If there was one surprise team in prep school hockey during the regular season, it was Hotchkiss.
The Bearcats weren’t on the radar of many folks outside their own locker room, but the team found itself in the No. 5 seed in the Stuart/Corkery Elite 8 Tournament. Hotchkiss faces No. 4 Dexter Southfield in Wednesday's prep school quarterfinals.
Although it’s been a team effort to get to this point, the team’s unquestioned most valuable player is senior goaltender Henry Wilder, a three-year starter for the Lakeville, Conn., prep school.
Over those three years, Hotchkiss has made a steady progression. In 2017-18, Wilder’s first as the No. 1, the Bearcats went 4-16-5. Last year, a hot start somewhat fizzled into an 11-11-2 final record.
This season, the team went 18-5-2, sitting inside the top eight of the all-important prep school standings. That’s a far cry from where most pundits, NHL scouts, college coaches and opposing coaches would have pegged Hotchkiss going into the season.
“We always think pretty optimistically about the year,” said Wilder, who hails from Needham, Mass. "I know we have a hard schedule and I know we play some really good teams over the stretch. For us, we want to win the games we’re supposed to, and pull out some other wins."
Wilder credits a successful Flood Marr Tournament for jumpstarting his team’s run through the second half. The Bearcats were 2-3 heading into the famed holiday tournament but won all three round-robin games before hanging tight in a losing effort against Salisbury in the final.
“Last year, we were 5-0 going into the Flood Marr, but we were 1-3 there. Going into the break with the three losses in three days wasn’t great for us psychologically,” Wilder explained of the 2018-19 season. “The momentum we picked up from the tournament this year carried over into the new year.”
Wilder remains remarkably humble, crediting many of his teammates and some of head coach Mike Traggio’s systems for the team’s success in 2019-20.
“We’re pretty balanced on both ends. I face a lot less shots this year than I did as a sophomore. In practice, (Traggio) hammers home having the third man high and making sure we defend well,” said Wilder.
In addition to his duties as the team’s starting goaltender, Wilder has taken on an increased leadership role as a senior. It’s something that he cherishes and takes on willingly, which isn’t always the case among goaltenders.
“We have a lot of new guys this year, which is one of my favorite parts because you get to take them under your wing,” said Wilder, who singled out a few first-year players.
“Bode Molnar has stepped up. He skates like the wind,” said Wilder, who also made sure to mention Karsen Dorwart and Jonathan Horn.
Senior Gavin Puskar is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 1.48 points per game. Dorwart and Horn also are producing at a clip of more than a point per game. Senior defenseman Nick Traggio has been the team’s top blueliner, despite missing considerable time with injury.
Still, Wilder is the team’s unquestioned most valuable player. His .945 save percentage was in the top three in prep school hockey.
“Henry has been a rock for our team this year. As one of three four-year seniors, he has helped shape the culture of our program and current team,” said Mike Traggio. “Henry has shown a tireless work ethic in practice this year. He has been a great teammate and a pleasure to coach over the last four years. It has been a really fun group to be a part of, and Henry is a big reason why we have had some success this season.”
Wilder, described by one scout as “athletic, somewhat of a hybrid goaltender,” tries to emulate the tendencies of a few NHL goaltenders to hone his craft.
“Growing up, it was always Carey Price — the way he moves, and he’s so composed,” Wilder said. “After I realized I wasn’t going to grow to be 6-4, I started watching Sergei Bobrovsky a lot. We play similarly. He’s really good down low and plays athletic. Braden Holtby is a little unorthodox, the way he makes saves and moves around, but he’s another one.”
“There are so many good goalies to watch. I try to pick and choose parts from everyone’s game. Watching goalies has been the best goalie training I’ve ever gotten. I used to sit on YouTube for hours to watch Carey Price. He has that confident demeanor and that’s the demeanor I want to carry,” Wilder said.
Wilder, who also was a standout baseball player growing up, has plenty of athleticism, but it’s his brain that helps set him apart.
“I’m pretty good at reading plays,” he responded when asked about his strengths. “That comes from experience and watching a lot of hockey. There are a lot of patterns in the game. There’s tendencies to what happens. I’m not big, so I need to be on my feet and move around.”
Regardless of how the hockey season finishes, Wilder will look back on his four years at Hotchkiss fondly. On and off the rink, his time in prep school has made him a better person, providing him with many great experiences and friendships that will last a lifetime.
“Hotchkiss has been awesome. I taught my English class today. I got to tell a story about how I’ve matured over my time here. Hotchkiss turns you into someone who couldn’t manage their time into someone who could,” Wilder said.
“(I’ve formed) relationships with people who don’t play hockey,” he continued. “I have friends from all over the world. Dorm life has been great. There are a bunch of other athletes here who you can respect for their sports. There’s a group of people here for everyone. I’ve met so many great people. It’s nice to have those connections and stay in touch with people.”
After Hotchkiss, Wilder will enroll at Boston College, where he will be a member of the storied hockey program. He committed to Jerry York (Watertown, Mass.) and the five-time national champion Eagles last April.
“It was right after nationals when they reached out. I committed before I even visited. It’s 10 minutes away from Needham. I used to go to games there as a kid. It’s a great school. I like the fact it’s not directly in the city. I kind of like to have my own space and BC does that with the campus feel,” said Wilder.
“The hockey piece talks for itself. (Assistant) Coach (Mike) Ayers (Hingham, Mass.) was spectacular from the first handshake with me. He still communicates with me and motivates me,” said Wilder of one of BC’s assistants, a former goaltender at UNH.
@JeffCoxSports
