The pressure is on with the University of Denver looking to take home another national championship this season. They want to be the best yet again, and to help do just that, they have added a powerhouse forward in Casey Dornbach, a senior who transferred from Harvard University.
In his first game at DU, Dornbach had to fit in very quickly to help his new team. He has already contributed two goals, including the first of the season.
He started his career with the Lincoln Stars, a Tier I junior ice hockey team, from 2016 to 2018, where he recorded 80 points, including 32 goals, in 117 contests.
One of the support systems and coaches Dornbach had growing up was his father, who played college hockey at Miami before playing professionally in the American Hockey League.
“My dad coached me since I was three years old and was my best friend as well as a coach growing up,” Dornbach said. “He inspired my passion for me to be the best I can be and never forced it, but he taught me how to strive for something and how to dream that it takes hard work…”
He learned many skills at Harvard, where he was once named a student-athlete of the year, that applies to his daily life and will stick with him forever. He learned how to balance school and hockey and other priorities. During his time there, when not on the rink, he volunteered to help cancer patients and Special Olympics athletes.
“[It was] truly a very special experience at Harvard that we do every year,” Dornbach said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to play a game that is fun and connect with Special Olympics athletes…”
Now, with Denver’s eyes on a tenth national championship and an Ivy League degree under his belt, Dornbach’s goal as a transfer student is to find his role to be the biggest asset to the team possible.
“My goal this year is to continue developing this one year to play pro hockey and make the most of this…,” Dornbach said. “That’s how I think results-wise to win another national championship.”
Dornbach stated that preparation and confidence are key in late-game situations. He uses what he read and looked at in psychology at Harvard, such as visualization, when it comes to scoring. If his body is not prepared, then his mind will also not perform well in a game.
“I think [visualization] comes into play with imagining scoring a big goal or making a play to stop a goal and helping the team out and things like that,” Dornbach said.
Dornbach is not giving up on his hopes of playing in the NHL. “I always believed if I kept working, things would work out, and that was probably one of the toughest times even now; being a little bit older in college is staying confident and staying confident in what makes me me and trusting the process,” he said. “Everyone has a different path and not comparing myself to other people was one of the biggest things I had to overcome.”
In the future, Dornbach’s plans are to stay two feet in the moment like Head Coach David Carle has said. He wants to develop and prepare as much as he can for the NHL draft and continue to make his dreams a reality.
