Three consecutive breakaway goals, a record-setting performance by a standout senior and 31 saves by a locked-in goalie resulted in one more impressive win for Brunswick School’s ice hockey team.

Highlighted by Brendan Giles’ school record 31st goal of the season, Brunswick registered three second-period goals on their way to recording a hard-fought 4-2 win over South Kent School 18U Friday night at Hartong Rink.

The victory was the 20th of the season for the Bruins, who sport an outstanding record of 20-4-2.

“We had a really competitive trip to Canada, we actually came out on the short end of some games up there, so we wanted to try to flip the script on the scoreboard and get a win against a quality opponent, as we head into our home stretch here,” Brunswick coach Mike Kennedy said. “This proves to ourselves once again, that we could beat a good team.”

Giles continued his torrid scoring pace, powering the Bruins’ offense. The senior, who plays left wing on Brunswick’s first line, scored off a breakaway 4:15 into the second period, giving the Bruins a 2-0 lead, while marking his 30th goal of the season. His 30 goals for the season make him Brunswick’s single season record holder for goals in what has been a dominant year for the three-year letterman from Ridgefield.

“It’s an honor, it’s really great,” Giles said of achieving the school record in goals for a single season. “I worked hard for it and I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.”

Giles breaks a record that was previously set by Kevin Duane during the Bruins’ 2011-2012 season. The 30 goals scored by Giles are a Brunswick record since the program became NEPSAC Division I in the 2009-2010 season.

“He has been a dynamic player for us and he’s really taken a step this year, becoming a leader for us offensively,” Kennedy said of Giles. “He wants to be the guy and he’s been that for us.”

The Bruins seized a 1-0 advantage, courtesy of Giles, who scored a power play goal with 1:52 remaining in the first period off a one-timer from the left faceoff circle. Senior linemate Sean Gibbons and senior defenseman Cooper Cleaves each assisted on the tally. Meanwhile, senior goalie Will Baker made several stellar saves, keeping the hosts in front in the opening period.

The Bruins broke the game open in the second period on the strength of three straight breakaway goals. Giles’ breakaway goal 4:15 into the second period off a Gibbons assist put Brunswick ahead of South Kent, 2-0.

“Another great pass by my teammate, Sean Gibbons, led to the goal,” Giles noted. “We were okay in the first period and we focused on defense in the second period. Will Baker said something in the locker room that we had to improve on in front of him and we got the job done.”

With South Kent (26-22-3) on a power play, the Bruins tallied a shorthanded goal, increasing their edge to 3-0.

This time senior left wing Connor Choy broke loose and scored on a well-executed 1-on-1 move to get the puck past South Kent goalie Chase Hennessy. He used a backhand to the top shelf on the play. Choy’s goal made it 3-0 in favor of the home team. Senior forward Jake Minella assisted on Choy’s tally, nicely moving the puck up the ice.

“That was fun, getting some breakaways, putting them home,” Kennedy said. “It’s good to see Connor Choy get on the board, that was his first of the year. I know the crowd loved that one, the parents did and the bench did too. It was a fun second period.”

The second-period fun wasn’t over for the Bruins, however. Senior Ryan Wachtel, who skates on the first line, broke away for a goal, making it 4-10:10 into the second period.

South Kent made it interesting down the stretch with one late goal in the second period and a tally with 3:47 to play in the final period. Richard Komedat and Carson Mitchell had South Kent’s goals, cutting the Bruins’ advantage to 4-2.

Yet the rock-solid Baker shut the door from there. He finished the matchup with 31 saves. Indeed, the Bruins have flourished on both ends of the ice so far this season, with Giles and numerous other players pacing the offense and Cooper Cleaves, Blake Stant, Carter Hall, Luc Lampert, Carter Grimes and Luke Hall leading the defense.

“He’s had a heck of a season,” Kennedy said of Giles. “He just keeps putting the puck in the net for us. He is showing up every day, doing everything he is supposed to be doing defensively and it’s leading to offense for him.”

Chemistry hasn’t been an issue for this Bruins team, which has used its depth, experience and skill to overtake most of its opponents.

“It’s been great, all the guys are so close,” Giles said. “We have a lot of seniors and a lot of new guys that we brought in have clicked right away.”

Brunswick skates against a formidable Cushing Academy squad Wednesday at the University of Connecticut at 3:30 p.m. They host Frederick Gunn Friday at Hartong Rink at 6 p.m., then travel to Berkshire School on Saturday for a 1 p.m. matchup.

Overall, they have seven games remaining on their regular season schedule before the postseason tournament begins.

“We have seven more league games that will determine where we will fall in the playoff chase,” Kennedy noted. “We’re in the fourth spot. We have big games coming up, we have Cushing, Salisbury, everybody we play down the stretch is going to be good and very competitive – a couple of teams in front of us, a couple of teams behind us. We control our own destiny based on how we perform in the next couple of weeks.”

Said Giles: “This is definitely going to be our hardest stretch of the season. We need big wins and we need to come together as a group and dig down even deeper, because I know we can play better.”

Prior to defeating South Kent on Friday, Brunswick returned home after a four-day stay in Canada and earned a 3-1 league win against Lawrenceville School Wednesday at Hartong Rink. 

Giles netted two first-period goals, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead.

Lawrenceville got one goal back in the second period and had a few chances to knot the contest before Brunswick sealed the victory on a tally by Gibbons.

Sophomore Dylan Lee-Stack was his steady and confident self between the pipes, earning the win with 28 saves.