ASU Hockey: Garcia’s unconventional journey to ASU

(Photo: Kylee Meter/WCSN)

Dominic Garcia tried the traditional sports as a kid – football, baseball and soccer. But they weren’t exciting enough.

One day at age 7, the Las Vegas native stepped out of the desert heat and into the harsh cold of an ice rink.

He had found his sport.

“I was the first one in my family who wanted to play hockey, so we all just kind of leaped in without feeling the water,” Garcia said.

Now a freshman on Arizona State University’s NCAA Division-I hockey team, Garcia’s decision to play ice hockey as a child was a bit more complex than exposing his family to unfamiliar sport. According to USA TODAY, 95 percent of National Hockey League players identify as white, which meant that Garcia, who is African American and Mexican, is one of a kind.

“I think about it every day, whether it’s in the back of my head or it comes to the forefront, but race is always, I wouldn’t say an issue, but it’s always something that comes up when I play,” Garcia said. “So, I’m definitely proud to be where I am, and I know my family is too.”

Garcia’s two brothers and parents quickly embraced the sport as he continued to develop on the ice. He remained in Sin City until his sophomore year of high school, when he moved nearly 2,000 miles to enroll in Culver Military Academy in Indiana.

The Midwest boarding school offered Garcia the best of both worlds: good academics and good hockey. Despite leaving his family behind, the cadet lifestyle with crisp uniforms, shiny drill team medals, twice a day barrack inspections and enforced roll calls were all daily reminders of Garcia’s parents, who both had backgrounds in the U.S. Air Force.

His three-year tenure in Culver propelled his hockey career but also pushed him farther away from his hometown. Following graduation in 2015, Garcia moved on to the North American Hockey League where he played for the Philadelphia Rebels, formerly known as the Aston Rebels, for two seasons.

During his first season as a Rebel, Garcia was named the team’s most improved player and hardest working player. The maturation led to a “C” being sewn onto his jersey for his second season, in which he earned a regional leadership award and netted 14 goals and 33 assists.

With his success in junior hockey, Garcia had options when looking into colleges that offered NCAA Division-I hockey programs.

In May 2016, Garcia visited the United States Air Force Academy with his parents and one month later, the Rebels announced Garcia’s commitment to play collegiate hockey as a Falcon in fall 2017.

Following in his parent’s footsteps was one thing, but living in Colorado to play for the Falcons was another aspect that was weighing on Garcia, who only saw his family 10 times during the previous five years.

A few hundred miles away, ASU was in its inaugural full NCAA D-I hockey season after making the transition from the club ranks one year prior.

“When they (ASU) went D-I, I texted my mom and was like wow that would be awesome just to be able to go there,” Garcia said.

Garcia was drawn to the opportunity of being a part of the up-and-coming Sun Devil program, but he said the “biggest issue” was being close to his parents.

When considering the possibility of a maroon and gold jersey, Garcia said the atmosphere of the campus and the team were great- not to mention the one hour direct flights to Las Vegas.

“I just liked everything about it,” Garcia said.

Nearing the end of his final season with the Rebels, Garcia’s biggest issue was officially resolved in April 2017, when Sun Devil Hockey welcomed him into the 2017-18 signing class.

“We’ve really tried, over the course of the past year and a half, to recruit not only kids but families and it never fails,” ASU hockey head coach Greg Powers said. “I think Dom is a great person because he comes from a really good family. If a kid comes from a really good family and a good upbringing, then generally they’re going to be very coachable, a great teammate and a pleasure to be around every day and hold themselves accountable for their own success- and that’s what Dom does.”

Back in the familiarity of the desert, Garcia has become an irreplaceable part of ASU’s locker room in his first season as a Sun Devil.

“He’s always a team player and everyone gets along with him,” ASU teammate and fellow Las Vegas native Joey Raats said. “He’s just a good friend.”

With 30 collegiate game appearances, the now 21-year-old recognizes his own growth in a humble manner.

“I think I’ve learned some things off the ice about character and helping to a be a leader,” Garcia said. “Luckily, I have good coaching where they’ve pushed me to try to be more offensive and then I’ve had great teammates that have helped me along the way.”

Powers said Garcia’s effort was always there, but over the course of the season he’s become more polished and efficient- qualities that are evident in his consistent ice time and points against tough opponents like Penn State and Quinnipiac.

“He’s everything we thought he’d be and more,” Powers said.