Dunne St. Louis Hockey Family Dynasty

O’FALLON, Mo. in May, OFincon’s native and PWHPA defender Jincy Dunne was named to the U.S. women’s hockey national team selection camp before the 2022 Winter Olympics after the PWHPA Dream Gap Tour Showcase.

Prior to that, on April 15, his younger brother Josh Dunne made his NHL debut at the Columbus Blue Jackets in Dallas.

He had the support of their family of eight, who booked flights around the country that morning to support Josh personally.

They were all able to make it down, which was awesome because it was my dream come true, Josh Dunne said.

But Josh and Jincy are just two of the family’s six hockey stars. Jessica, Josey, James and Joy are also successful in the sport.

How does it happen? Their father, Tom Dunne, said it all has its roots in the race.

The monopoly was around our physical place, Tom Dunne said. Everyone was very competitive, so hockey was actually a kind of break. It wasn’t that hard.

Their mother, Tammy Dunne, said it all started with the third born Josh and his love for St. To the Louis Blues at the age of four.

Josh always sat there and watched the games, Tammy Dunne said. So he loved hockey from the start. At the time, the girls were figure skaters, and we found a small shoe hockey league that was out in OFallon and signed Joshua. And when he was there playing, Tom was in the ice rink with him. The girls (Jessica and Jincy) watched on the adjacent track, and they decided to try it rather than figure skating.

Soon, his two older sisters, Jessica and Jincy, began playing hockey alongside their younger brother. A little over 10 years later, both sisters were offered to play first-class hockey as the state of Ohio.

It was such a special and unique opportunity to be able to play with your sister, Jessica Dunne said. We had no linemats. We had like one turn together, and we ended up with minus 2, so the coaches were like, Nope. No more. It was every 14 months, so I had Jincy with me my whole life.

Shortly thereafter, Josh accepted a scholarship to play D1 hockey at Clarkson University as well. Then came what Tom and Tammy call their second child: Josey, James and Joy.

We learned a lot from the first pod, which might have helped the second pod a little more, Tom Dunne said. Maybe I developed a little more patience along the way.

The fourth born in 2020, Josey followed in the footsteps of her siblings. He also pursued one hockey career at the University of Minnesota.

And the last two are not far from a similar opportunity.

James was ranked among the top 20 assistant directors in the St. Louis area during the 2021 season on the Fort Zumwalt South event team. And the youngest, Joy, will play for the 16U boys on the St. Louis Blues AAA team this fall. Yes, a group of boys.

It’s very nice to know they all played hockey before me because whenever I have a question or need help, they’re there to help me, Joy Dunne said.

Hockey has actually brought us closer, James Dunne said. I mean, they were always for each other, and I think it just helps keep us together and helps us grow as a family.

And this family loan pays for itself every summer as the Dunne kids gather in OFallon on a roller coaster track.

Four sisters have been able to play together on the same team, Tammy Dunne said. So James would even be a stick boy for this team.

And then we played the game, and we started losing really badly, Jincy Dunne said. And we don’t lose well. We don’t want to lose. The next thing you know, Joy is ahead of the next. Another girl grabs her. And then Josey comes in and tackles the girl. And then somehow my sister (Jessica) and I are in a fight too. And so the four of us had started the line.

They are siblings, but even more, they are six best friends. Raised from two selfless parents who don’t say about succeeding in sports, but loving each other along the way and learning about the experiences sports offer.

“At the end of the day, we try to tell our kids that hard work and responsibility means something, and I think they’ve bought it,” Tom Dunne said.