Taylee Manion, born in 2009 and raised in Hermantown, Minnesota, has established herself as a top‑tier right‑handed defenseman, earning All‑Area Girls’ Hockey Player of the Year honors while playing for the Proctor/Hermantown Mirage.
A Promising Path
Her breakthrough came during the United States’ U‑18 World Championship in Nova Scotia, where she helped the team go undefeated and contributed to a 2‑0 shutout victory over Canada, cementing her reputation on the international stage.
Greg May, who served as an assistant coach on that U‑18 squad, became a pivotal influence on Manion’s decision to join the University of Minnesota Gophers, now that he has taken the helm of the program as head coach.
Before college, Manion will spend a season with the Hill‑Murray Pioneers, the two‑time defending Class AA state champions, a move she says will help her develop offensive skills such as getting pucks deep and refining her blue‑line positioning.
Her ultimate goal is to transition smoothly into Division I competition, using the experience gained at Hill‑Murray and the University of Minnesota to elevate her game and contribute to the Gophers’ quest for success.