Interview with Notre Dame Hound Zack Taylor
Apr. 13, 2010

Former Maritime Hockey Academy student Zack Taylor recently finished his first season at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame Prep School in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. Zack captained the Notre Dame Bantam AAA Hounds to a league championship. He was gracious to take some time from his busy schedule to answer some questions about his decision to attend Notre Dame and his experience this year.

                                                                     
                                              

 
1. What made you decide to spend your year at Notre Dame?

I decided to spend my year at Notre Dame because I thought it would benefit me the best in hockey because the calibre of it is so high and just a different style to how people play in Nova Scotia. Also, I have benefited from the academic part too. I find it very easy to want to excel in schooling at Notre Dame because everyone wants to. The thing that makes people want to do well is the honour roll at the end of each term. It is kind of a competition between students basically just for bragging rights.

2. What was the most difficult part of the move?

The most difficult part of going to Notre Dame was at the beginning when you don’t know as many people as you’re used to but after the first few weeks everyone is just like a big family.

3. Describe a typical day at ND (schedule for class, hockey, meals, homework, etc)

A typical day starts with getting up around 7:30 for breakfast then coming back to the dorm and getting ready. At 8:15 we have assembly at Varsity Hall where they do all the announcements. We then have three classes before lunch and two after. If you play on a AAA team you have your gym class with your team so a practice or team workout. Then after the last class on Tuesday-Thursday we have Shack for 30 minutes which is just extra time to do homework.

4. What are the class sizes like at Notre Dame?

My classes have had anywhere from 10-25 students in a class depending on who takes which courses in each semester.

5. How did your year at MHA prepare you for ND both academically and athletically?

MHA made this year go much smoother I think. Before MHA I wasn’t used to the school work load but MHA really prepared me for that. Also, MHA really helped me improve my hockey skills and I don’t know if I would be where I am without that extra work.

6. What was your reaction to being named team captain in your first year at Notre Dame?

When I was named captain I was so happy. I knew being a captain at such a great hockey school would mean a lot of responsibility but I think I handled it well this year.

7. You played some games with the Major Midget Hounds this year. How was that experience?

Playing with the Hounds was probably the highlight of my year. It was very cool to get to play at that level as a bantam aged player. They also have a great coach (Del Pedrick) who was the coach last year when they won the Telus Cup (National Major Midget Championship) and he has managed to get them back to nationals with only one returning player from last year.

8. What places have you traveled to this year with your team?

This year we travelled to Medicine Hat Alberta, St. Albert Alberta, Kamloops British Columbia, Chicago Illinois. On the way to Chicago we stopped at Shattuck St. Mary’s (Minnesota Prep School) for a game which was cool to play against Nathan (MacKinnon, also former MHA student). We tied 5-5.

9. What are your future plans and goals?

I would like to return to Notre Dame next year and play on the top Hounds teams and then see what happens from then on.
 

10. What advice do you have for current student athletes at MHA who want to pursue an opportunity to attend Notre Dame?

I think that they should just make the best of every opportunity they get at MHA and work their hardest so they're ready because it doesn’t get any easier as the years go on.