Trey Taylor Bio
Trey Taylor (born February 4, 2002) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who plays for the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). A left-shooting blueliner, he entered the professional ranks in 2025 after a distinguished collegiate career at Clarkson University, where he developed into one of the top defencemen in the ECAC Hockey conference. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds, Taylor combines size with mobility and is regarded for his two-way reliability.
Undrafted out of college, Taylor signed an entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars organization in March 2025 and was immediately assigned to the Texas Stars to begin his professional career. His progression from a depth freshman at Clarkson to a team captain and an All-ECAC First Team selection illustrates a steady climb through the North American development ladder.
Early Life and Background
Trey Taylor was born on February 4, 2002, in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. Growing up in a hockey-oriented family in the Vancouver-area region, he was introduced to the sport at a young age and developed through the local minor hockey system in British Columbia. Richmond’s competitive youth hockey scene provided him with early exposure to high-level competition, and his physical gifts, including his eventual 6-foot-2 frame, were evident as he progressed through age-group programs.
He is the son of Mervyn and Julia Taylor, and he grew up alongside three brothers: Ty, Tate, and Tase. The Taylor household revolved around the sport, and that environment reinforced Trey’s commitment to the game. His older brother Ty later played college ice hockey at the University of New Hampshire, continuing the family’s connection to the sport at the collegiate level and giving Trey an early model for the path he would eventually follow.
Path to Professional Hockey
Taylor’s pathway to the professional ranks ran through the U.S. college game rather than major junior, a route that allowed him to refine his defensive game while competing in the ECAC Hockey conference at Clarkson University. He joined the Clarkson Golden Knights for the 2022–23 season, beginning his collegiate career as a freshman defenceman adjusting to the pace and physicality of NCAA Division I hockey.
Across three seasons with the Golden Knights, Taylor’s role expanded steadily. He moved from a depth contributor in his first year to a top-pairing defenceman and ultimately to team captain by his junior season, demonstrating the leadership traits that have defined his reputation. His development path at Clarkson, combined with consistent production in both ends of the rink, positioned him as a desirable signing target once his junior season concluded, leading directly to his entry-level deal with Dallas.
Trey Taylor Career
College Career at Clarkson (2022–2025)
Taylor began his collegiate career with the Clarkson Golden Knights during the 2022–23 season. In his freshman year, he recorded three goals and five assists in 36 games, working primarily in a bottom-four role while learning the systems and pace of NCAA hockey. The experience gave him a foundation in defensive structure and special teams play.
As a sophomore in 2023–24, Taylor emerged as a leading defenceman for the Golden Knights. He posted four goals and 13 assists in 35 games, leading all Clarkson defencemen in points while pacing the entire team in shots on goal (86) and blocked shots (65). His strong two-way season was recognized with selection to the All-ECAC Second Team and the ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman award, marking him as one of the top blueliners in the conference.
Junior Year and Captaincy (2024–25)
In his junior season of 2024–25, Taylor was named team captain of the Clarkson Golden Knights, taking on a leadership role that underscored his standing within the program. He delivered a career-best offensive performance with nine goals and 20 assists in 39 games, once again leading all Clarkson defencemen in scoring. His combination of offensive production and defensive responsibility earned him a second consecutive ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman honor, this time paired with All-ECAC First Team recognition.
Taylor concluded his three-year collegiate tenure with 16 goals and 38 assists in 110 games. His progression from a contributing freshman to a captain and a First Team all-conference selection reflected a well-rounded development arc that prepared him for the rigors of professional hockey.
Texas Stars Era (2025–Present)
On March 24, 2025, Trey Taylor signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars of the NHL, beginning during the 2025–26 season. The deal runs through the 2026–27 campaign. He was promptly assigned to Dallas’s AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars, for the remainder of the 2024–25 season to begin his professional adjustment.
The Texas Stars, based in Cedar Park, Texas, serve as the primary developmental pipeline for the Dallas Stars organization. Taylor’s placement there offered him the opportunity to refine his game against experienced professionals, log significant minutes, and adjust to the pace and structure of pro hockey. His entry-level contract provides the Dallas organization with two seasons to evaluate his trajectory and determine his readiness for an NHL role with the parent club.
Playing Style and Strengths
Trey Taylor is recognized primarily as a defensive defenceman with the ability to contribute offensively. His shot-blocking numbers at Clarkson, where he led the team in that category during his sophomore year, highlight his commitment to defensive responsibilities. He is a left-shot defenceman with the size and reach to win board battles, and his passing vision produced double-digit assist totals in each of his final two college seasons, demonstrating poise with the puck on the breakout.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of his early career, Taylor’s selection as Clarkson team captain for the 2024–25 season stands out as a major leadership milestone. His consecutive ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman awards in 2023–24 and 2024–25 cement his identity as a reliable two-way player, and his entry-level signing with the Dallas Stars organization on March 24, 2025, marked the official transition from the college game to professional hockey.
Trey Taylor Career Wins and Honors
While individual game-by-game win totals at the professional level are still in the early stages of accumulation, Trey Taylor’s collegiate résumé features multiple conference-level honors. He was named to the All-ECAC Second Team following the 2023–24 season and earned ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman honors in both 2023–24 and 2024–25, before being elevated to the All-ECAC First Team after his junior campaign.
Clarkson Highlights
Taylor’s most decorated season at Clarkson came in 2024–25, when he served as team captain and set career highs with nine goals and 20 assists in 39 games. His earlier sophomore breakout, in which he led all Golden Knights defencemen in points, shots, and blocked shots, served as the springboard for his later recognition. Across 110 career collegiate games, he finished with 16 goals and 38 assists, capping his career with First Team all-conference honors.
Trey Taylor Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Trey Taylor was raised in Richmond, British Columbia, by his parents, Mervyn and Julia Taylor, in a household with deep hockey roots. He has three brothers, Ty, Tate, and Tase, several of whom have been involved in competitive hockey. The family’s shared passion for the sport helped shape Trey’s early development and reinforced the disciplined approach that has defined his career path.
Personal Life
His older brother Ty played college ice hockey at the University of New Hampshire, mirroring the collegiate route that Trey would later pursue at Clarkson. The Taylor brothers’ parallel paths through NCAA hockey reflect the family’s ongoing connection to the sport. Beyond his athletic pursuits, Taylor’s personal life remains centered on his transition into professional hockey with the Dallas Stars organization.
2025 Season Performance
Trey Taylor’s 2025 storyline is defined by his transition from a decorated Clarkson captain to a professional prospect within the Dallas Stars system. After signing his entry-level contract on March 24, 2025, he was assigned to the Texas Stars of the AHL for the remainder of the 2024–25 season, allowing him to begin his professional career in a developmental setting while adjusting to the speed and structure of professional hockey.
With a two-year entry-level deal in place, Taylor’s primary objectives in his debut professional campaign include establishing himself as a reliable AHL defenceman, demonstrating the two-way game that earned him consecutive ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman awards, and positioning himself for a future NHL opportunity with the parent club in Dallas. His blend of size, shot-blocking reliability, and offensive instincts from the back end gives the Dallas organization a developmental project to monitor closely.
Looking ahead through the 2025–26 season and into 2026–27, Taylor’s progression with the Texas Stars will be closely watched by the Dallas front office as they evaluate his readiness for a potential NHL call-up. His track record of incremental improvement, from a depth freshman to a captain and First Team all-conference selection, suggests a player whose professional development arc is only beginning.
