Paris to honour Zac Dalpe with banner at Brant Sports Complex Aug. 21st

Community invited to come out and celebrate Dalpe’s career and most recent successful playoff run with the Florida Panthers

By Casandra Turnbull

Big dreams to the big leagues, Zac Dalpe’s story is one of inspiration and determination

Residents and hockey fans alike will have the chance to hear Dalpe’s story and to honour the local hometown hockey hero when a banner is raised at the Brant Sports Complex during a special ceremony on August 21st at 4:30 pm

The community is invited to celebrate with Dalpe, who was born and raised in Paris, advanced through the ranks of Paris Minor Hockey, eventually landing in the NHL and most recently coming off the high of a pretty spectacular run to the Stanley Cup Finals with the Florida Panthers. “I grew up seeing names like Syl Apps, Doug Stewart and Tyler Pelton (in the rafters) and I always wanted to have the status they had,” said Dalpe in a phone interview with The Paris Independent. “I just wanted to be on the same wall so to have a banner raised and that the town is going to honour someone like me is pretty cool.”

He’s home for a few weeks to visit with family and friends and just enjoy the off season. Dalpe has what he calls his forever home in Otterville now, a place for his family to unwind from the hustle and bustle of pro hockey life.

Click on the above image to watch Zac’s complete post-game interview following his first Stanley Cup Playoff goal, which he dedicated to his hometown Paris, Ontario.

Dalpe started and played most of the 2022/2023 season as Captain of the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers, but he was called up to play 14 games with the Florida Panthers during regular season, collecting 14 point (two goals, two assists). He played in the first round of the NHL playoffs against the Boston Bruins and his energy and fierce determination cultivated into his first career Stanley Cup Playoffs goal. It was game 6 of the series and Dalpe’s third-period goal started a comeback for the team who went on to win 7-5 to tie the best of seven series. It was a moment Dalpe says he will never forget, and it was a moment that created a lot of buzz back here in Paris, too.

In a post-game interview, on Live TV, Dalpe dedicated the goal to his hometown of Paris, Ontario. Dalpe calls the dedication a spur of the moment statement, fuelled by unwavering support from so many people here in town

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“I briefly checked my phone and realized how many people from Paris texted me So, I found it fitting to say that in the moment. I love being where I’m from, I have so much pride,” said Dalpe. And that feeling of pride was mutual Many hockey fans, Leafs fans included, were cheering for Dalpe and watching anxiously to see if he would hoist the Cup over his head The Panthers went all the way to the finals but couldn’t get the best of an unbeatable Las Vegas team, but it’s an experience at the top of Dalpe’s career highlights, that’s for sure.

The August 21st ceremony in Paris will not only honour Dalpe and his 13-year NHL career, but also serve to inspire the next generation of Paris Wolfpack players who have similar ambitions and dreams. With the start of another hockey season on the horizon, this event will remind youngsters that if you play hard and dream big, you can accomplish the seemingly impossible dream.

Logging many hours on the Syl Apps Arena ice (the former arena), Dalpe said dreaming of the NHL is all he ever thought about. “I definitely didn’t have a back-up plan because I was so dedicated to wanting to play in the NHL – I literally didn’t think about anything else. It was my whole life,” recalls Dalpe And it wasn’t always an easy road, but a lot can be said for determination and thick skin.

“It’s easy to enjoy the lighter side and ups of hockey but if you don’t embrace the grind and the failures and use them as motivation, then this sport is probably not for you. You have to really love the grind of hockey and know how to turn a negative into a positive,” he offered as advice to young players looking to follow in his footsteps. Dalpe left the Paris Wolfpack to play with the Brantford 99ers ‘AAA’ He signed with the Stratford Cullitons Junior B Club and eventually went west to play for the British Columbia Hockey League’s Penticton Vees Junior A Club in 2007-08 He was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2nd round, 45th overall of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Continued on page 11

One of Zac’s favourite Paris Minor hockey memories is winning backto-back OMHA titles in 2002 and 2003. The town cheered on as the team was paraded through town on a firetruck to celebrate their win. In fact, the poignant memory is tattooed on his arm. “I’ve done a lot of cool things in my life, but I still hold that near and dear to my heart. We felt like we won the Stanley Cup.” Pictured above is the winning Paris Optimist Club Wolfpack – Baxter Attlebery (left), Zac Dalpe, Dean Baker-Donovan, Phil Dalpe, Mike Frommer, J.J. Barrett, Randy Keeton (back row), Doug Stewart, Paul Dalpe, Pat Bailey, Chad Marshall, Brad Heibert, Chad McGivern, Joe Pickering, Dylan Svirk, Chris Pike and Elliot MacNeil. Absent: Ted Attlebery, Scott Northy

He’s played on many American League farm teams over his 13-year career and has worn various NHL jerseys – Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, the Minnesota Wild and the Florida Panthers He’s experienced many ups and downs, cuts from teams and sports injuries but his never give up attitude, inherited from both his parents the late Lisa Dalpe and Paul Dalpe, he continued to strive forward with his eye always on the prize. On August 21st, Dalpe will be joined by his father Paul and his brothers Phil and Ben, as well as his wife Cassandra, their three children Brooks, Beau and Beckham, along with many family members and friends The first 500 people in attendance will receive a free t-shirt giveaway, explains Tyler Pelton, one of the lead organizers of the event. Plans are being finalized but there will be lots of involvement from the local hockey community to make it a memorable evening for many young players. While Dalpe grew up idolizing Pelton’s career, it is Pelton who is now idolizing Dalpe’s career “Zac played a lot of his minor hockey right in Paris, which I tell all the kids I coach to give them something to dream for,” said Pelton, adding that making it to the NHL is so rare. The fact that only a handful of Parisians have accomplished the dream is even more motivation for Pelton to ensure Zac’s successes are appropriately recognized.

Right now, Zac’s Carolina Hurricanes jersey is hanging in the Brant Sports Complex lobby, but it’s mostly visible if you’re looking for it, says Pelton “I wanted something a little more prominent. When we win our championships, we show off our banners on the wall. As a community we should be proud of Zac for a lot of things.”