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Hockey fans were heartbroken when the Hartford Whalers, Connecticut's only major league professional team, moved to North Carolina in 1997. Now a Stamford native has launched a new chapter in Connecticut hockey history, with the Whalers reborn as a semipro team in Danbury. Dan Malloy put the Danbury Whalers on the board for the first time, scoring in the first period of the franchise's inaugural game against the New York Aviators.
"It was very exciting and rewarding to score that first goal and win our first game at home," said Malloy, 25. "I think this team and this league is going to have tremendous success. We're in a fantastic hockey area."
Malloy grew up playing hockey at Terry Conners Rink in Stamford in the Sharks youth program. He won several peewee championships with the Sharks and went on to play hockey for Westhill High School and Avon Old Farms Prep School. Malloy is one of governor-elect Dan Malloy's three sons.
Malloy has played for two semipro teams in Iowa and upstate New York before getting a call to try out for the startup Whalers. He jumped at the chance to play closer to the city he still calls home.
"I've lived all my life in Stamford. My family is from here," Malloy said. "I commute to all the games from Stamford, and it's been a great experience. I'm very excited to be a part of this team."
Malloy has also been coaching youth lacrosse for six years and will enter his first season as the head coach of the Trinity Catholic boys lacrosse team next year.
Malloy, a left-winger, has played in all 10 of the Whalers' games and has racked up two goals with seven assists. The Danbury Whalers are part of the six-team Federal Hockey League, which launched this season.
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