Brunswick’s Senior Night began with a well-earned tribute and carried into a spirited weekend of hockey, as the Bruins defeated Trinity-Pawling 4–1 on Friday before battling top-ranked Dexter-Southfield in a 3–0 road loss Saturday.

Before the puck dropped Friday at Hartong Rink, the Bruins honored their nine seniors — Jack McCullough, Luke Hall, Hampus Vandenberg, Aidan Dougherty, Ben Lombardi, Ben Taylor, Mason St. Louis, Owen Gibbons, and Declan Minella — who entered the night with a combined 22 varsity letters and 659 games played. Their careers include championships at the St. Sebastian’s Tournament and the Belmont Hill/Nichols Tournament, four straight NEPSAC Tournament berths, three Elite 8 appearances, and steady leadership in the classroom and throughout the Brunswick community.

With the ceremony complete, the focus shifted to delivering a performance worthy of a senior class that has helped define this successful stretch of Brunswick hockey — and the Bruins did just that.

Brunswick dominated the opening period against Trinity-Pawling, grabbing a 1–0 lead on an unassisted tally from St. Louis while outshooting the Pride 20–4. T-P answered 2:57 into the second, capitalizing on the power play. The Bruins’ PP responded later in the frame, as Lombardi tipped one home to restore a 2–1 advantage after two.

Junior Keegan Kazan netted the final two goals of the night to secure the 4–1 win and punch Brunswick’s ticket to the NEPSAC playoffs.

Less than 24 hours later, the Bruins traveled to Brookline, Mass., to face No. 1 Dexter-Southfield and put forth a worthy effort before falling 3–0. Brunswick generated an early power-play opportunity and several quality looks but couldn’t convert, and the Patriots broke through on a backdoor play late in the first. Dexter added two more in the second — one on the power play — and held the Bruins off the board the rest of the way.

Brunswick played a solid defensive game, got great goaltending, blocked shots, and competed hard against a highly talented and fast opponent that will certainly be in the mix for the Elite 8 title. 

The Bruins have earned the No. 4 seed in the Large School Tournament, which begins Wednesday, and will face Thayer Academy at Avon Old Farms at 4 p.m.