Terrier Alumni Spotlight: Dallas Rossiter

This week’s Terrier Alumni Spotlight we look back to a member of the 2014 National Championship team, Dallas Rossiter. Rossiter, from Surrey British Columbia, joined the Terriers for his 18-year-old season and played three years being an assistant captain his last year with the team. During his time spent with the Terriers, Rossiter was relied on for his defensive style of play. Rossiter was a guy that would block a lot of shots and spent a large amount of time killing penalties.

Before Rossiter joined the Terriers, he spent two years with the Surrey Thunder U18 and one season with the Mission Icebreakers of the PIJHL in B.C. While playing for the Surrey Thunder, in 37 games, Rossiter scored 4 goals and 7 assists. Rossiter made the jump to junior hockey with Mission Icebreakers and in 43 games scored 2 goals, 3 assists and added 54 penalty minutes. After that season, Rossiter started to prepare for junior hockey in the SJHL with the Yorkton Terriers.

In his first season with the Terriers, Dallas dressed for 28 games scoring 1 goal and adding 2 assists for 3 points and recording 43 penalty minutes. Rossiter gained valuable experience that season playing behind a very experienced defensive core. Rossiter and the Terriers went on a magical run in the playoffs that season and finished it off by capturing the SJHL Canalta Cup over the Humboldt Broncos.

After falling short in the Western Canada Cup in his 18-year-old season, Rossiter and the experienced Terriers came back with unfinished business. Rolling through the season, the Terriers earned top spot in the league at the end of the regular season. In 50 games for Rossiter, he scored 1 goal, 4 assists and added 47 penalty minutes. Once again, the Terriers cruised through the SJHL playoffs capturing their second Canalta Cup in as many years. In 14 games played for Rossiter, he collected 7 assists with 8 penalty minutes.

Heading into their second Western Canada Cup, Rossiter and the Terriers had something to prove. After dropping the first game of the tournament, the Terriers found their groove and ended up winning the Western Canada Cup and booked their ticket to the National tournament. The start of the RBC cup didn’t look good for the Terriers. Dropping the team’s first two games the Terriers were in a must win situation. Rossiter and the Terriers did just that and rolled four straight wins to capture the team’s first national championship in team history.

After two very successful seasons with the Terriers, Rossiter saw his personal stats increase but the team dropped in the standings. In 56 games, Rossiter scored 3 goals, 16 assists for 19 points and 120 penalty minutes. The Terriers finished outside of the playoffs and Rossiter’s career with the Terriers was over.

Following junior hockey, Rossiter continued his educational and hockey career by joining Brock university, In 4 years at Brock, Rossiter played in 66 games and added 5 assists and 44 penalty minutes. Rossiter continued his hockey career after school joining the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs of the SPHL and also got called up to play a bit for the Maine Mariners of the ECHL.

Q and A with Dallas Rossiter

 

1. Name and years played with the Terriers?

Dallas Rossiter, three years 2012/2013 – 2014/2015

2. Favourite memory during your time with the Terriers?

Winning a National Championship in 2014 hands down. Everything leading up to it and the parade in town after is something I’ll never forget.

3. Toughest SJHL opponent and hardest rink to play in?

Toughest opponent to me would be Humboldt, we always battled each other hard especially during playoffs. Whitney Forum in Flin Flon, I think we only won there once during my three years.

4. How did your time with the Terriers help get you to where you are today?

My time in Yorkton helped me in so many different aspects of my life. Moving two provinces away at 17, I had to grow up pretty quick and I had a lot of help from everyone within the Terriers organization. Growing not only as a hockey player but as a student and a person helped me get to where I am today, and I can’t thank the Terriers enough for that.

5. Favourite TV show or movie?

Semi – Pro

6. What are you up to these days?

Prior to the covid shut down, I was playing in the East Coast Hockey League for the Maine Mariners. Unfortunately, we did not get the green light to play this year so I am currently living in London, Ontario with my Fiancé.

 

7. What are your plans for the next 3-5 years?

If I’m not still grinding out the minor leagues hopefully teaching Phys Ed back in BC.

8. Favourite athlete of all time?

Paul Kariya

9. Favourite Meal/Food?

Pizza

10. Favourite Music/Musician?

Eric Church

11.What are some of your hobbies?

Anything that will get me out on the water whether that’s just being on the boat, fishing or any water sports. Been getting more and more into golf as well.

12. Favourite sport other than hockey?

Box Lacrosse