Thursday, March 4, 2010

Titans’ forward leads by example


She’s a team leader, a top scorer and a multi-sport athlete.
Dallas Boyd is also one of two players on the Bishop Tonnos girls hockey team to secure a scholarship at an NCAA school. She’s accepted an offer to play for St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY.
Boyd, 18, has been praised by coaches and teammates for her leadership and playmaking abilities. Fans, officials and opponents often don’t realize she’s different from other players. When a shot misses the net and strikes the boards, a player crashes abruptly to the ice or a coach barks instructions to the team, Boyd doesn’t hear a sound.
She is quite possibly the first deaf hockey player ever recruited by an NCAA division 1 school.
Boyd captains the undefeated BT girls hockey team. She scored the game-winning goal in the team’s 4-0 win over St. Jean de Brebeuf, which clinched the school’s third consecutive Catholic city championship.
Speaking through sign language, interpreted by her father, Terry, Boyd said she reads lips and relies on her assistant captains, Kristin Barbara, Talia Paone, Kelly McDonald and Kristin Cavarzan.
“You don’t have to talk to be a captain,” Boyd stated. “Most people on the ice don’t know I’m deaf.”
A fifth-year forward for the Titans, Boyd has helped the team stay strong despite the departure of veteran players. She also provides leadership for Grade 9 and 10 players.
“They know they have to work hard for the team,” Boyd stated.
Boyd has already visited the St. Lawrence campus and loved what she saw. She plans to major in sports medicine or teaching. If she chooses a teaching career, Boyd hopes to help other youth overcome the obstacles of hearing loss.
Boyd’s hearing loss was first detected at the age of 18 months. She’s been an avid hockey player since age 4 and also plays for the Stoney Creek Junior Sabres. Boyd is one of four Stoney Creek Sabres on the BT team, along with Kelly McDonald, Talia Paone and Kristin Barbara. Boyd also helped the BT girls field hockey team win its first HWCAA title last year.
The first-place Titans haven’t lost a game since last year’s OFSAA provincial championships where they captured the consolation championship. The team posted an 11-0-1 record in league play this season. During Boyd’s time with the Titans, BT has developed a thriving rivalry with Brebeuf, who finished in second place this season. Brebeuf’s name is still engraved in more places on the HWCAA trophy, but Boyd knows her team is quickly catching up.
“We have three but we will get more over the next few years,” Boyd stated, pointing to the trophy inscriptions. “We have a good team coming back.”

No comments:

Post a Comment