there, make sure they had direction, make sure we executed the game plan properly," Taylor said.
See: Karl Taylor still chasing his NHL dream
Taylor was named the American Hockey League's coach of the year in his second season behind the bench of the Milwaukee Admirals.
See related: Local coach named AHL's coach of the year
It's been a long time since Karl Taylor has laced up the blades and played hockey in North Bay.
"I was 15 when I left there, I was playing for Larry Keenan and Larry was a huge influence on me," said Taylor.
The North Bay product recalls playing on the first ever North Bay midget Trappers team in the inaugural season in Great North Midget League.
"We had practices in Trout Creek and he would grab the ropes out and drag guys around the ice for conditioning," he recalled.
Since then Taylor's hockey journey has taken him all over the continent. From playing CIS hockey in New Brunswick in the east; to coaching the WHL's Portland Winterhawks on the west coast.
"It has been a long road, let's be honest," admitted Taylor.
With files from Chris Dawson.
