Colton Dach (left) with sister Callie and brother Kirby at an outdoor rink.
photo: Courtesy of Dale Dach
It was two days before Christmas and Colton Dach was on an outdoor rink, just like many other hockey-loving Canadian kids.
His parents got in touch with him to let him know Canada’s exhibition game against Russia was about to start, a prelude to the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. Dach loved watching the tournament but this year would be extra special as his older brother Kirby had been announced captain of Team Canada. The game against Russia was a tuneup for the main event, which would start three days later.
“I was actually on the outdoor rink and my parents called me and told me the game was starting so I got there a little late. I sat down and, not much later, saw him take that hit,” says Dach, of a play that ended Kirby’s World Junior tournament before it even began. Kirby suffered a wrist injury during a collision with a Russian player and was forced to sit out the 2021 World Juniors.
“As a family, we kind of instantly knew something wasn’t right with him,” recalls Colton. “There’s a little bit of panic there and when we found out what happened; it was pretty disappointing that he was out of the tournament that he really wanted to play in and be a star in. I think he would have been one of the better players in that tournament so he was pretty devastated.”
Dale Dach, father to Colton, Kirby and their sister Callie, says it was a challenging time for the family but one that Kirby was able to overcome with positivity.
“In hockey, you always have your highs and your lows and your very positive moments and negative moments. You just have to balance them,” says Dale. “It’s a hard thing to say but there’s always something good around the next corner as long as you push for it. When something like that happens, it’s an unfortunate situation but that’s just the way it is. You have your bumps in the road and you have to balance them.”
No doubt, Kirby would have been an impactful player at the tournament, which ended with the United States defeating Canada 2-0 in the gold medal game.
Kirby has long since recovered from that injury, was traded from the NHL team that drafted him – the Chicago Blackhawks – to the Montreal Canadiens and is enjoying a fine start to the 2022-23 NHL season, with 20 points in 29 games.
And, two years after the injury that left the Dach family feeling for Kirby, it is now Colton’s turn to try and win gold as a member of Canada’s National Junior Team.
“It means everything to me,” says Colton. “When we were kids, Kirby and I shared a bedroom and we would always wake each other up to watch Team Canada play if they were in Europe, as those games would be a little bit earlier. Or, if they were back home, we would be coming off the outdoor rink to come watch. This is an unreal tournament to watch as a fan and will be even that much more special to wear the Maple Leaf and represent my country.”
Colton and Kirby have a lot in common, starting with the fact they’re both 6-foot-4 power forwards and both were taken by the Blackhawks in the NHL draft (Kirby in 2019, Colton in 2021). Hockey fans tuning into the World Juniors can expect Colton to push the play, punish an opposing defenceman or two, and likely even add a goal here or there. The Kelowna Rockets forward has nine goals in 14 games in the Western Hockey League and, one season ago, Colton scored 29.
He is the prototypical power forward.
“I just need to go out there and play a hard, physical game. We obviously have some guys up front who are very skilled and great at what they do. I have the assets to go out there and play hard and play physical so that’s what I’m going to try and do,” says Dach.
Colton knows the Dach family will be behind him every step of the way, not only Kirby, but sister Callie as well. Callie is another hockey player and plays in the Alberta Female Hockey League with the St. Albert Slash. The Dach contingent is expected to head to Halifax a couple of days after Christmas and will root on Team Canada through to the conclusion of their tournament.
“We’re very proud of Colton and what he has accomplished. The same message was given to him as all of our kids. You work hard, you’ll get rewarded eventually,” says Dale. “You just have to keep pushing through. He ended up getting rewarded for all of his hard work. He works hard year round. Being able to go and watch the games live and having fans supporting them, it’s going to be a really fun time and exciting time for everyone in Canada.”
His parents got in touch with him to let him know Canada’s exhibition game against Russia was about to start, a prelude to the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. Dach loved watching the tournament but this year would be extra special as his older brother Kirby had been announced captain of Team Canada. The game against Russia was a tuneup for the main event, which would start three days later.
“I was actually on the outdoor rink and my parents called me and told me the game was starting so I got there a little late. I sat down and, not much later, saw him take that hit,” says Dach, of a play that ended Kirby’s World Junior tournament before it even began. Kirby suffered a wrist injury during a collision with a Russian player and was forced to sit out the 2021 World Juniors.
“As a family, we kind of instantly knew something wasn’t right with him,” recalls Colton. “There’s a little bit of panic there and when we found out what happened; it was pretty disappointing that he was out of the tournament that he really wanted to play in and be a star in. I think he would have been one of the better players in that tournament so he was pretty devastated.”
Dale Dach, father to Colton, Kirby and their sister Callie, says it was a challenging time for the family but one that Kirby was able to overcome with positivity.
“In hockey, you always have your highs and your lows and your very positive moments and negative moments. You just have to balance them,” says Dale. “It’s a hard thing to say but there’s always something good around the next corner as long as you push for it. When something like that happens, it’s an unfortunate situation but that’s just the way it is. You have your bumps in the road and you have to balance them.”
No doubt, Kirby would have been an impactful player at the tournament, which ended with the United States defeating Canada 2-0 in the gold medal game.
Kirby has long since recovered from that injury, was traded from the NHL team that drafted him – the Chicago Blackhawks – to the Montreal Canadiens and is enjoying a fine start to the 2022-23 NHL season, with 20 points in 29 games.
And, two years after the injury that left the Dach family feeling for Kirby, it is now Colton’s turn to try and win gold as a member of Canada’s National Junior Team.
“It means everything to me,” says Colton. “When we were kids, Kirby and I shared a bedroom and we would always wake each other up to watch Team Canada play if they were in Europe, as those games would be a little bit earlier. Or, if they were back home, we would be coming off the outdoor rink to come watch. This is an unreal tournament to watch as a fan and will be even that much more special to wear the Maple Leaf and represent my country.”
Colton and Kirby have a lot in common, starting with the fact they’re both 6-foot-4 power forwards and both were taken by the Blackhawks in the NHL draft (Kirby in 2019, Colton in 2021). Hockey fans tuning into the World Juniors can expect Colton to push the play, punish an opposing defenceman or two, and likely even add a goal here or there. The Kelowna Rockets forward has nine goals in 14 games in the Western Hockey League and, one season ago, Colton scored 29.
He is the prototypical power forward.
“I just need to go out there and play a hard, physical game. We obviously have some guys up front who are very skilled and great at what they do. I have the assets to go out there and play hard and play physical so that’s what I’m going to try and do,” says Dach.
Colton knows the Dach family will be behind him every step of the way, not only Kirby, but sister Callie as well. Callie is another hockey player and plays in the Alberta Female Hockey League with the St. Albert Slash. The Dach contingent is expected to head to Halifax a couple of days after Christmas and will root on Team Canada through to the conclusion of their tournament.
“We’re very proud of Colton and what he has accomplished. The same message was given to him as all of our kids. You work hard, you’ll get rewarded eventually,” says Dale. “You just have to keep pushing through. He ended up getting rewarded for all of his hard work. He works hard year round. Being able to go and watch the games live and having fans supporting them, it’s going to be a really fun time and exciting time for everyone in Canada.”