Jaxon Tait

The Melville Millionaires have struggled out of the gate for the current Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season and despite recording just two wins in their first 13 outings there have been some encouraging signs with one of those being the play of 18-year-old rookie winger Jaxon Tait.

The homegrown product has two goals and four assists in the 12 games he has played in and at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds he provides a physical presence as evidenced by his 25 minutes in penalties.

Tait started the season with points in each of his first three games and recently he has returned to the scoresheet with a pair of points and 15 penalty minutes in the last three games the Millionaires have played.

Tait spent last season with the Prince Albert Mintos of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League where he appeared in every game and amassed 26 points on 10 goals and 16 assists. Tait also displayed his physical abilities in Prince Albert picking up 60 minutes in penalties.

As a 16-year-old, Tait had a breakout season scoring 48 points and collecting 93 minutes in penalties in 34 games with the Melville Midget AA Millionaires. Tait also saw action in a pair of Prairie Junior Hockey League games with Fort Knox where he registered a goal and an assist.

His performance that season came out of nowhere as the previous year he had just 10 points in 38 games with the Midget AA Millionaires.

The Millionaires have some ground to make up, but despite the slow start they are still within striking distance of catching those ahead of them in the Viterra Division standings. With building blocks like Tait in place it is only a matter of time before Melville starts making a move upwards.