Boys Varsity Hockey Advances to New England Championship Final Boys Varsity Hockey participated in the New England Prep School Athletic Council postseason tournament, winning the quarterfinal against St. George’s School and the semifinal against The Governor’s Academy before taking on Pomfret School in the 2022 New England Championship Final on March 6. The Highlanders were the #2 seed in the 2022 NEPSAC Boys Ice Hockey Piatell/Simmons Tournament Bracket. All tournament games were held on the campuses of the highest seeds, which placed the Highlanders at home for all three games. Gunn supporters turned out in force to cheer on the Highlanders at Linen Rink, which was packed with students, family members, faculty, and alumni. The final was a rematch from the 2020 New England Championship, when the Highlanders beat Pomfret. This year, Pomfret won 4-2. “I thought we played well. In the beginning of the game, we came out a little bit too amped up. We were running around a little bit and didn’t play much in the way of structured hockey and had some turnovers,” said Head 34
The Frederick Gunn School Bulletin
Boys Hockey Coach Craig Badger. “I think we had good energy. Their goaltender made a bunch of really good saves. I think we were outplaying them and gave up an unfortunate breakaway after putting the pressure on them for a long time, and they scored and we didn’t. That’s just how the game goes sometimes. You can outplay a team and still lose.” Neither team scored until well into the first period. Gunn scored two goals in the second period, the first one on the power play. The puck moved up top to Kiernan Gately ’22, who moved it to the middle and fired a pass down low to Kyle Smyth ’23, who was able to tip it in. “It was a good look by Kiernan to see that open seam on the outside and drive the puck through, which somebody was able to bury,” Badger said. The Highlanders scored again by working the puck in the offensive zone, which was something the team focused on game in and game out. “Nate Stachowiak ’22 was able to pick it off the cycle and find Julian Facchinelli ’22, and he
