OSHAWA, Ont. – Ontario Tech men's hockey's busy off-season continues as they have bolstered their defensive core by securing the talents of Tayem Gislason from the Portage Terriers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MHJL).
 
The standout defenseman was named first-team all-star and an MJHL defenceman of the year nominee. Gislason, who served as the Terriers captain, ended his 2023-24 campaign with an impressive 37 points in 54 games.
 

"Tayem will be a solid addition to the Ridgebacks," said Blake Spiller, head coach and general manager of the Portage Terriers. "An intelligent solid defender who will provide offense. He was a team oriented player and a community minded citizen in his time as a member of the Terriers."

Gislason spent parts of three seasons in the Western Hockey League, playing a total of 101 games split between the Prince Albert Raiders and the Red Deer Rebels. The six-foot-three left shot defencemen will add size and skill to the blue line at an important time with the graduations of veteran defencemen Evan White and Stephen Calisti.

"We are very excited to welcome Tayem to our hockey program and to the Ontario Tech athletics family," said Ridgebacks head coach Curtis Hodgins. "We have truly enjoyed getting to know Tayem through the recruiting process and feel his personality and character will be a tremendous addition to our already strong culture. Tayem brings a nice mix of size and mobility, along with the ability to contribute on both sides of the puck and that will serve as a nice addition to our blue line group."