Brunswick School’s varsity ice hockey team has begun 2024 by winning its first two home games, but it’s currently riding a much more impressive streak.

Since losing their season-opener on the road to Loomis Chaffee School, the Bruins are unbeaten in their last 13 games, with their latest successful outing coming on Saturday.

Scoring two goals in each period, while receiving a hat trick from senior forward Brendan Giles, Brunswick skated to a decisive 6-2 win over Upper Canada College Saturday afternoon at Hartong Rink. The victory, their 10th straight overall, improving the surging Bruins’ record to 11-1-2.

“We are hoping to keep stacking up some wins, so we set ourselves up for a good stretch run,” Brunswick coach Mike Kennedy said. “We are on a great streak, so we have to keep it rolling.”

The Bruins pulled out a 1-0 triumph against Upper Canada College on Friday in a matchup that saw the hosts hold a 34-17 shots-on-goal advantage. Giles’ goal in a 4-on-4 situation off a pass from senior forward/captain Sean Gibbons with 2:26 remaining in the third period gave Brunswick the close win on Friday, yet the Bruins gave themselves much more breathing room against their visitors from Canada on Saturday.

“I feel like every line was going, we had a good night of rest and we came out flying,” Giles said. “We didn’t think 1-0 was good enough yesterday (Friday).”

Senior forward/alternate captain Jake Minella registered one goal and one assist, while senior forward/captain Luke Drury assisted on two goals and Gibbons also posted two assists for the victors.

Brunswick began its 2023-2024 season with 12 consecutive games on the road, before winning at Hartong Rink on Friday and Saturday.

“It feels so nice to play at home,” Minella said. “The games at home are awesome – playing in front of your buddies, your parents it’s a good time.”

Sophomore Dylan Lee-Stack made 29 saves in goal to raise his record to 3-0 between the pipes this season. Senior goalie Will Baker has been terrific in net this season, going 10-1-2.

“Will Baker, our senior has been rock solid and it’s been nice to get our sophomore Lee-Sack some action,” Kennedy said. “He’s played three games and won them all.”

In Saturday’s game at Hartong Rink, Giles scored off a Drury assist 13:49 into the first period, giving the Bruins a 1-0 lead.

“Luke Drury took the faceoff and it came right to me wide – a wide open net,” Giles said of his first goal.

Giles’ second tally came at the 15:16 mark of the opening period with Upper Canada on a power play. This time, Giles and Minella teamed up for the shorthanded goal.

“Jake Minella blocked a shot on a PK and he came down, pulled up, gave it to me and I had a wide open net,” Giles said of his goal, which gave the home team a 2-0 advantage.

Saturday’s hat trick gives Giles a team-leading 16 goals on the season.

“Brendan is playing phenomenal hockey,” Kennedy noted. “He’s confident, he wants the puck on his stick and he’s making plays. The real thing is he’s playing on the defensive end too. He is showing up every day and he’s been our best offensive player.”

Kennedy appreciated his squad’s strong start against Upper Canada.

“It looked like it might go the same was as last night, which was a zero-zero game until pretty late, so it was nice to break through,” he said.

Shortly after Upper Canada killed a power play, the Bruins extended their lead. Junior forward Oliver Czaja’s goal off assists from Drury and Gibbons put the Bruins in front, 3-0, 6:13 into the second period.

Just 1:48 later, Giles completed his hat trick, putting Upper Canada in a 4-0 hole. Senior defenseman/alternate captain Cooper Cleaves and Gibbons assisted on Giles’ third tally. Meanwhile, Lee-Stack was sensational in goal, enabling the Bruins to play from in front.

“We had very good puck movement and we had a lot of power plays,” Giles said. “Lee-Stack was great in the net. We were very aggressive throughout the game.”

Depth has been one of the difference makers for the Bruins so far this season. Each line has produced, while the squad’s rotation of defensemen has been impressive.

“This year, we have come out to a really hot start,” Giles noted. “We’re on a roll, we’re finding our groove and playing really connected.”

“Today, we were playing connected and playing in transition really well,” Giles continued. “We were moving the puck well out of the zone and getting good pressure in the offensive zone. All of our lines have great chemistry. The guys are moving, passing well and getting shots off.”

Upper Canada scored at the 9:14 mark of the second period and 5:16 into the third period, but Brunswick regained its four-goal lead with goals third-period goals from senior defenseman Luc Lampert and Minella. Senior forward Charlie Vincent and junior defenseman Luke Hall each assisted on Minella’s third-period goal.

“I was flying down the left wing, he gave me a good flick the ‘D’ man went out to try to catch it, he missed it – I caught it and went forehand, backhand and snuck it in,” Minella said of his goal.

The Bruins have yielded two goals or less in nine of their 14 games, while scoring four goals or more in nine games so far this season.

An 8-3 road win against East Hampton School on Dec. 2 started the Bruins’ 13-game unbeaten streak. They have 11 wins since their loss in their season-opener and 11 victories.

Indeed, senior leadership has helped Brunswick become one of the premier teams in New England thus far.

“We have 14 seniors, so everybody knows how we like to play and what the coach’s expectations are,” Kennedy noted. “Our style of play is familiar to them. The captains are certainly doing a great job of making sure everyone is focused every day.”

Brunswick faces a busy week. The Bruins will travel to Hotchkiss School on Monday, host Millbrook School on Wednesday, travel to The Hill School on Friday and play Hill again on Saturday.

“We just have to keep it together, we’re playing well,” Giles said. “Everyone came together after that first loss.”