Paris Sports Heroes: Born to be a hockey player

  Zac Dalpe shares a smile with two of his sons alongside emcee Tyler Pelton during a 2024 ceremony at the Brant Sports Complex, where Dalpe’s jersey was officially retired.

Scoop Stewart

Paris Independent Sports Reporter

It started with a kid who’d never take off his hockey helmet, a loving family, and a dream. 

For as long as Zac Dalpe can remember, he always wanted to be an NHL hockey player. Zac was dedicated to this dream and sought to make it a reality. Every morning before school he’d shoot 500 pucks until his hands bled, spent more time with a hockey helmet on than off, even to the pyjamas he wore being strictly hockey-themed, he lived and breathed hockey. The son of local Paris stalwarts Paul and the dearly missed Lisa Dalpe, who implored to their three amazing boys, Phil, Zac and Ben, the values of community, hard work, and devotion to their family and friends.

His budding career followed the traditional Canadian hockey player route, learning to skate at his local barn, Syl Apps, and the pond behind the Dalpe house. But even from a young age, he was marked for success, to the point where he was even traded by his own father because the Timbits hockey team was too talented with two Dalpe boys. 

Pivoting to play in Brantford, Zac played a few years for the 99ers Triple A. But in 2001, came back to play with his buddies and older brother, Phil, to win a championship on the Paris Wolfpack, coached by his dad. I knew he’d be a professional hockey player the moment I saw him. All skills, grit, desire, all he needed was size. 

In his second year of Peewee and first year of Bantam, they won back-to-back OMHA Championships for the first time ever in town history, and the first time a Paris team had hoisted the banner since the ‘78 Bantam Chateaus. Playing with the likes of JJ Barrett, Wes Consorti, Chad Marshall, and the late but great Joey Pickering to name a few. The team was driven by Zac and Phil, but they all were eager to learn and happy to be at the extra 6am skates in Plattsville. As a point to honour these fond memories, Zac always tried to wear the number 22 in honour of his old coach, Doug Stewart.

A few years later, Zac was cut from the Mounties and went on to play for the Stratford Cullitons Junior B club, before heading west to play for the Penticton Vees. The following year, Dalpe was drafted by the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL and the Carolina Hurricanes. Choosing to accept a scholarship from Ohio State, he played in the NCAA for two years before making it to the big times. 

With a career that spanned fourteen years, Zac donned the sweater of the Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers, playing in 168 NHL games. He also captained the Cleveland Monsters and Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, wearing the ‘C’ as a testament to his leadership. He played in nearly 600 AHL games and also set the franchise record for most goals and games played in Checkers history. Choosing to retire to be closer to home and to be there for his family, with his three young boys; Brooks, Beau and Beckham, and his lovely wife, Cassandra.

Reflecting on his career, Zac said he “wouldn’t change a thing, it all worked out for a reason. Every single day I tried to make a better hockey player of myself.” Throughout his illustrious career, a few of his favourite memories included the 2023 Stanley Cup run he made with the Florida Panthers, scoring the tying goal in the game six first round battle against Boston, which helped tie the series at 3 apiece before the Panthers would make it to the Finals. His other favourite hockey memory would be riding on the firetruck with his Paris Wolfpack team as OMHA champs, as he felt it really brought the town together. As for favourite coach Dalpe named Paul Maurice, whom he both started and ended his career with as a true scholar of the game. Maurice had a great sense of humour, who knew when to pat ya on the back or kick ya in the butt. And as for the best advice he heard in his professional career, he’d want to pass on to others “do what you did to get here.”

As Dalps decided to hang up the skates for good this past July, he closed the door on his playing career but has opened himself up to a new coaching career, hired by the Seattle Kraken to be a player development coach. Looking to pay it forward, Zac has found his role where he can assess young talent and show them the ropes, and if the young players can learn anything from Zac, they will be much better hockey players and better men because of it.

Congratulations Zac, you have made us all very proud, not only for your playing days, but because you have represented your hometown with dignity, grace and hard work, and shown the world the best of Paris.

Proudly signing off, this is Scoop Stewart and Scoop Jr, always a pleasure.