Young Pack Attack: Bulldogs’ Future Comes Charging In

Coming into the season, nobody really expected the younger guys to have such a big impact. You think of freshmen, sophomores, even 8th graders, and you figure they’re just getting their feet under them, learning the pace, adjusting to the level. But that’s not how it played out.

They showed up ready to compete.

Yeah, there were some mistakes along the way, that’s part of being young, but what stood out more was the effort. The way they chased pucks, supported each other, and didn’t back down, no matter who they were up against. They didn’t look like they were just filling spots, they looked like they belonged.

And as the season went on, you could see the confidence building. Little plays turned into bigger moments. Shifts started to matter more. And suddenly, these weren’t just “young players” they were difference-makers.

It’s a good sign for what’s ahead. Because if this is what the future looks like, it’s already starting to arrive.

Waiting in the wings #24 - Forward Aditya Sugunan (16gp, 0p) #19 - Forward Brendan Kane (11gp, 0p) #14 - Forward Giella Clifford (17gp, 0p) All these players showed glimpses of greatness, but just didn’t have the chance to get a lot of ice time, but that will easily change this upcoming season.Forwards like Aditya and Giella constantly get praised for working hard in practice, and like we talking about Bobby, the “Next Man Up” mentality is still a huge factor for Rockland sports, especially Dogs Hockey. One person that I think is really interesting is Brendan Kane. Learning from both of his brothers David and Daniel, Brendan has the chance to surprise a lot of people. Do not be surprised if all of a sudden he's an immediate impact player out of nowhere. Stepping into the Rotation #7 - Defenseman Landon Rubio (21gp, 1a, 1p) #12 - Defenseman Joe Barry (20gp, 1a, 1p) #30 - Goalie Hunter Campos (5mins, 1.000sv%) Both Landon and Joe stepped up giving big minutes on the defensive side with the multitude of injuries the Bulldogs had this past season. Joe Barry stepped up in a big way on that 2nd defensive pairing, and his physicality was evident in the second half of this past season. Expect them both to get an uptick in minutes, especially with Ryan Maher graduating.

Hunter Campos was unfortunately behind two stellar goalies in Collin Rau and Ricky Esancy. However, with Ricky graduating, Hunter will have his chance to play crucial minutes behind Collin Rau this upcoming season. A lot of praise has been thrown Hunter’s way with how he holds himself in practice, and he’s expected to not only keep that same energy, but build off of that hard work to truly show the Bulldogs what he’s capable of. Leading the Charge #11 - Forward Owen Guevremont (1g, 1a, 2p)

Owen was forced into action earlier than the coaching staff wanted, but he was able to adjust as quickly as possible, even earning ice time alongside Captain Cooper Larouco. With a full season of Dogs Hockey under his belt, they expect him to take a massive step up and help this team alongside Jack Blonde and David Kane. #2 - Forward Jayden McQueen (2g, 5a, 7p) We heard of the talent Jayden had going into the season, but to say he surpassed expectations was an understatement. There were sometimes I would argue he was the best passer on the entire team with how he performed in a few of those games. The McQueen/Kane connection is going to be fun to watch this upcoming year. #22 - Forward Daniel Kane (4g, 5a, 9p)

Talk about excitement, this is the player you have to have your eyes on. Daniel Kane wasn’t expected to do much this season but his performances consistently were at a high level, so much so that he earned time with the starters on a multitude of occasions. His ability to not only create his own shot opportunity, but also have the passing vision to find his teammates will make him extremely valuable this upcoming season. Expect him alongside McQueen and Guevremont to make drastic leaps this season. Alongside the rest of the underclassmen. At the end of the day, this season was about growth, effort, and figuring out what it means to be a Bulldog. From the kids learning from the bench, to those earning more ice time, to the ones leading the pack every night, they all played a part.

The young players showed they’re ready to step up, make plays, and take responsibility. Mistakes happened, sure, but so did progress, confidence, and some really memorable moments.

If this season showed us anything, it’s that the future of Bulldogs hockey isn’t something that’s coming, it’s already here, and it’s charging full speed ahead.