Boys hockey has been played at Taft since Horace Dutton Taft founded the school in 1890. Taft's long-standing tradition of excellence in boys' ice hockey dates back to the undefeated 1905 team. Moreover, Taft was the first school in New England to have an indoor artificial ice surface, Mays Rink, which was built by Taft students in 1950. Over the past century, Taft has emphasized excellence not only on the ice, but also in the classroom and the dormitory. The Taft boys' hockey program is proud of helping student athletes improve their individual skills and hockey “sense,” and also helping them to foster their leadership skills.

The junior varsity program is based on two principles: the first is that players best develop their skills and abilities by getting as much playing time as possible, and as such, the team has a history of moving a handful of players to the varsity level each year. The second, and most important principle, is that hockey is a game, and should be fun. All athletes at Taft are expected to compete hard and represent the school to the best of their ability, in both their play and their behavior.