Dartmouth Days Leaving a Lasting Impact on Palocsik

Tanner Palocsik has always loved hockey, but wasn't sure how far he could take the sport.

Nearing the end of a unique and challenging four-year collegiate career, it's safe to say the senior captain and All-Ivy defenseman has taken it pretty far…

And it may be far from over.

"Coming in as a freshman, I didn't really know how realistic a choice to pursue hockey would be for myself," said Palocsik. "I wasn't sure if I would get much playing time or if I would have success with hockey, so I was always focused on school and getting set up for a job."

The economics major is still very much doing that, but at the same time, he also has realistic aspirations to continue playing the sport at a high level.

"I want to keep playing hockey as long as I can," said Palocsik. "I've always felt a connection to the game."

Playing hockey and succeeding outside of athletics isn't mutually exclusive.

Actually, it's quite the contrary; they're pretty directly related.

"I've always taken pride in being a leader and I hope my teammates see me that way," said Palocsik, when asked about the legacy he hopes to leave. "I want future players to be able to look at our team and see things I had an impact on when we were struggling. I hope we can help build towards a better future, and I do believe we are heading in the right direction."
Tanner Palocsik men's hockey action at Ledyard versus Yale

Tanner Palocsik men's hockey action at Ledyard versus Yale

Among the obstacles in Palocsik's career was the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Having to deal with COVID definitely threw a wrench in things and totally changed your perspective on everything," he said. "We were forced to face different problems that we weren't used to, and whether it was doing online classes or having to be home and away from friends for a while, those are things that will have an impact on my life for a long time."

In April of 2020, right after the start of the pandemic, head coach Bob Gaudet retired following 23 seasons in Hanover.

Gaudet played an integral role in getting Palocsik to Dartmouth.

"I was a pretty good student in high school, nothing too crazy, but good enough to use hockey and academics to put me in a good position coming to a school like Dartmouth," said Palocsik. "When the Dartmouth coaches had reached out, I was already out of high school at this point, playing junior hockey, so I took two gap years to play juniors.

"When the coaches reached out, it was a no-brainer [to commit to Dartmouth]."

Palocsik's transition to Dartmouth was pretty seamless, leading the nation in points (24) and points per game (0.77) by a rookie defenseman.

"The transition was honestly a lot easier than I had expected," he said. "I attribute a lot to the team we had, and the guys we had on the team. I had a lot of really great teammates who were very supportive of the younger guys, which made it easy to come in and play with confidence."

Little did Palocsik know at the time, but what he was learning from his teammates as a freshman would play a role in Palocsik's emergence as a leader and eventually senior captain.

"Trying to emulate some of the things I saw when I was younger has definitely helped shape me into who I try to be as a leader," he said. "When I was a freshman, the captain was Brendan Demler and he's somebody I stay in touch with to this day. I'll ask him for help, advice and different ways to approach the day-to-day."
Press Eye - Belfast, Northern Ireland - 26th November 2022 - Photo by William Cherry/PresseyeSteve Hagwell, Commissioner ECAC Hockey presents the Dartmouth Big Green's Player the Game award to Tanner Palocsik after Saturday's third place game against the UMass Lowell River Hawks in the prestigious Friendship Four tournament at The SSE Arena, Belfast. Photo by William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast, Northern Ireland - 26th November 2022 - Photo by William Cherry/PresseyeSteve Hagwell, Commissioner ECAC Hockey presents the Dartmouth Big Green's Player the Game award to Tanner Palocsik after Saturday's third place game against the UMass Lowell River Hawks in the prestigious Friendship Four tournament at The SSE Arena, Belfast. Photo by William Cherry/Presseye

One of Palocsik's greatest challenges has been navigating a coaching change amidst a pandemic. Former Washington Capitals assistant coach Reid Cashman was named the Koenig Family Head Coach of Dartmouth Men's Hockey on June 1, 2020. Cashman's first year (2020-21), there was no season due to COVID-19, although limited team activities were allowed.

"That year was really back-and-forth, up-and-down," said Palocsik. "We had practices cancelled and we weren't able to find any sort of flow or groove to our training schedule. It was hard to learn what our new coaches really wanted from us."

It was no one's fault, but just due to the circumstances.

"We tried in every way possible," said Palocsik.

With a relatively normal schedule on tap for 2021-22, the Big Green had to crunch a lot into a short period of time after their previous game came in the ECAC Tournament a year and a half prior.

"Learning a whole new system is always tough," said Palocsik. "There was definitely a growing period that we had to go through."

