Taylor Accursi

Taylor Accursi is a Canadian ice hockey forward, currently playing for the Buffalo Beauts of the NWHL.

Taylor Accursi
Taylor Accursi with the Buffalo Beauts 11-18-2018
Born (1995-03-02) March 2, 1995
Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
Height 173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Position Forward (ice hockey)
Shoots Left
NWHL team
Former teams		 Buffalo Beauts
Mercyhurst Lakers
Playing career 2013–present

Career

During high school, she played for the Burlington Barracudas of the PWHL.

From 2013 to 2017, she attended Mercyhurst University in the United States, scoring a total of 38 points in 123 NCAA games. She struggled in her first few seasons for Mercyhurst, only posting 15 points in her first three seasons, before scoring 23 points in 35 games in her final season.[1]

After graduating, she planned to retire from hockey and become a police officer, until her sister convinced her to try out for the Beauts.[2] She scored her first career NWHL goal in October 2017 in a 3-2 victory over the Connecticut Whale, the opening goal of the 2017-18 NWHL season.

In the 2019-20 season, she put up 25 points in 24 games, including 16 goals, finished in the league's top-5 scorers, as the Beauts were eliminated in the play-in game against the Whale before the playoff semi-finals.[3] She was named to Team Dempsey for the 2020 NWHL All-Star Game.[4] She scored a career-high four goals in a single game in the 2019 Buffalo Believes Classic, the NWHL's inaugural outdoor game, scoring all four in the third period to bring the Beauts back from a three-goal deficit (although the Riveters eventually won the game 7-4).[5]

She re-signed with the Beauts for the 2020–21 NWHL season, the first player on the team to re-sign and was named team captain. However, after being unable to secure a full two weeks off her job outside of hockey, she was forced to opt-out of the bubble season.[6]

Style of play

Often described as a natural goalscorer, Accursi has been noted for her speed, acceleration, and her stickhandling skills.[7][8] In 2017, Nate Oliver, who would later become Beauts' general manager, compared her stickhandling to Pavel Datsyuk, stating that "like Houdini, she is a bit of an escape artist. A small opening and, zoom, she’s gone."[9] When asked to describe her own style of play, she stated that "I like to score goals... definitely score goals."[10] She has also received attention for her goal celebrations.[11][12]

Personal life

Outside of hockey, Accursi works as a police officer for the Ontario Provincial Police.[13] Her sister, Hunter Accursi, also plays for the Beauts.[14] She is related to former National Lacrosse League player Mike Accursi.[15]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2017-18Buffalo BeautsNWHL 1565118 20002
2018-19Buffalo BeautsNWHL 134262 20000
2019-20Buffalo BeautsNWHL 241692516 10110
NWHL totals 5226164226 50112

References
  1. "Opportunity allowed Taylor Accursi to fall back in love with the game – and turned her into an NWHL all-star". 14 January 2020.
  2. "Ancaster pro is working to sell women's hockey in complicated times". The Hamilton Spectator. December 2019.
  3. Lippa, Nick (2020-01-09). "Beauts Breakdown: Struggles continue, but Taylor Accursi is a bonafide star". WBFO - Buffalo's NPR News Station. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  4. "2020 NWHL All-Star Weekend Preview". 7 February 2020.
  5. Rodriguez, Angelica (2019-12-31). "Buffalo Believes Classic was an instant classic". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  6. "Buffalo Beauts Sign Premier Scorer Taylor Accursi for 2020-21". 5 April 2020.
  7. Tocheri, Julia (December 2020). "One player to watch on each NWHL team this upcoming season". Bardown. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  8. Bryant, Casey (2020-10-30). "All-Time Starting Lineup: Buffalo Beauts". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  9. Oliver, Nate (2017-10-31). "Beauts Taylor Accursi's Magical Stick-Handling". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  10. Burgess, Melissa (2017-11-28). "Taylor Accursi Speeds Her Way to NWHL Success". The Victory Press. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  11. "Beauts' Taylor Accursi , aka 'Celly Queen,' readies for NWHL All-Star Game". Buffalo News. 2020-02-07. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  12. Rice, Dan (2019-11-21). "Beauts' Accursi Inspiring Fans Near and Far". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  13. Tokarski, Anne (2021-01-14). "Beauts' Taylor Accursi to sit out NWHL season six". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  14. Radley, Scott (2021-01-12). "Taylor, Hunter Accursi set to take sister act to the NWHL". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  15. "Taylor Accursi - 2016-2017 - Women's Ice Hockey".
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