Meet the Captains: Boys Hockey

Sophie Murray, Editor-in-Chief

January 7, 2025

WHS Boys Hockey

Tyler Dacko

How long have you been playing your sport?

About 14-14 years.

Do you plan on continuing your sport in college?

Maybe at the club level.

How do you feel going into the season?

I feel very confident in our team going into the season, looking to improve from last year.

Who is a prominent coach in your career? Why?

A prominent coach in my career would probably be my dad. This is because he got me into hockey and was my coach all the way until about 8th grade.

What are some pre-game rituals you have? (songs, pre-game meals, traditions?)

A pregame ritual I have is I go upstairs in the rink and I tape both my sticks and go through a very specific stretch. After that, if the chess board is out, I’ll play a game of chess.

What advice would you give an underclassman playing your sport?

Some advice I would give is to keep working hard because you never know if you’ll get called up to varsity.

If you could have any faculty member join your team, who would you pick?

If he still worked here, I would have Mr. Moody on our team. he played hockey growing up and would bring a lot of energy to the team.

Which team are you most excited to play this season? Why?

I would say that I am most excited to play Norwood this year. This is also probably how most of our team feels too because of our long time rivalry.

Eddie Dietal

How long have you been playing your sport?

About 15 years.

Do you plan on continuing your sport in college?

No, I do not.

How do you feel going into the season?

I feel good going into the season.

Who is a prominent coach in your career? Why?

Bill Whitfield because he reminds me that I’ll never be good enough.

What are some pre-game rituals you have? (songs, pre-game meals, traditions?)

I say a prayer before the game starts, that’s really it.

What advice would you give an underclassman playing your sport?

Enjoy everything because it’s over pretty soon.

If you could have any faculty member join your team, who would you pick?

Mr. Wing because he’s massive.

Which team are you most excited to play this season? Why?

Norwood because of our rivalry.

Ryan Lania

How long have you been playing your sport?

I have been playing for 11 years.

Do you plan on continuing your sport in college?

Maybe at the club level.

How do you feel going into the season?

I feel really good, the boys are locked.

Who is a prominent coach in your career? Why?

My dad, who taught me how to play.

What are some pre-game rituals you have? (songs, pre-game meals, traditions?)

I usually take a cold shower and eat a clean meal before.

What advice would you give an underclassman playing your sport?

Cherish the time you have because it goes by quick and work hard.

If you could have any faculty member join your team, who would you pick?

Mr. B because he’d be a good locker room guy and he used to play back in the day.

Which team are you most excited to play this season? Why?

Norwood because they are our biggest rival and we will have a ton of fans for that game.

Paul Whelan

How long have you been playing your sport?

I’ve been playing hockey for about 10 years.

Do you plan on continuing your sport in college?

No, I don’t think I will play hockey in college.

How do you feel going into the season?

I feel very optimistic about the team this year. I think we are a very unselfish and tight knit group of guys who spend a lot of time together so I think it will translate to our performance

Who is a prominent coach in your career? Why?

A prominent coach in my career is definitely my dad because he has always been there for me when I need him.

What are some pre-game rituals you have? (songs, pre-game meals, traditions?)

I usually listen to some music and play some soccer with my teammates.

What advice would you give an underclassman playing your sport?

Work your absolute hardest and be a good teammate.

If you could have any faculty member join your team, who would you pick?

I think Mr. Boisvert would be a great fit on the squad because he is an extremely motivated and positive guy.

Which team are you most excited to play this season? Why?

Norwood because of the great rivalry we have with them and I think we will have a great turnout from our fans.

About the Contributor

Sophie Murray, Editor-in-Chief

Sophie Murray, class of 2025, is the Editor-in-Chief of The Searchlight. At Walpole High School, she is the head choreographer for the Dance Company and is part of the Random Acts of Kindness Club. In her free time she enjoys dancing, baking, hanging out with her friends, and driving around listening to music.