Boys Ice Hockey
Bishop O'Connell competes in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) and the Mid-Atlantic Prep Hockey League (MAPHL), one of the highest levels of hockey competition for high school-age players in the Mid Atlantic. This upcoming season the Knights will skate two teams with a Varsity and Junior Varsity team. Knights hockey players have developed a reputation as being a hard working team that plays with passion and good sportsmanship.
In 2019, the varsity team participated in the USA Hockey High School Nationals in Cleveland, Ohio, advancing to the quarterfinals before losing to eventual national champions Santa Margarita Catholic HS.
The Knights skate at the Medstar Capitals Iceplex, the official practice facility for the Washington Capitals located less than four miles from campus. The close proximity allows for over 35 practices immediately after classes on Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. and Fridays at 4:00 p.m. Practices are designed to help players improve their individual skills as well as become better team players. One goal of the program is to prepare the student-athletes for their futures in hockey and in life.
- Program At A Glance
- Why play for O'Connell?
- Team Culture
- Season Schedule Overview
- Theme Nights
- Off-Season Training
Program At A Glance
- Varsity team plays in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) and Mid Atlantic Prep Hockey League (MAPHL).
- JV plays in the NVSHL JV League along with some non-league games against the the JV teams from other WCAC Schools.
- More information about each league can be found here.
- This year we are going to Notre Dame (South Bend, IN) for a tournament.
- Culture: Team First, Focus on Development, Building a Cohesive Program
Why play for O'Connell?
- Our program offers a well rounded experience with activities offered at all points in the year and countless opportunities to get better and develop your game. The number of practices and games that are played are more than what you will find in other highschool leagues in the area.
- Our program focuses on the development of the player, wherever they are currently and wherever they'd like to get. We ask our players what their goals are for Ice Hockey, whether it is to go from Travel Hockey to the NCAA, or if it is to go from recreational hockey to playing on a Travel Team or on Varsity. Whatever the goal is, we want to help players achieve that.
- Our program strives to always create a cohesive team, with comradery, respect and positivity. We have team social events and other team building activities that create lasting friendships and teammates.
Team Culture
O'Connell Hockey has a team first mentality and culture with a focus on player development and providing a well rounded experience for players. For example,
- What we teach: Systems and Hockey Concepts, Physical Play, High Percentage Scoring Concepts, Learning and Implementing Game Plans, Technical Skills, and Team Play
- How we teach it:
- 25+ On-Ice Practices
- 25+ Games and one Tournament for Varsity
- 15+ Games for JV (Additional Practices for JV as we are focusing on Development)
- Video Review & Classroom Learning
- Involving the Players in creating the team systems, game plans, and culture
Season Schedule Overview
The Season Schedule is an "NHL Style" Schedule with a training camp in October, pre-season practices and games in November, and then a game heavy season from December through February. Please see below for the overall season schedule breakdown for the 2024 to 2025 Season.
- Training Camp 9/30 - 11/6: Training camp will be Mon, Wed, Fri practices at 3:30 PM to 4:50 PM for all players in the entire program. Training Camp is mandatory for all players that are trying out! There are no exceptions. Attendance to these practices will be monitored and included in your individual evaluation at tryouts.
- Blue vs White Inter-Squad Game on 11/1 5:00 PM to 7:50 PM: Before training camp is over, we will split the team into 2 even teams, each led by one of our Captains, Adam Bravery (C) and Brendan Gaucher (A), and hold an inter squad scrimmage game. We will have referees, announcers, and will publicize the game to the school with potential giveaways. This will be a great experience for us to play in front of family, friends, and fans of the program.
- Tryouts on Friday 11/8 at 5:00 PM to 6:20 PM: Varsity and JV teams will be named following this session.
- Pre-Season 11/11 - 11/22: Pre-Season will consist of both individual team practices and combined team practices, with 3-4 scrimmages for Varsity and 1-2 scrimmages for JV.
- Regular Season 11/25/2024 - 2/5/2025: Varsity will have 2-3 games and 0-1 practices and JV will have 0-1 games and 0-1 practices per week.
- Varsity Tournament in South Bend, IN (University of Notre Dame) 2/7/2025 - 2/9/2025: Varsity will be traveling in a coach bus and staying in hotels as a team. Please be on the lookout for specifics on this as we get closer to the season. JV does not currently have a tournament as we are still looking into local options.
- Playoffs begin 2/11/2025: WCAC is 2/11 - 2/14, followed by MAPHL 2/17 - 2/19
Theme Nights
- Blue vs. White Game 11/1 at 5:00 PM: Student Night/Fan Full Ice Shoot Out Competition
- West Virginia Vipers 11/15 at 6:30 PM: Black Out/Free T-Shirts for first 50 people
- W&L 12/6 at 8:00 PM: Royal Blue Out/Free T-Shirts for first 50 people
- Gonzaga 12/20 at 8:00 PM: Ugly Sweater Night/Free Santa Hats for first 50 people
- DeMatha 1/31 at 8:00 PM: Senior Night/Players to Vote on Theme!
Off-Season Training
- Spring Hockey Season is an eight game season with two or three practices and runs during April and May. This is open to all current 8th graders who plan to attend O'Connell the following year through current Juniors currently attending O'Connell.
- Summer workouts begin the first week school is out. This consists of one off-ice workout session on the baseball field and two weight room sessions each week until school returns.
- After school workouts begin once school is in session for the year, consisting of two weight room sessions each week.
