:10 Seconds with Dave Walters

Over the past few weeks, the Men's Hockey team has clawed out of an early season record of 4-8, to rebound to a 9-10-2 record. The turn around for the Panthers can be credited to Senior Captain Dave Walters, the defender who has catapulted his team to second place in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC).

Walters has been the heartbeat of the team this year, despite missing two games in the middle of the season due to a sprained ankle. Both on and off the ice, the Ottawa, Ontario native is looked at as a leader by players and coaches alike, and is one of the smartest fundamental players on the ice in the MASCAC. Walters will be honored in his last regular season home game for Senior Night, which takes place on Saturday Night (2/22) against Framingham State University   

1. How long have you been playing hockey for?

I've been playing for what feels like forever. I started when I was about 3 or 4 years old.

2. How does the hockey team look for the rest of the 2013-2014 season and the MASCAC playoffs?

We've been playing well as of late and are peaking at the right time. It's going to be a tough stretch to end the season with four games in eight days but I think we're ready for it. The goal is still to try and secure the top seed heading into the playoffs, but being in the top two is a must to secure the first round bye.

3.What is your most memorable moment in your hockey career?

I've been lucky to play on some very good teams in my life, winning some pretty big tournaments. I guess the big moment that stands out in the most recent past is the 2012 MASCAC championship in double overtime in front of our fans.

4. Do you have any superstitions on game-day?

Not really, I like to keep it pretty loose. I'll play a lot of soccer with the guys at the rink beforehand. During warm ups I always pass with Sarig and give him the last pass before he goes and shoots on net. Other than that, no real superstitions for me,

5. What was your "Welcome to Hockey" moment in your career?

My team won the Silver Stick tournament when I was 9 and we had a lot of success that year. I guess that was really when I realized that hockey was going to play a huge role in my life.

6. If I were to look at your iPod/iTunes/etc. what would be the five most played songs?

Oh man, tough question. I like so many different varieties of music, my iPod is all over the place. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" by the Darkness is probably up there. "My Kind of Night" by Luke Bryan and "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody" by Fergie get a lot of playing time as well. You can't get wrong with some Taylor Swift or Katy Perry either. Embarrassing, I know.

7. Since you've been in Plymouth, this team has been one of the most successful ones on campus. What has led to this success over the past four years?

It starts with coaching. Coach Russell has done a great job making us the best team we can be. Since I've been here we've had a great group of guys that really got along well. Obviously the support we get from the students and the community is a big part of the reason we're so good at home. All these things, among other things, are a great recipe for success.

8. The team as a whole struggled at the beginning of the season, but has been quite successful since mid-January. Was there a turning point at some point of the season? If so, what was it?

I'm not sure if there was an exact turning point. We were a very young team with 14 freshmen to start the season. It took us a little bit to gel and come together as a team. Now, everyone has had 20 games to play together and we're ready to make some noise in the playoffs.

9. Talk a little bit about one of your teammates, Tyler Carson, and his affect on the team.

Tyler is awesome. Having him around puts everything into perspective for us. The guys love having him around. He's a great kid and we would love to win a championship for him.

10. When you come out onto the ice for a home game, what is that feeling like to hear the PSU community going crazy? How much does that get the team going?

It's a special feeling for sure. The crowd is phenomenal here and the boys get jacked up to play in front of them. They definitely make a huge difference and we're lucky to have that kind of support.