Daunais scores three in All Star game

By NATHAN LAMB | Milton Independent Staff Writer
mireporter@mac.com

Eric Daunais was named MVP at the Essex Rotary All Star game on March 8.

Milton High School senior Eric Daunais estimates that he's played in at least 20 youth All Star games without ever making a big splash—but that all changed earlier this month.

Daunais scored three goals in the Essex Rotary All Star game on March 8, powering his team to a 4-3 win and taking home the Most Valuable Player award to boot.

Asked about the performance, the 17-year old left wing/ center suggested that family tradition with the charity event could be a factor.

“My brother did the same thing in this game five ago, so I felt I had to do it,” he quipped.

Held annually at the Essex Rink, the All Star game raises funds to fight polio and draws top Division I and II hockey players from across the state each spring.

Joking aside, Daunais admitted that standing out from that crowd wasn't easy. A self-proclaimed “hands” player, his specialty is setting up shots through puck control and stick work. As an example, Daunais described what he called the most difficult score of that game—where he caught a pass in front of the last defenseman and then beat the goalie in a one-on-one situation.

That was goal number two; he said the best was number three, which—appropriatelyenough-- came three minutes into the third period, and put the team ahead 4-2.

A native of St. Lazare, Quebec, Daunais said hockey was always big in their home, with dad getting the boys started on skates at age 2. Having played hockey all through school—including the past three years at Milton High School, Daunais plans to continue playing after graduation this spring.

“I see myself playing college hockey as the next step,” he said. “I'd love to play at UVM, but it would be pretty hard to be a walk-on at a division one program that draws kids from around the country…we'll see what happens.”

Daunais is the son of Milton Indy sports reporter Zenda Farell.