April 29, 2009
FAIRBANKS, AK – Alaska Nanook hockey head coach Dallas Ferguson announced the signing of two forwards and a goalie to National Letters of Intent Wednesday.
The trio includes 6-foot-3, 195-pound goalie Steve Thompson (Anchorage, AK), 6-foot-1, 205-pound right wing Andy Taronto (Woodridge, IL) and 5-foot-10, 180-pound left wing Colton Beck (Langley, BC).
“Alaska Hockey is very excited about the signing of forwards Andy Taranto,
Colton Beck, and goaltender Steve Thompson,” said Ferguson. “All three of these young men are talented athletes and tremendous people.”
Steve Thompson:
Thompson, a 20 year-old native of Anchorage, Alaska and the United States Hockey League’s Sioux City Musketeers, just completed his third season of junior hockey.
After spending his rookie season with the Vernon Vipers (2006-07) in the British Columbia Hockey League, Thompson has played back-to-back campaigns for the Musketeers (2007-09), appearing in 67 games, compiling a winning record (26-25-3) and a .903 save percentage. He was twice awarded the USHL Goalie of the Week this season.
"I am very excited for Steve and his family right now, said Sioux City head coach Todd Knott. “Fairbanks is not only getting a good goalie but more importantly, a great kid. I think it will be a great fit for both the program and Steve."
In his pre-junior hockey days, Thompson played for UAF hockey alumnus Rick Trupp (1982-86) with the 2005 State Champion Alaska Northstars (Anchorage Hockey Association), while attending West Anchorage High School.
"Steve played and was a mainstay with the Northstars in the Anchorage Hockey Association during his youth playing days in Anchorage. We are proud of him and his accomplishments to date and we know that he'll be a strong addition to the Fairbanks program and we wish him and the Alaska program continued success."
Thompson’s prep career was highlighted by his stint with the Detroit Bell Tires, as he backstopped them to the Michigan State Championship title after compiling impressive numbers throughout the season: he finished the year 30-10 with a 2.01 goals-against average and .933 Spct.
An intended psychology major at UAF, Thompson aspires to be a sports psychologist or a goalie coach.
“The signing of Steve Thompson will make our goaltending position very competitive next season,” said Ferguson.
Andy Taranto:
After three years with in the USHL, Andy Taranto joins the Blue and Gold. He split his rookie season between the Omaha Lancers and the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets and stayed on with the Blue Jackets for the 2007-08 season. He saved the best for last, leading the Fargo Force offensively this year (2008-09) and the USHL in goals with 34 to earn the Rod Taylor Trophy and All-USHL Second Team.
He also led the league with the longest goal-scoring streak, notching 10 markers in 10 consecutive outings. His junior career was highlighted by a nine-point weekend when he scored a natural hat trick en route to five goals and four assists in a pair of contests.
In his stint with the Force, the 20 year-old forward was mentored by Dean Blais, who coached the University of North Dakota to two NCAA Championship titles and is a former associate head coach for the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.
“Andy is strong, smart, and committed, but most of all a winner, who won’t quit in difficult situations,” said Blais. “He led the USHL in goals which says a lot about his talent, but has a chance to play in the NHL because of his top end improvement and character.”
A 2006 graduate of Downers Grove South High School, Taranto played one season of Mustang Baseball as a freshman, after which he devoted his time to club hockey with the AAA Chicago Chill. In is final year with the Chill, Taranto and his teammates took the title at the regional and state levels, before losing in overtime of the National championship game.
“We are very excited to add a player like Andy to our line-up next season,” said Nanooks’ assistant coach Brian Meisner. “He will bring a lot of intangibles to our team both on and off the ice. We know we are getting a player who is well prepared to contribute at this level after his tenure with Coach Blais and the Fargo Force staff.”
Taranto plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business and an associate’s degree in sports management.
Colton Beck
A two-year BCHL veteran, 18 year-old Colton Beck spent the past two seasons with the Langley Chiefs. After scoring 10 points in 46 games his rookie season, Beck exploded offensively this year with 36 goals (seventh best in BCHL), and 27 assists good for 63 points in 60 games: ranking him 12th best overall.
“Colton has really come along way for us,” Chiefs head coach Harvey Smyl said. “He has been great in the clutch and has been a force all year offensively for us.”
Smyl’s reference to Beck's ability in the clutch is backed by his league-leading eight game winning goals and four overtime markers.
With aspirations to someday play in the National Hockey League, Beck already has some family ties to the big show. His uncle Barry Beck was the second overall pick in the NHL’s 1977 amateur draft and went on to start his career with the former Colorado Rockies.
Beck will study business at UAF and would like to own his own business after pursuing a professional hockey career.
“Our program has addressed goal-scoring needs in the signing of Andy and Colton.” Ferguson added. “They have a knack for the net and are willing to get their noses dirty to put a puck in the net.”
The trio of recruits join forwards Cody Kunyk (Sherwood Park, AB/Sherwood Park-AJHL), Nik Yaremchuk (St. Albert, AB/Sherwood Park Crusaders-AJHL), Jarret Granberg (Foremost, AB/Brooks Bandits-AJHL), and Erik Slemp (Red Deer, AB/Penticton Vees-BCHL) as well as defensemen Justin Daigle (Calgary, AB/Okotoks Oilers-AJHL), and Kaare Odegard (Red Deer, AB/Canmore Eagles-AJHL).
