BOSTON — During warmups of last week’s home game against his favorite team as a child, the Boston Bruins, Joey Daccord noticed two young boys wearing his Seattle Kraken jersey and pointing to a giant poster they made.
The poster was of Daccord.
The former North Andover native skated over and flipped a puck to each boy.
He didn’t know what ensued.
“I didn’t even see the reaction from those two kids until my mom called me and said, ‘Did you see the reaction from those two little boys after you gave them pucks?’” said Daccord.
“I saw the video later,’ said Daccord. “And that’s what it’s all about.”
The boys’ reaction was gold.
The video has gone viral with 195K views.
Connecting with the fans and the community is a recurring theme for Daccord.
Now in his seventh season in the National Hockey League and fifth with the Kraken, Daccord – who is expected to make the start in Thursday night’s game against the Bruins at the TD Garden nine days after beating them 7-4 — has become a popular figure in the famed Seattle sports lexicon, especially around the local communities.
He has found a second home, some 3,000 miles away from his parents house.
“Seattle has really become my second home. The city, the fans, and the people there have really adopted the whole sport of hockey in such an amazing way,” he said. “I’m just super grateful for the way they have kept me involved in their community and allowed me to be myself. They truly are amazing and have supported me, and I’m just so grateful for it.”
And certainly, those two young boys were grateful for Daccord, who over the past few years has established himself as one of the top goalies in the world.
“I remember when I was those kids’ ages. I thought NHL players were cool, and I wanted to do nothing more than play in the NHL. I saw those kids,” said the 29-year-old. “They both had my jersey on, and they had this massive, biggest sign I have ever seen at a game, drawn up for me. You couldn’t miss the sign. I love doing that stuff, and it was so much fun seeing their faces (on the video).”
“I think it’s so important to be a good role model for those kids and be someone they can look up to, because I had those when I was a kid, and they are the reason why I’m doing what I’m doing today,” he added.
Besides flipping pucks to fans, Daccord has worked with the Kraken’s Charitable Foundation, volunteering his time with the Odessa Brown Clinic.
“I have partnered with Brooks Running Shoes, and we went to the Odessa Brown Clinic and gave out shoes to some underprivileged kids,” he explained. “We also did some running exercises and played some floor hockey. I think it’s incredibly important to get out into the community and spend a lot of time with the people who are cheering us on, who are rooting for us, and trying to make our community a better place.
“Those kinds of events are really rewarding for me,” he added, “and I love doing them whenever I can.”
On the ice, it’s a similar story. He’s been a booming success having blossomed into an elite NHL goaltender. He has been rewarded for it, too, to the tune of a five-year extension he got in October of 2024 worth a cool $25 million.
Shortly after finishing last season with 27 wins and a 2.75 goals against average, he served as the backup goalie to the Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman on the USA team’s World Championship team.
He helped the Americans capture the gold medal for the first time since 1933. He played in three games, won two, including a shutout over Denmark.
This season with the Kraken, he has 12 wins and a 2.83 GAA.
He would like to make it “Lucky 13” after facing the Bruins for the fourth time in his career and second time at the T.D. Garden. He stopped 36 of 37 shots in his debut there two years ago.
“I grew up watching the Bruins,” he said. “When my dad (Brian) was coaching there, those players were huge role models for me. I was five years old, playing mini-sticks with (former players) Joe Thornton and Sergei Samsonov. It was just so incredible for me as a young kid. It’s always amazing to come back home and play against the Bruins.”
Family and friends will be there tonight, as Zdeno Chara’s number will be retired, in droves.
“It’ll be a special night, and it almost feels like a homecoming game because I’ll have all these people who have been such a big help with my hockey career,” continued Daccord. “Every time I get to play at the T.D. Garden, it is an absolute treat. I love playing there; and it’s a full-circle moment.”
You can email Jamie Pote at jpote@eagletribune.com.