On the ice: Bloomington's Oliver blazes trail to college hockey's top level

Dashel Oliver went chasing his hockey dreams the same way he'd go after a loose puck in front of the net.

That meant leaving his home town of Bloomington in search of the best competition he could face at the age of 11. The journey took him to Indianapolis, Chicago, New Jersey and currently, Lincoln, Nebraska. It even included a stint for a 17-under Team USA squad that won the Four Nations Tournament.

The next step is in South Bend as Oliver, who plays right wing, recently accepted a scholarship offer from Big Ten hockey member Notre Dame.

"Getting recruited was the whole goal," said Oliver, who has pro aspirations, but has maintained a strong academic record and plans to study biology or pre-med. "I had previously committed and wanted to change schools and re-open my recruitment and look at other schools. I got an offer from Notre Dame and it seemed like the right place.

"I met all the coaching staff and visited to see the campus. I know alot of guys on the team and the campus is beautiful The facilities are so nice. They really know how to treat the athletes."

Oliver's speed on the ice is one of his biggest assets and the Fighting Irish style fits that like a comfy pair of skates. He had 13 points in 48 games last season in his second year for the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League and has already matched that total in just 28 games this season.

"I've seen (Notre Dame) play before and they are a fast team and that's the way I like to play," Oliver said. "They're also strong on defense and that's also a big part of my game, being sound in the D-zone.

"The other thing that drew me there, that was a big factor, is that it's close to home. And it's a great university and a degree from there will pay a lot of dividends going forward."

Oliver hits the road

Oliver started his hockey career at the Frank Southern Ice Arena with the Bloomington Blades when he was 4 years old, spending six years with the local program.

He saw enough improvement to take the dive into youth travel hockey, seeking better competition and a better chance to be scouted. He started with the Tri-State Spartans in Indianapolis for a couple of seasons, then he moved with his mom to the Chicago area, playing for the Chicago Mission and attending Oak Park-River Forest High school for two years.

"I really love the way the game plays," Dashel said. "It's fast-paced and physical. There's so much happening. That's what drew my attention and love for the game."

So much so he went to online learning so he could spend more time working on his game, and headed east to play a year for the North Jersey Avalanche.

"Bouncing around playing youth hockey, it was hard making new friends and not being able to socialize," Oliver said. "I'm training so much and playing so much and after moving to New Jersey, I was on the ice 24-7 really. Just not a whole lot going on outside the rink."

In 2021-22, he moved up to junior hockey, joining the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League. That season, he earned a spot on Team USA for the 17-under Four Nations Tournament.

In 2023, Oliver, who had turned 18, was named to the USHL's All-Academic Team earning a 4.3 GPA in high school while taking online classes through the University of Nebraska High School.

"Staying on top of my education has always been important for me," Oliver said in a press release. "Making the team is great because I believe it proves I've put the work in these past years."

Nothing 'junior' about it

Now graduated, Oliver's newest challenge was going from youth hockey, where he was always playing against kids his own age, to junior hockey, where he would face players aged 16-20.

"That first year, I was still trying to get my feet underneath me," Oliver said. "This year, I'm playing a bigger role on the team and it's going well.

"When I stepped up, I was playing bigger guys, faster guys. Everyone is skilled. But after a while the change of pace starts to be normal."

The ice hasn't been totally smooth. Oliver has had to bounce back from a few injuries, including a torn ACL and had to undergo surgeries on his hips.

Heading to Notre Dame, there will be another step up against players even older. The average age of freshmen is 20, Oliver said, so the average player is 22 and many are on the doorstep of a pro career.

"They're basically men at that point," Oliver said. "So it becomes more physical and the speed is increased. So is the quality of the game."

For now, he's keeping busy during his time in Nebraska, with a 62-game schedule and the league spread out through Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and the Dakotas. Players are put up by host families during the season.

He's free to focus almost totally on his game, from improving his strength and speed to working on specific parts of his game such as his puck protection along the walls or taking pucks to the net through contact.

More: New IHSAA enrollment figures: How it all adds up for Bloomington area programs

"I'm enjoying it a lot," Oliver said. "Junior hockey is really fun. I've got a lot of free time away from the rink, so I can focus on hockey and there's not much school to do.

"I can put my head down and work on my game."

And just maybe... only three current NHL players were born in Indiana. The chance to be the fourth, that's all he ever wanted since lacing up his skates and grabbing his first hockey stick. Notre Dame is getting a lifer.

"It's cool," Oliver said. "I don't think if you asked me 10 years ago if I'd be on this route, I don't think I would have believed it.

"It's really cool, coming from Bloomington not being a hockey town and making it out. I'm proud that I've done that."

Contact Jim Gordillo at jgordillo@heraldt.com and follow on X @JimGordillo.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington's Dashel Oliver blazes trail to college hockey's top level