The new season marks the start of a new era for Devon Prep hockey. The Tide has joined the Atlantic Prep Athletic Conference. The opponents may be familiar; the Tide has competed regularly against APAC opponents, but the 2026-27 season marks the first time they’ll compete for an APAC championship.

For senior defenseman Daniel Dowling and his teammates, the team’s goals are unchanged.

“Our goal is to play the best hockey that we can,” he said “and come together as a team, no matter what league we’re in. it doesn’t change it or how we approach the game. It just changes who we play and what league standings we look at throughout the year.”

As he approaches his final high-school season, Dowling, who started playing the game at age 6, is approaching the game with a different perspective; he moved from forward to the blue line. He admitted it was a bit of an adjustment at first, or perhaps more than a bit.

“It definitely was learning good position and just where to be kind of changing my instincts in all parts of the ice,” he said “because a lot of that stuff is kind of autopilot. At first, was something I had to think about and focus on but with time, and repetition, and practice, slowly start it slowly started to get more comfortable and now defensive principles and positioning stuff is kind of ingrained in my brain.” 

The position change aside, Dowling has also spent time reflecting on his role as a senior leader for the Tide.

“I think I appreciate it more now that I only have a season left “he said. “I take every game and every ice session {seriously}. I find I don’t take it for granted because I know the time is really running down and also being a leader to the younger guys and showing them the things that we talk about, so that when those freshmen or sophomores come in, they see how it’s supposed to look and the way everyone thinks.”

Dowing who aspires to play junior hockey next season, a feels a sense of responsibility to his younger teammates.

 “Coming into a new school as a freshman or transfer student, you’re unsure what your role will be,” he said “but if you feel like you’re in a good spot you feel like you are part of it. You do have something to do with the team and when the time comes to take that step or have an impact on the ice, you’re more prepared for it.

“My teammates are always pushing me to be better and seeing their growth encourages me to do the same I don’t want to be left behind. When you see your teammates striving to improve and be better it makes you push the pace the same way they do.”

Dowling, who resides in South Jersey, says Devon Prep has been a good fit for him on and off the ice, in part because of its size.

“When we were looking at schools my eighth grade year, I think Devon Prep just seemed like the best fit for me,” he said. “My freshman year I wasn’t really the most focused kid. I think at a big school it would be real easy for me to get distracted Having a smaller school that’s very academically focused; it’s challenging and helps me to hone in and focus on what’s important.”