Meet our Coaches
our 2023-24 coaches
2023-24 coaches from left to right: Sam Fuss, Eric Westlund, Dylan Talkovic, Aaron Johnson, Drake Hunter. Not pictured: Tory Dalbec.
DYLAN TALKOVIC
VARSITY HEAD COACH
I played hockey in Milwaukee, including four years of varsity hockey at Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha, Wisconsin. After high school, I attended the University of Minnesota and continued to play in intramural leagues.
Back in 2018, I joined Hopkins Hockey as part of the Bantam A coaching staff. After two years, I became the Hopkins High School Head JV Coach and served as a Varsity Assistant. When I heard of the opportunity to become the new Head Varsity Coach, I jumped at the chance. I could not be more excited to lead this group of young men.
During the day, I supervise a team of consultants for MEDITECH, a company I have been with since 2013. When I am not working my day job or at the rink, I can most likely be found on the golf course or at a park with Sarah and our dog, Cash.
ERIC WESTLUND
HEAD JV COACH & VARSITY ASSISTANT
I grew up playing hockey in Hutchinson, MN. After graduation, I attended the University of St. Thomas, began coaching hockey at North St. Paul, and quickly discovered a new passion. A job brought me back to Hutchinson, where I spent seven years coaching and served as Coach-In-Chief for the association for an additional two years.
After a few years in Virginia, coaching 14u AA with the Roanoke Valley Youth Hockey Association, I got the opportunity to move back to Minnesota. I feel blessed to be a part of the Hopkins High School Hockey coaching staff. It has been a dream to coach at the high school level in Minnesota since hanging up the skates. On weekdays, I work at Hopkins High School as a Special Education teacher. Away from work, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my wife, Abbie, and our two dogs, Remi and Winnie.
TORY DALBEC
GOALIE COACH
Hockey has always been a big part of my life, especially since I grew up in Edina. After high school, I played college football for North Dakota State University. I was a part of two D1 FCS National Championship teams (2013 and 2014) before my career was cut short due to injury.
I am entering my fifth season of coaching and have had the opportunity to work with some talented goaltenders through Devenir Goaltenders. I have also coached youth hockey for the past four seasons in Eden Prairie and Minnetonka. I look forward to working with the players this season and love being a part of the Hopkins hockey family.
SAM FUSS
VARSITY ASSISTANT COACH
Growing up, I played hockey in Edina, and I was fortunate enough to win a state championship in 2014 with Edina High School. After high school, I went on to play junior hockey for the Minot Minotauros of the NAHL and the Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the USHL. From there, I played hockey for Niagara University and The College of Saint Scholastica, where I graduated in 2022.
I've coached at the youth level, and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to join the Hopkins program as a varsity assistant coach.
Aside from hockey, I recently started a new job as a business development representative. Between my day job and coaching, I look forward to a very busy winter season!
AARON JOHNSON
VARSITY ASSISTANT & JV ASSISTANT COACH
I'm from Lino Lakes, MN, where I played youth hockey while growing up in Centennial. I started late in my hockey career, after playing basketball until 7th grade. I took a chance to lace up the skates and fell in love with hockey.
I attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth, majoring in Communication and double-minoring in Coaching and Journalism. I played intramural hockey in Duluth and took advantage of all the well-kept outdoor rinks! This is also where I got my coaching background as an assistant coach with the Proctor Boys High School team. I loved working with the team and helping the kids develop their skills. I'm extremely excited to get back into coaching with Hopkins!
I work for Target in their digital department. Outside of work, I play in the Minnesota Wild Adult Hockey League, and I am in the midst of wedding planning with my fiance, Kenzie.