Boys Varsity Hockey 2014 New England Elite Eight Tournament Runner-up A strong tradition of excellence exists within The Gunnery Boys' Ice Hockey program. Since the program's inception in 1918, The Gunnery always has competed at the highest level with success. The program reached its pinnacle in the late 1980s and early 1990s (1987, 1988, 1990) when the Highlanders captured three New England championships in four years, followed by an official move to Division I status in 1995. The team recently carved out a rare niche in the prep school hockey world as an elite level program with a small school experience. Most all other top New England programs also find themselves categorized as “large” based on student body population. The Gunnery provides a personalized, “small” school experience with elite level hockey. Recent program success include seven consecutive 20-win seasons, seven consecutive NEPSIHA West titles (2008-2009 through 2014-2015), and five Elite Eight New England Tournament appearances in the last six years (2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2011-2012, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015). The team finished runner-up for the Elite New England Championship in 2013-2014. During that stretch, the program boasts 2 NHL draft picks, 39 NCAA Division I placements, dozens of NCAA Division III placements, and one Hobey Baker Award finalist (award for the top player in college hockey). The ice hockey program has sent recent graduates on to Vermont, Brown, Princeton, St. Lawrence, RPI, Middlebury, Wesleyan, Norwich, Trinity, Skidmore and a host of other Division I and Division III programs. The varsity team currently plays one of the most competitive schedules in New England. The 35 game schedules includes games against long time rivals Canterbury, Millbrook, Berkshire, and Williston-Northampton while also contending against Founders League teams such as Avon, Kent, Salisbury and Westminster. In recent years the Gunnery has added games against hockey powers Stanstead College (QC), St. Andrew's College (ONT), and Northwood. The schedule is highlighted by traveling to the Avon Old Farms tournament (2009 Champions) prior to the Winter break where over 100 college and pro scouts evaluate our players. The team also competes in the Cushing Academy New Year's Tournament (2010 and 2014 Champions), believed to be the top showcase at the time for competition and exposure. We round out our schedule with other showcase driven events including the Berkshire Jamboree and the Exeter Prep Pot. Our team practices four times a week at Linen Rink, located on our campus. Our staff puts a premium on player development, and so we concentrate a great deal on maximizing the practice time we have together daily. Practices focus on individual skill development, as well as teaching the players the intricacies of the game, so as to help prepare them for collegiate opportunity and success. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Craig Badger Head Coach Meet The Coaches Head Coach: Craig Badger Coach Badger joined the Highlander staff in 2005. Prior to The Gunnery, Coach Badger was the Assistant Men's Hockey coach at Williams College. He was a 4 year defenseman at Wesleyan University and played prep hockey at Williston Northampton where he was selected as a 1st Team All New England defenseman. Assistant Coach: Shane Gorman Coach Gorman ‘10 joined the Highlander coaching staff in 2015. In college he helped lead Norwich University to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, three NCAA Division III Frozen Four appearances, two ECAC East Tournament titles and four ECAC East regular season titles. Recent Highlander Graduates in College Hockey: ● Austin Smith ‘07 - Colgate University (ECAC D-I) - 2012 Hobey Baker Finalist ​ ● Adam DeSanctis '11 - Wesleyan University (NESCAC - D-III) ● Alex Vazzano ‘10 - Sacred Heart University (Atlantic Hockey D-I) ● Anthony Bird ‘13 - Skidmore College (ECAC East - D-III) ● Anthony D’Elia ’12 - Stonehill College (Northeast 10 - D-III) ● Anthony Luzzi ’13 - Manhattanville College (ECAC West - D-III) ● Anthony Yelovich ’07 - Sacred Heart University (Atlantic Hockey D-I) ● Ben Hjalmarsson ‘12 - Trinity College (NESCAC - D-III) ● Billy Sanborn ‘08 - SUNY Fredonia (SUNYAC - D-III) ● Bobby Segin ‘11 - University of Connecticut (Atlantic Hockey D-1) ● Brett Mackell ’12 – Elmira College (ECAC West – D-III) ● Cameron Romoff ‘12 – Middlebury College (NESCAC – D-III) ● Connor Eckenrod ’14 - Western New England College (CCC – D-III) ● Craig Wyszomirski ‘11 - Merrimack College (Hockey East D-I) ● Dan Divis '11 – St Michael's College (ECAC East – D-III) ● Dawson Springings ‘13 - Wesleyan University ( NESCAC - D-III) ● Derek Army '10 - Providence College (Hockey East - D-I) ● Drew Smolcynski '12 - St. Lawrence University (ECAC D-I) ● Jake Wood '12 - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC D-I) ● Jaren Taenaka '12 - Wesleyan University (NESCAC - D-III) ● Jarrid Privitera '12 - Boston University (Hockey East D-I) ● Jeff Buvinow '08 - Brown University (ECAC D-I) ● Joey Fallon '14 - Princeton University - Committment (ECAC D-I) ● John Vazzano ‘08 - University of Vermont (Hockey East D-I) ● Kai Frankville ‘13 - Colby College (NESCAC - D-III) ● Kevin Darrar ‘14 - Holy Cross University - Committment (Atlantic Hockey - D-I) ● Marc Cibelli ‘13 - Skidmore College (ECAC East-D-III) ● Marty Rubin '13 – Wesleyan University (NESCAC – D-III) ● Matt Dyer '07 - Saint Lawrence University (ECAC D-I) ● Matt Helderman ‘07 - Lake Forest College (MIAC - D-III) ● Michael Garlasco '09 - Clarkson University (ECAC D-I) ● Michale Lee '15 – University of Vermont (Hockey East D-I) ● Nate Sucese ‘14 - Pennsylvania State University - Committment (Big Ten D-I) ● Nick Luukko ‘10 - University of Vermont (Hockey East D-I) ● Nick Quillan '15 – Colgate University – Commitment (ECAC D-I) ● Rob Badger ‘10 - University of Massachusetts - Lowell (Hockey East - D-I) ● Robert Daraar ‘13 - University of Vermont (Hockey East D-I) ● Ron Fishman '11 - Middlebury College (NESCAC - D-III) ● Ryan Dmowski '15 – Umass Lowell (Hockey East D-I) ● Shane Gorman ‘10 - Norwich University (ECAC East - D-III) ● Terrence Wallin ‘11 - University of Massachusetts - Lowell (Hockey East D-I) ● Thane Heller '10 - United States Military Academy - West Point (Atlantic League - D-I) ● Tom Chiapetta ‘07 - Hamilton College (NESCAC - D-I) ● Vinnie Scotti ‘10 Merrimack College (Hockey East D-I) NHL Draft Picks: ● Austin Smith ‘07 - Colgate University - Dallas Stars ● Danny Murphy ‘88 - University of Maine - Boston Bruins ● Nick Luukko ‘10 - University of Vermont - Philadelphia Flyers Be more than a hockey player at The Gunnery. Become a Student-Athlete The 2014-2015 Highlanders accomplished the following: ● 19 student-athletes made the Honor Roll during the year. ● 100% of the student-athletes earned Academic Merit honors ● 5 student-athletes earned their place on the Dean's List, the highest accomplishment academically ● 17 student-athletes were multi-sport varsity athletes ● 6 student-athletes (25% of team) earned All-School prizes for academic, multi-sport athletic, and character achievement. ● 5 student-athletes earned All-League honors in four other non-hockey sports (soccer, lacrosse, golf) .