Varsity
Schedule and Results
Opponent | Date | Time | Location | Advantage | Result | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
West Virginia Vipers
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | ||
vs.
St. John's
|
|
|
Rockville Ice Arena (ARC) | Away | ||
vs.
DeMatha
|
|
|
Laurel Gardens Ice House | Away | ||
vs.
Calvert Hall
|
|
|
Mount Pleasant Ice Arena | Away | Loss | 1-4 |
vs.
Gonzaga
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | Loss | 1-3 |
vs.
Washington-Liberty
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | ||
vs.
St. Albans School
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | Loss | 3-4 |
vs.
DeMatha
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | Loss | 4-6 |
vs.
Paul VI Catholic
|
|
|
SkateQuest Reston | Away | Loss | 1-2 |
vs.
DeMatha
|
|
|
Laurel Gardens Ice House | Away | Win | 4-1 |
vs.
Landon
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | Loss | 1-9 |
vs.
Gonzaga
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | Loss | 1-2 |
vs.
Bullis
|
|
|
Rockville Ice Arena (ARC) | Away | Loss | 2-3 |
vs.
St. John's
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | ||
vs.
Georgetown Prep
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | Win | 3-2 |
vs.
St. John's
|
|
|
Rockville Ice Arena (ARC) | Away | Loss | 2-5 |
vs.
St. Albans School
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | Win | 4-1 |
vs.
Spalding
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | Loss | 0-4 |
vs.
DeMatha
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | Loss | 2-5 |
vs.
Mount St. Joseph High School
|
|
|
Laurel Gardens Ice House | Away | Loss | 2-4 |
vs.
St. John's
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | ||
Vs Carmel Gold Ice Hounds, Compton Family Ice Arena IN
|
|
|
Away | Loss | 3-4 | |
Vs McDowell Trojans, Ice Box South Bend, IN
|
|
|
Away | Win | 4-2 | |
Vs University School Preppers, Compton Family Ice Arena IN
|
|
|
Away | Loss | 0-8 | |
vs.
WCAC semi finals, Gonzaga
|
|
|
Tucker Road Ice Rink | Away |
Roster
#4 Marcus Rector
Class of 2025
#5 Brendan Gaucher
Class of 2025
#6 Henry Grisius
Class of 2025
#7 Ryan Ferguson
Class of 2025
#8 Romeo Galvan
Class of 2025
#9 Adam Bravery
Class of 2025
#11 Michael Lowen
Class of 2026
#14 Jack Kelley
Class of 2026
#16 Zach Fairbanks
Class of 2026
#17 Grant Alt
Class of 2027
#18 Dylan Gaspard
Class of 2027
#22 Wyatt Turbock
Class of 2026
#26 Brayden Stoll
Class of 2025
#30 Logan Rudolph
Class of 2028
#35 Landon Morris
Class of 2028
#38 Thomas Burke
Class of 2027
#40 Aris Batres
Class of 2027
#44 Nick Jorjani
Class of 2025
#81 Mejd Al-Kadiri
Class of 2027
#84 Lukas Malagrin
Class of 2027
#96 Derek Jenson
Class of 2027
Managers:
Kate Casstevens '25
Emma Prykanowski '25
Coaches
Head Coach
Thomas Brooks
Coach Brooks was born and raised in Fairfax County and attended James Madison High School where he was a three sport athlete, including Football, Ice Hockey, and Lacrosse. His youth hockey days began as a Reston Raider, and later he played for the Ashburn Xtreme. He went on to play four years of Division 1 ACHA Ice Hockey at West Virginia University, serving as one of the team's Alternate Captains during his senior year.
Coach Brooks earned his B.S. in Industrial Engineering and works in the Washington area as a consultant for nonprofit and higher education organizations. He has also been coaching hockey at The St. James, starting with U16 and U14, and currently with the U18 AA travel team.
"I intend to bring my five core values along with me and instill them into the Knights Varsity Ice Hockey Program culture," said Coach Brooks. "These five core values, which can be remembered by the acronym RECAP, include: Respect, Effort, Commitment, Accountability, and Positivity."
"I am grateful for this opportunity to serve the players and help them become the best they can be on and off the ice," he added. "I aim to provide a fun, safe, and positive environment for our players to learn and thrive in both life and the great game of ice hockey."
Assistant Coaches: Tommy Pokorney, Brendan Smith
News
JV
Schedule and Results
Opponent | Date | Time | Location | Advantage | Result | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Woodson/ Robinson
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | ||
vs.
St. Mary's Ryken
|
|
|
Capital Clubhouse | Away | Win | 11-0 |
vs.
Madison
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | Loss | 1-2 |
vs.
Langley
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | Win | 5-1 |
vs.
Battlefield
|
|
|
Haymarket Iceplex | Away | Win | 7-3 |
Independence
|
|
|
Ashburn Ice House | Away | ||
vs.
Yorktown
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | ||
vs.
Gonzaga
|
|
|
Tucker Road Ice Rink | Away | Loss | 3-6 |
Independence
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | Win | 9-1 |
vs.
Battlefield
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | Win | 9-4 |
vs.
Paul VI Catholic
|
|
|
Haymarket Iceplex | Away | Loss | 2-5 |
vs.
St. John's
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | Loss | 3-6 |
vs.
Yorktown
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | Win | 8-5 |
Woodson/ Robinson
|
|
|
MedStar Iceplex (formerly Kettler) | Home | ||
vs.
Madison
|
|
|
Ashburn Ice House | Away | ||
vs.
Langley
|
|
|
Ashburn Ice House | Away |