Hall fulfilled – A massive hit in the 2010 Memorial Cup opener didn’t slow Taylor Hall—it pushed him to score two goals in a 9-3 win. Edmonton’s decision to draft him No. 1 in 2010 now reads like a bet that paid off, from back-to-back Memorial Cup MVP seasons to a rookie year
When Taylor Hall took a massive hit in the opening game of the 2010 Memorial Cup, it looked like the night might be over for him. Instead, he was helped off the ice, returned, and scored two goals in a 9-3 win.
Hall’s courage in that moment stayed with Edmonton’s leadership. “I remember I looked at ‘Tamby’ and said, ‘Our decision could be done,’” MacGregor said. “He looked like he was hurt badly. He went into the boards so hard, but he got up and kept playing. Then I went, ‘Oh man, this guy’s driven.’ And he played really well. I think he scored a really big goal in that game if I remember right. For me, it kind of was one of those moments where it helps you make your decision.”.
The hit itself came from defenseman Travis Hamonic, who played for Brandon of the Western Hockey League. Hall went face first into the end boards. MacGregor’s description of the aftermath wasn’t abstract. In real time. it forced a gut-check about what kind of player Hall would be when games—and decisions—were on the line.
That tournament had already framed Hall as more than a top prospect. He had won the Memorial Cup in 2009 and 2010 with Windsor of the Ontario Hockey League. and he was named tournament MVP both seasons. Those two MVPs weren’t just trophies—they were the reason the Oilers ultimately made him their No. 1 pick in the 2010 Draft.
Hall’s rookie season with Edmonton followed the promise. In 2010-11, he produced 42 points in 65 games, with 22 goals and 20 assists. The next season, he added 53 points—27 goals and 26 assists—in 61 games.
Edmonton’s wider situation made the expectations heavier. After reaching the 2006 Stanley Cup Final and losing to Carolina in seven games, the Oilers struggled for years. They won just 27 games the year before they drafted Hall, and 25 when he was a rookie. They wouldn’t return to the playoffs until 2017.
In that kind of stretch, the Oilers weren’t just looking for talent. They were looking for someone who could drive a line and change the pace of a rebuild. Tambellini pointed to Hall’s immediate impact. “There are not too many 18-year-olds that are the drivers of the line he’s out there with and he did that his first year. so that was impressive. ” Tambellini said. “We were in a full rebuild and brought in Taylor. And sometimes, not every night, but sometimes, he would be the best player on the ice as an 18-year-old.”.
The story’s turning point circles back to that 2010 Memorial Cup moment: the fear after the hit. the quick decision to get him back on the ice. and then the results—two goals in a 9-3 win. For MacGregor, it wasn’t only about what Hall could do on paper. It was about what he did when the risk became real.
Taylor Hall Edmonton Oilers 2010 draft Memorial Cup Windsor Ontario Hockey League tournament MVP Travis Hamonic 2010-11 rookie season MacGregor Tambellini 2017 playoffs