It’s the last go-around in ECAC Hockey for Dartmouth College senior defenseman John Fusco (Westwood, Mass.), and he couldn’t be more ready.
He was the second-highest scorer among defensemen on the Big Green's roster last season, when he set personal career highs in goals (7), assists (10) and points (17) while helping Dartmouth to both its first winning record (13-10-9 overall) and first ECAC Hockey semifinal appearance in Lake Placid since 2015-16.
“Definitely making it to Lake Placid,” said Fusco, when asked to name last year’s season highlight. “We were picked to finish 12th (in the conference). A lot of people doubted us, but we banded together and made a nice little run at the end.”
The Big Green went unbeaten in nine consecutive contests from Feb. 9 through March 16, finishing fourth in ECAC Hockey, earning a first-round playoff bye, and sweeping Union in a best-of-three second-round series before falling to Cornell in the league semifinals.
“It was one of the best moments,” said the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Fusco of coming so close to a title. “We have an opportunity this year to get it done, and we’re really focused on that.”
Fusco earned ECAC Hockey Defender of the Week honors in February, and ECAC Hockey Defenseman of the Month accolades in March. Through 11 games this season, he has four goals and eight points.
“It’s been awesome,” he said in early November. “With the Ivy League’s rules, it takes longer to get going. But we’ve got a great group of coaches and a great group of guys, and we’re excited.”
Returning one last time to Harvard, where he began his college career, was another memorable moment for Fusco, 23, who skated for the Crimson in 2021-22 and notched two points in 26 outings. It was also the school where his father, Mark, and his uncle, Scott, both starred in the 1980s. But after his freshman campaign, Fusco decided to transfer elsewhere for more opportunity.
“It didn’t work out, and I’m thankful the coaches at Dartmouth took a chance on me," Fusco said. "It means a little more beating them, and I’ve just tried to have calm emotions and help my team win.”
Fusco started the season hot with a game-winning power-play goal late in a 4-2 victory at Quinnipiac on Nov. 8, followed by a four-shot, one-assist effort in a 5-1 rout of Princeton the next evening.
The Big Green didn't lose a game in regulation until Nov. 29 at Boston College. They sit at 6-3-2 and rank No. 17 in the USCHO poll.
Fusco mentioned that winning the Ivy League, ECAC Hockey, and the NCAA tournament were all goals, but that the main focus had to be on the here and now.
“It’s making the most of each day, and continuing to stack games and practices,” said Fusco. “Games aren’t won in March — it’s in September and the summers and continuing to get better.
“We have a good chance of accomplishing great things,” he added. “It’s maximizing each player’s ability and playing at the best level we can.”
That includes himself, quarterbacking the power play at one end of the ice while breaking up opposing rushes at the other.
“A big point of emphasis is the efficiency of my game, and making the right play at every moment,” Fusco said. “It’s letting the game morph into my game. You do the best you can, accept your reads, and make the best play in every situation. It’s something I’ll continue to work on.”
According to fourth-year Dartmouth head coach Reid Cashman, Fusco is as competitive as anyone he’s coached.
“It’s his leadership, how hard he competes, how much he values practices and games, and being great at each moment,” Cashman said, a Quinnipiac alumnus who was a two-time All-America selection on defense.
One of only three NHL draft choices (Toronto, 7th round, 2020) on this year’s Dartmouth's roster, along with sophomore forward Cooper Flinton and freshman goaltender Emmett Croteau, Fusco hopes to make a living playing the game following graduation.
“Obviously, I want to play pro hockey,” he admitted. “It’s been a lifelong dream, and it would be awesome.”
Fusco said he would “probably want to do something in business” after hanging up his competitive skates, but stressed that right now he was focused on being both the best player and student he could be.
Aiding his journey was being able to grow up around the game. Fusco’s father and uncle both played for Harvard and the U.S. Olympic Team, while his dad also won the Hobey Baker Award in 1983 and later appeared in 80 NHL regular-season games for the Hartford Whalers.
“It helped a ton,” Fusco said of having two such high-level role models. “We had a rink in the backyard, and it was hockey all the time. They’ve been instrumental figures in shaping me as a player, and that’s been huge and very helpful.”
His current head coach concurred, and noted that Fusco frequently watches video to make himself even better.
“He has a high hockey I.Q., and really good genetics with his father and uncle, and his mom (Kristin) who was an elite tennis player,” Cashman said. “He sees the game well, but he works really hard at the mental part of it, to maximize his full potential.”
The Fusco hockey family tree didn’t end with John. His younger brother, Matt, is a sophomore defenseman with the Big Green, while their cousin, Bradley, was a four-year forward with Harvard’s women’s team. Having his brother with him in Hanover has been a boon, as the Fuscos are the first set of brothers to play together at Dartmouth since Kevin and Eric Neiley in 2014-15.
“It’s been great having him around,” said Fusco. “To lean on him and to help each other day-to-day, it’s an experience I can’t put into words.”
Prior to enrolling in college, Fusco captained Dexter Southfield School in Brookline, Mass. while averaging over a point per game during his four-year career there, and he also played one brief COVID year of juniors with Sioux City (USHL). He said that concentrating on getting better every day has been key to playing at higher levels of hockey.
“If you worry more about the process, the results will take of themselves,” he said.
He added that extended to areas such as maintaining good habits, eating properly, and putting in the required work, both on and off the ice.
“If you believe in the input, you will get the correct output," said Fusco. “That’s what my advice would be.”
