DUNNE CHERISHING ‘PRETTY SPECIAL MOMENT’ IN RETURN TO CLEVELAND
Amerks alternate captain returning to where his pro journey began
Oct 24, 2024
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @Mossbrooks48
For 134 games across four seasons, Josh Dunne called Cleveland, Ohio home.
“It's pretty special for me,” said Dunne on playing for the Monsters. “It's a place I spent a little over three years and really developed a lot as a player and a person, and it's in large part thanks to the guys on the team and the coaching staff. It definitely holds a place in my heart.”
The 25-year-old forward signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Sabres in the offseason. Before then, Dunne had been part of the Columbus Blue Jackets organization since the team signed him out of Clarkson University during the 2020-21 season. He appeared in 14 NHL games, but was largely in the AHL, including last season where Dunne wore a letter for a Monsters team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals.
“It’ not going to look great if I say, hey, I lost in Game 7 in the conference finals, but it's awesome just to know that I was part of a group that didn't quit like that and battled back and had an awesome run. It'll stick with me forever.”
It was the first time in Dunne’s career that he got to experience playoff hockey at the pro level and his first taste of postseason hockey in general since playing in the USHL in 2018. The power forward was a driver for the Monsters during their playoff run, leading the club with seven playoff goals while finishing second in points with 11.
It took four seasons to reach the playoffs for Dunne, but learning came along the way since day one. The Josh Dunne of today and that of 2021 are not one in the same.
“I would say I’m quite different,” when asked about his growth from being a rookie to now. “I especially notice it on the mental side of the game, working through some things and working on just being a better pro every day. I give a lot of kudos to the coaching staff and the guys there for helping me grow and giving me a spot to grow. I think now I'm much more mature of a pro and understand pro a lot better.”
Sometimes, it’s the big details that stick out for a player when it comes to adjustments from major junior or college to pro. For Dunne, it was simple.
“I think the one for me was just practice. Honestly, the importance of making the right passes on the tape and doing those things every single day; those habits and practicing hard, and the importance of practice and how that translates to games and your consistent practice. You work hard in practice so that when you get to the game, you don't have to think about it because you've been doing it the whole time.”
Now, Dunne is an Amerk, and like in Cleveland, he wears a letter for his new team. He’s an assistant captain and part of the Amerks leadership group.
“I'm a little loud. Like, I kind of say just obnoxious things, honestly, a lot of the time, but I like to have a lot of fun and keep it light because that's just who I am as a person. I think that's what I need to be in every aspect and make guys feel comfortable. I try to have a lot of energy. Sometimes I might annoy guys, maybe take it over the top. That's just who I am.”
But when it comes down to it, Dunne can get to business. He is one of three Amerks with multiple goals this season. On Wednesday night at Blue Cross Arena, he took the ice as he faced his former team for the first time in what ended up as a 6-1 win for Rochester over Cleveland.
“It felt super weird. It was weird in the morning seeing some of those guys, even when I saw them on the ice, I'm like, this is weird. Then being on the other side and looking over there. We’re competitors, though, so, we're used to that and playing against each other. And there's a couple cross checks I received that I got back on them, but it was definitely a little odd at first seeing on the other side, but once the game got going, it's just hockey again.”
Dunne’s experiences in Cleveland were memorable, but the O’Fallon, Missouri, native hopes to make new memories and everlasting moments in the red, white, and blue.
“I see a group that is very comfortable and open minded and open armed, and I think it's allowing guys to be themselves. I think when someone can be themself off the ice, they can be themself on the ice. It's really special to see guys can be themselves. And I think this group has the ability to do great things. We already have a pretty close group right now, so I'm excited to see where it goes, but I really like the guys. It's fun to come to the rink every day.”
Only this time the rink will be one Dunne is very familiar with: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Cleveland, Ohio. Saturday night. This time, and for the first time, he’ll walk through the doors, bypass the home side and continue walking towards the visitors’ locker room.
“This was circled on the calendar for sure just to see these guys back in that arena. This is a big one for me.”