Bucs Take the W in the Thanksgiving Ice Hockey Classic

Town Employees and BHS alumni took on current skaters for the Bedford High School hockey team on Friday in a friendly charity game at the Edge. Staff Photo Jenny Stewart

In the age-old face-off between youth and experience, the latter may steal the puck in some situations, but in the Town Employee/Alumni vs. Bedford High School Hockey Team post-Thanksgiving game, youth has come out on top again.

Twenty-two Bedford High School student hockey players squared off against town employees, BHS alumni, and friends with three goalies shared between the teams for a friendly competition charity game at the Edge Sports Center at noon the day after Thanksgiving. The Bucs outscored their senior opponents, 8-5.

The effort on Friday supports the BHS Hockey program, the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity and the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. Staff Photos Jenny Stewart

Friday marked the Bucs’ third consecutive victory in the annual-ish tradition hosted by Lieutenant Nick Anderson of the Bedford Fire Department. Anderson puts the event together as a fun way to bond hockey players across town in a joint fundraiser for the BHS Hockey program, the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity, and Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.

BHS Varsity Hockey Coach Brian Seabury, watching the game as a spectator (the Buc season begins Monday) said it’s “Great to see the event come back after a year off, always enjoy seeing so many of the Alumni after the holiday. More importantly, it is for a great cause, and the guys have a blast playing.”

(L-R): A family affair – Sean (BHS Class of 2020), Chris (BPS alum), and Kenny (BHS Class of 2024) all took the ice on Friday afternoon. Courtesy Image

Kenny Doucet, BHS Senior and Varsity Hockey Co-Captain, confirmed, “I love playing in the alumni game. It’s a great tradition and a great way to start the season. It was especially good this year because I got to play against my brother, Sean [BHS Class of 2020], and my dad.”

Anderson, a goaltender, had a great time as well. With the BHS goalie serving as bench coach while resting an injury, the Town Employee/Alumni rotated three goalies (Anderson, Nick Wilson, and TJ Mead) each playing a period in the net for each team. Anderson said the noise and the enthusiasm of the crowd “were terrific. The only people who enjoy the game more than the high schoolers are the alumni players. They look forward to this game every year.”

Anderson thanked the families and fans for showing up, the Edge for making space, Pete Bagley for all his behind-the-scenes work including securing ice time and officials, Dave Ellis and Jeff Cohen for scorekeeping and announcements, Russ Crane and Josh Berenson for officiating the game as well as Mark Sullivan, Kristin Doucet, Dawn Kelly, and additional volunteers for running admissions and raffle tables. Raffle prizes were donated by New England Nurseries, B Lagrassa Construction, Bedford Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2310, Firefighter/Paramedic Pat O’Neal, and Debbie Spencer Group.

After heading into the second period 4-1, the Town/Alumni team made a good run fighting back from the deficit, but ultimately young legs prevailed and BHS team took the 8-5 win. Staff Photos Jenny Stewart

Town Alumni Team Roster: Nick Anderson (Bedford Fire) Matt Piccirillo (Bedford Police), Jeff Vinciulla (Emergency Communications Officer), Jimmy Collins, Zach Donahue, Chris Doucet, Sean Doucet, Brent Duncan, Cameron Fallon, John Isnor Jr., Ryan Isnor, Sean Isnor, Brennan LaGrassa, Sam Mortensen, Derek O’Rourke, Brendan Vaughan, Anthony Vinciulla, Nick Wilson and Steve Wilson.

Bedford High School Roster: Bryan Bai, Matt Colasante, Kenny Doucet, James Naylor, Bryce Cogliano, Grady Culhane, Charles Demeo, Carter Georgette, James Lorusso, Jackson Malio, Ryan McGrath, James Nichol, Andy Scoville, Drew Siwik, John Campos, Alex Frost, Dylan Siwik, Jackson Tucker, Paul Stewart, Ricky Broglino, Noah Machado and Kyle McGrath, with bench coach Max Marchionna.