The Big Green have been making progress. Among their wins last season was a Game 1 victory in the ECAC Hockey First Round at Rensselaer. This season, their record isn't what they want, but anyone who has been at a game at Thompson Arena can see how close they are. Dartmouth has consistently been neck-and-neck against some of the nation's best teams, which included holding a 2-1 lead over No. 2 Quinnipiac with less than five minutes remaining.

What can you say about this goal from @Dartmouth_MIH's Tanner Palocsik?! 😱#SCTop10 | #TheWoods🌲 | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/R9xNvq2PNg
— Dartmouth Athletics (@dartmouthsports) January 14, 2023

Palocsik's leadership has played a role in the Big Green being able to consistently refocus after some heartbreaking defeats.

"One of the things I try to do is be extremely dependable for the guys on my team and I want to be someone others can lean on," said Palocsik. "Come ask a question, whether it's a tactical thing, a system thing, or even just a mentality thing."

Junior Josh Waters spoke to Palocsik's impact.

"I believe it's important to have a captain that can lead, on and off the ice, and he does both at a very high level," said Waters. "Tanner was the first player I had met before coming to Dartmouth and he couldn't have made me feel more comfortable and welcomed. He's always been there for me, whether it relates to hockey or not, and has constantly been there to give me advice during our three years together.

"Dartmouth hockey is going to miss Tanner a lot next year and I'm excited to see him excel at the next level."

Palocsik admitted the extra pressure he feels as a go-to person, but it is pressure he thrives on.
Press Eye - Belfast, Northern Ireland - 26th November 2022 - Photo by William Cherry/PresseyeDartmouth Big Green's Tanner Palocsik with UMass Lowell River Hawks' Scout Truman during Saturday's third place game in the prestigious Friendship Four tournament at The SSE Arena, Belfast. Photo by William Cherry/Presseye

Press Eye - Belfast, Northern Ireland - 26th November 2022 - Photo by William Cherry/PresseyeDartmouth Big Green's Tanner Palocsik with UMass Lowell River Hawks' Scout Truman during Saturday's third place game in the prestigious Friendship Four tournament at The SSE Arena, Belfast. Photo by William Cherry/Presseye

"When it comes to actual hockey game play, my challenge is being on top of every single thing we do," he said. "I have to take that upon myself to, I don't want to say be perfect, but be as good as I possibly can within every piece of our game play and style. If I'm doing something the right way, it should be a message to the younger guys.

"A lot comes from me having a really good relationship with our coaches, meeting with them a lot and fully understanding everything they're trying to accomplish and the message they're trying to get across to the team."

Speaking of the team, Palocsik plays an important role in the Big Green's involvement in Team Impact, as Dartmouth men's hockey recently signed a youngster named Andrew.

"I think we can overlook how fortunate we are to be at a place like Dartmouth, and the groundwork it lays for the rest of our lives," said Palocsik. "To see somebody like Andrew, it brings us down to earth and puts things in perspective."

That perspective has come in many forms.

"Dealing with adversity is another big lesson," said Palocsik. "Andrew's mom would say he had a good day today, but some days are worse than others. I remember one day, he came for practice and we brought him out on the ice, put him in a chair and skated him around for a bit. Guys were just having fun with him.

"We got a text later that day from his mom saying thank you because earlier, he had a rough day at school and was just dealing with different things at the time," Palocsik continued. "To see we can make an impact on somebody's life like that is really positive and uplifting."

What keeps Palocsik motivated and excited to attack every day?

A positive outlook.

"Approaching each day with a positive mindset stems from having a lot of love and support from family and friends around me," he said. "Hockey has been part of my life from the start. Getting to go to the rink every day is very special to me. Loving the game of hockey and being surrounded by a lot of good friends and extremely supportive family definitely helps.

"It relates back to Andrew and Team Impact, and not taking anything for granted," Palocsik continued.

For as challenging as his college career was, with the pandemic and coaching change, Palocsik knows it's small in the grand scheme of things.

He is grateful to be in the position he's in.

Once this season ends, Palocsik hopes to sign professionally. When that's over, he'll use his Dartmouth degree and continue to do great things, but just in a different way.

"I'm open to playing in Europe and exploring different leagues over there," he said. "There are a lot of really good professional leagues in Europe, but I'd probably prefer to stay in the states and play at the highest level possible here."

Wherever he plays, Palocsik will continue to hone important skills that sports teach.

"There are lessons I've learned being a leader here that will hopefully impact the way I raise a family someday, the way I am in the workforce or whatever it may be.

"These days at Dartmouth will certainly have an impact on the rest of my life."

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