The boys varsity ice hockey team opened the 2022–23 season with a 3-2 victory over Brunswick School on Thursday, December 1, hanging on for the win after taking a 2-0 lead in the second period.

The Pelicans swarmed the Bruins from the opening whistle but couldn’t find the back of the net. Their relentless pressure in the offensive zone made it difficult for Brunswick to move the puck up the ice, but the Brunswick goaltender made 15 saves to keep the Pelicans off the scoreboard in the first period.

Loomis Chaffee finally broke through four minutes into the second period thanks to junior forward Ben Carfora, who picked up a puck with speed in the neutral zone, flew past his defender, and fired a perfectly placed shot past the Brunswick goalkeeper to get the Pelicans' first goal of the season. Juniors Easton Swift and Brody Andriole recorded assists on the play.

Just a minute later Loomis doubled its lead when junior defenseman Drew Anastasio collected a puck near the Brunswick goal line and shot it toward the net. In the ensuing battle for the puck in front of the net, sophomore forward Gennaro Pompano make a quick touch to junior Makai Tarjamo, who put the puck away.

Brunswick responded with a push of its own in the third period and cut the Pelicans' lead in half four minutes into the final period, but Loomis junior Will Reardon revived the Pelicans' two-goal lead when he scored on a rebound opportunity off a shot from Anastasio. Junior forward Ethan Woolcott also recorded an assist on the play.

Brunswick refused to give in, however, and tallied another goal late in the third to make the score 3-2. Fortunately for Loomis, senior goalkeeper and captain Andrew Heinze stood tall in the pipes for the remainder of the game and helped the Pelicans hold on for a victory.

Before the start of the game, Brunswick dedicated the viewing balcony of the rink to Teddy Balkind, a student at Brunswick who passed away in a tragic accident on the ice last year.

Up next for the Pelicans is a game against Founders League foe Trinity-Pawling on Saturday, December 3, at 4 p.m. in Pawling, New York.