Connecticut College Athletic Hall of Fame
Gaar Talanian's '86 impact on the Camel men's ice hockey program was transformative. His leadership and talent on the blue line for Connecticut College Athletic Hall of Fame Coach Doug Roberts' early teams led the program from its infancy to the top of the ladder in the ECAC South.
With Talanian paving the way, the Camels won the ECAC South title four years later, leading to the program's invitation to join the highly competitive ECAC East that would evolve into the current NESCAC hockey league.
A two-year captain, two-time MVP and leader on and off the ice, Talanian scored 30 goals and dished out 56 assists for a career total of 86 points. In his rookie season on the blue line, Talanian and the Camels posted a 13-9 record (.591) in just their third season as a varsity program. At the conclusion of the season, Talanian was honored by Roberts with the program's Unsung Hero Award.
During his sophomore campaign, Talanian accounted for eight goals while assisting on 15 others for a season total of 23 points. In his junior year, Talanian was recognized as a leader by his coaches and teammates and wore the captain's C on his Camel sweater.
In his first season as a captain of the defense, Talanian potted six goals and doled out 15 assists for a season total of 21 points to help the Camels make a one game improvement in the win column.
As a senior captain, Talanian and his teammates established the gold standard for all future Camel skaters to follow. The team posted a record of 16-6 (.727), earning a spot in the finals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Championship. By season's end, the Camels ascended to the top of the ECAC rankings. The Camels won the Spurrier and McCabe Tournaments for the first time in program history that season.
Talanian posted a career best 27 points to finish third on the squad in scoring with seven goals and 20 assists. In his four years on the ice, Talanian helped bring the program forward from its infancy to post a 44-39 record (.530). He was twice recognized as the ECAC Defensive Player of the Week during his prolific playing career on the blue line. The success of the 1985-86 season galvanized the program and its supporters as the Camels would go on to win 16 games or more for each of the next four seasons, an historic run that culminated in the program's first-ever ECAC title in 1990.
Since his graduation from Connecticut College, Talanian has continued to dedicate time and resources to the sport he loves as a volunteer in the Greater Boston area. He has coached youth hockey at the squirt, peewee and bantam classifications in Arlington, Massachusetts. Talanian has also committed his time as a volunteer to many other worthy causes. He has served as a Relay for Life Team Captain for the Arlington Board of Youth Services. He has also volunteered time with his teams to assist the less fortunate at the renowned Perkins School for the Blind.
Talanian and his wife Lori have two children, Josh and Ava.
