Sometimes the best things in life are unexpected.
Westlake senior Dalton DeLozier’s hockey life has been different than most, having spent the majority of his high school career playing for the AAA Cleveland Barons. He intended to return to the U18 team for one last season, but there wasn’t a spot for him.
As a result, DeLozier finally got to do something he always wanted to do — play Westlake hockey.
Both DeLozier and the team have benefited as he tallied 43 goals and 56 assists in the regular season while the Demons captured the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League Blue North Division title and are the No. 1 seed in this week’s Baron Cup.
DeLozier called this the most fun season he’s ever had, and it shows.
“Playing with all of my friends, that’s probably the biggest part of why it’s been the most fun,” he said. “I’m playing with guys I’ve grown up with my whole life. Now I finally get to play with them, and we’ve worked so well together.”
Dalton DeLozier and Westlake take on Mayfield on Jan. 30. (Brian Fisher for The News-Herald)
DeLozier has played hockey since he was 4 years old and has gone to Westlake all his life. This is the first time he’s been able to play with his friends. As previously stated, that wasn’t the plan.
Finding out he wasn’t able to play for the Barons was difficult for DeLozier, but he made the best of it. Instead of chasing another opportunity and moving away, he decided to stay put.
“It was pretty hard at first,” DeLozier said. “I was pretty set on it, playing AAA hockey for my final season. I had some options to go play in Philadelphia for another AAA club. It just didn’t feel right to leave my senior year.”
That decision ended working out well, to say the least. DeLozier’s numbers speak for themselves. He has five games with at least four goals and 10 goals with at least three assists. The senior also had a game of five goals and five assists in a 13-3 win over Orange in December.
Not only has playing Westlake been memorable so far, but it has brought out his best on the ice, too.
“This is probably the best decision I could’ve made, no doubt about it,” DeLozier said. “I did not expect any of this to happen at all. I expect to put up some points, but this year I’ve just been able to get really creative and get out of my comfort zone. It’s been really surprising to me as a player, and I honestly wish it would’ve happened sooner.”
DeLozier isn’t doing it alone. Westlake has a talented team across the board. Junior Seth Schons has 41 goals and 41 assists for a total of 82 points and Luke Hyland has 29 goals and 42 assists.
The Demons have a lot of firepower with DeLozier leading the charge.
“He’s a great kid,” Westlake coach Brendan Teets said of DeLozier. “He comes from a great family. He is an all-around good person. He’s going to be very successful in life. … It’s great to have him. It’s a great addition. At the end of the day, it’s about the team. He definitely has some good hard workers around him as well as him making the passes. Dalton is the one making the play and getting to the right place.”
Not only has DeLozier left his mark in his lone season at Westlake, he has a chance to leave a legacy. The Demons look for their first Baron Cup in program history and begin bracket play on Feb. 3.
“We’ve been in this position before where we’ve had a No. 1 or No. 2 seed and we just can’t seem to pull it off come Baron Cup time. I’m hoping this year is going to be different,” Teets said. “We’re going to keep working. This year, we’re trying to pull off something new and win a Baron Cup.”
DeLozier’s most fun season is coming to a close. His hockey career isn’t necessarily done just yet as he will attend Miami University and try to play club. With that said, he will soak in his final moments playing hockey for Westlake.
“Wearing the Westlake jersey now, it’s been an honor and it’s been so fun,” DeLozier said. “They’ve accepted me. It’s truly special.”
Westlake hockey player Dalton Delozier is the state’s top scorer this season. (Courtesy Westlake High School Athetics)