Meet Gabe Tanton
Ontario Jr Reign USPHL (Premier)
“5’11” 146 Pounds
2004 DOB – Forward
Tell us about your hometown, family and hobbies.
I’m from Camrose, Alberta. My family supports me more than anyone and will do anything to help me get to the next level. My dad is the person I look up to most in the world and my older sister is my best friend and closest person in my life. In my spare time I mostly just focus on my school, and getting better at hockey, as well as playing video games with my friends.
How did you originally begin playing hockey (what age as well) and what is your favourite memory from when you were younger?
Both my brother and my older sister played hockey and I wanted to so I started playing when I was 4 and my favourite memory would be finally learning how to raise the puck.
Who is your favourite NHL player and who do you model your game after? Why?
My favourite player is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. He isn’t the biggest player but he is extremely effective in all aspects of the game. The Oilers Power Play as shown this year despite having McDavid and Draisaitl is not super effective when he is out of the lineup. The Oilers PP and PK are both significantly better. He wins faceoffs, he is effective defensively and offensively he is exactly what I try to be as a player.
What team do/did you play for? What was your favorite part from the season?
I played for the Ontario Jr. Reign (USPHL Premier) and our trip to Utah was very cool and definitely the best experience of the year.
What are your top goals as a student athlete? Why are they your top goals?
To play NCAA Div. 1. I want to play there to keep my professional hockey dreams alive but also be able to create a fallback through schooling so I’m not screwed if I get hurt.
How important is school from your perspective? Why is it that way?
School is my number one priority. My top goal is to make sure I can still have a future even if hockey doesn’t work out or I have a career ending injury.
What would it mean to you to play at the NCAA or Pro level?
Those are my two goals in hockey. Pro hockey I get to do what I love and make money from it, and NCAA I get to continue schooling so when my hockey career inevitably ends whether it is when I am 24 or 40 I can still have the education to start a career and succeed at it.
What separates you as a player or person? How do you continue to get better?
As a player my hockey IQ and vision separates me from others. I see the game at a very high level. As a person I try to volunteer as much as possible especially in hockey to try and help younger players get better and I think that’s what separates me as a person is I always try to help others get better.
What impact are you looking to have in your sports careers (community, team, success, etc.)
I want to be an inspiration to the kids that develop later than other people so that they can still achieve their goals and not give up just because they are smaller than others. Eventually it all evens out and the people who work harder are the ones that succeed.
One fun fact about yourself.
I have been on the Oilers Instagram page before.