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04/19/2019 12:00 AMMax Bunton completed his career with the Branford boys’ ice hockey team by helping the Hornets have a dream season this winter. As a senior captain, Max guided Branford on magical run that saw the squad win 20 games, claim a conference title, and take home its first state championship since 1988. Max did everything he could to serve as a positive influence for his teammates throughout the campaign.
“Being a captain was a complete honor, and I couldn’t be happier for leading my team, along with [fellow senior captain Robbie Lionetti], to an SCC and state championship,” says Max. “I enjoyed every second of it.”
Max finished the season with 10 goals and 17 assists while playing on the wing for Branford. Head Coach Jim DiNapoli loved the energy that Max brought to the ice, along with the style in which he led the Hornets.
“He’s tenacious and really demanding of himself. I think the underclassmen saw how serious he took this season, how hard he practices, and how hard he works and, as a result, the team worked hard. We had a hard-working group, and Max was in the middle of that,” DiNapoli says. “Max had a really strong year. He became a good leader and set a good example on the ice.”
Max prides himself on giving a great effort in each practice and every game. He was happy to see his teammates buy into that concept this season. At the end of the day, Max wants to notch as many victories as possible.
“I’ve always been competitive. I hate losing. Coach would always say to us, ‘A team that won’t be beat can’t be beat.’ I couldn’t agree more. Winning is the best and, if I’m not doing my best or doing my part for the team, then that isn’t me,” says Max. “My form of leadership was always being there for my teammates. It’s about making sure we’re all doing our best.”
Branford played its best down the stretch by winning its last 12 games this year, capping off the season with a 2-0 victory over Glastonbury in the Division II State Tournament final. Max says that taking the ice at Ingalls Rink with the state title on the line was a surreal experience.
“The energy was unreal. I’ll remember it forever,” says Max. “The nerves were definitely there, but so was the energy, and we were all ready and we knew we could do it. We held it together and played our game and came out with the title, which is still to this day unreal.”
Max got into hockey in large part due to his family. His brother Cooper played for Branford before graduating in 2015. Max already knew Coach DiNapoli when he joined the Hornets, and that made winning the state championship all the more special for the senior captain.
“Hockey has run through generations in my family. All of us play,” Max says. “Having an older brother who played and had the same coach definitely helped me. My brother and I used to play street hockey all the time in the driveway, and he’d always win, but that definitely made me better. Coach DiNapoli liked coaching my brother, and I think that made it easier for me to bond with him from the beginning.”
Max built up his skills as the years went on and became a four-year contributor for the Hornets. Max was always looking to make a nice play on the fly at moment’s notice.
“I believe having good hands is the key, along with knowing the game,” says Max. “It’s important to have good control on the puck when it’s on your stick and being ready to react and pass or make a move.”