Jeff Taffe is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and various other leagues throughout his career. Taffe was born on February 19, 1981, in Hastings, Minnesota, and began playing hockey at a young age. He played for the Hastings Raiders in high school and then went on to play for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Taffe was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, but he did not make his NHL debut until the 2002-2003 season with the Phoenix Coyotes. He played in 21 games that season and scored two goals and three assists. Taffe then played for the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, and Minnesota Wild over the next several years.
Throughout his NHL career, Taffe played in a total of 180 games and scored 21 goals and 23 assists. He also played in the American Hockey League (AHL) and various European leagues during his career. Taffe was known for his offensive skills and his ability to score goals.
After his NHL career, Taffe continued to play in various leagues around the world. He played in the Swiss National League A, the Swedish Hockey League, and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Taffe also played for the United States national team in the 2011 IIHF World Championships.
Taffe retired from professional hockey in 2016 and began coaching. He served as an assistant coach for the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team for two seasons before being named the head coach of the ECHL's Rapid City Rush in 2018. Taffe is now the head coach of the University of Alaska Anchorage men's hockey team.
Overall, Jeff Taffe had a successful hockey career that spanned over a decade. He played in the NHL and various other leagues around the world, and he was known for his offensive skills and ability to score goals. Taffe is now using his experience and knowledge to help coach the next generation of hockey players.
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