Hockey Team: Season Preview
Entering his 13th season leading the Brunswick hockey team, head coach Ron VanBelle has built a winning program that has reached the post season in each of the past three years. With a large group of veteran upperclassmen for the 2017-18 campaign, the Bruins are poised to make another run at a NEPSIHA crown.
VanBelle, who eclipsed 200 career wins at Brunswick last year, will once again have veteran assistant coaches Mike Kennedy (13th year) and Steve Mandes (9th year) by his side.
After reaching the 2017 NEPSIHA Large School Tournament semifinals as the #2 seed, Brunswick graduated just five players, including two goalies, from its playoff-caliber squad. A deep, experienced, battle-tested crew, including eight seniors and eight juniors, will lead the Bruins in the 2017-18 campaign.
Last season, the Bruins (17-10-5 overall, 15-7-4 NEPSIHA) were 6-3 in one-goal games, while holding a 4-0-2 mark in overtime contests.
Referring to those close games, VanBelle noted, "The team showed a lot of grit last season and gained a lot of valuable experience. We have a lot of that experience returning this season.”
Leading this year’s team are a pair of captains in forward Christian LeSueur and defenseman Ryan Carmichael. LeSueur, entering his second year as captain, is the top returning scorer from a year ago with 40 points (19 G, 21 A). The senior enters the 2017-18 season with 117 career points (53 G, 64 A).
Carmichael will anchor the defense once again for VanBelle. The imposing 6’2” defender continues to be an excellent puck distributor in the all areas of the ice. Carmichael set career bests in goals (4) and assists (16) last year as the Bruins’ top-scoring defenseman.
Rounding out a talented and mature senior class are defenseman Patrick Burkinshaw (5 G, 7 A) and five forwards: Nick Boardman (5 G, 10 A), Tim Carter (1 G, 1 A), Jack Forrest (10 G, 7 A), Brendan Gregoire (3 G, 5 A), and Wilson Stephenson (2 G, 5 A).
In goal, VanBelle will look to Dan Dachille to backstop the Bruins’ net. In 407 minutes of action last year, the junior goaltender had a 3.05 GAA, making 176 saves for Brunswick. In eight starts, Dachille went 3-3-2.
With an always daunting schedule in and out of tournament play, VanBelle will lean heavily on his seniors for their leadership and experience against tough opponents at every turn. Highlighting the upcoming games are eight contests against programs that qualified for the NEPSIHA post-season tournament a year ago.
Looking ahead to this season, VanBelle noted to recent success to determine the keys to 2017-18. “The past two seasons we have benefitted from staying relatively healthy and playing a strong brand of hockey in our defensive zone. These two factors will be key again this season.”
Brunswick opens the regular season on the road against Loomis Chaffee on Thursday, November 30.
Brunswick School Greenwich, CT
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Upper School
100 Maher Avenue
Office: 203.625.5856
Lower School
1252 King Street
Office: 203.485.3670 -
Middle School
1275 King Street
Office: 203.242.1202
Pre School
1252 King Street
Office: 203.485.3652
Main Phone: 203.625.5800
Business: 203.242.1220
Alumni: 203.242.1223
Alumni: 203.242.1223