From a young age, junior Co-captain center Dalton Smith has been playing hockey. Growing up in Pittsburg, Penn., hockey became his first love. At just three years old, Smith began skating, and by the time he moved to Connecticut, he was ready to join his first organized team at the age of seven. Smith loves being out on the ice, and as a leader, he knows that he needs to set a good example by being a strong player who is not scared to face down challenges. Smith finished the regular season with two goals and 25 assists, showing that he is a team-first type of player.
Head Coach John Hissick had nothing but good things to say about his star center. When asked about what Smith’s best attribute is, Coach Hissick described his attitude. “He is a very skilled player, and he never allows himself to get beat,” Coach Hissick said. “He doesn’t take chances unless he knows he is going to win.” Smith is a very smart player, and that quality shows off the ice as well, where he receives very good grades in the classroom. Coach Hissick went on to add that Smith is a great kid both on and off the ice. “He is unknowingly a role model for the younger kids,” he said. “He is not overly vocal, but he leads by example on the ice.”
As a captain of the team, Smith also does a good job of balancing his own phenomenal skills with those of his teammates as well, recognizing that captaincy is more than a title, but a role that allows him to help others grow as well as himself. Smith is able to put the needs of his team over himself. “He is the last kid off the bus, making sure everything is cleaned up,” Coach Hissick said. He went on to tell a story about how Smith left practice to go pick up some of his teammates who missed the team bus and otherwise would not have been able to attend practice. “My favorite part about getting to play for KO is having the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone as captain,” Smith said. “Getting to do so with some of my closest friends has been a blessing.”
Other than being a great player and leader, Smith has made many memories throughout his time as a Wyvern hockey player. “My favorite memory has to be our Senior Night game against Hamden Hall,” he said. “We started off with a four-goal deficit, but came back to win 10-7, clinching the playoffs. It was a morale booster, given that it was our first playoff appearance in three years.”
Smith is a humble student-athlete with a lot to look forward to with a future in hockey. Although the KO hockey team unfortunately lost their playoff game against Rye Country Day School, ending their chances to advance to the semifinals, the team has had an incredibly strong and successful season, thanks in no small part to Smith! We look forward to seeing what he does next in his hockey career.
