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01/08/2023 08:08 AMThe Guilford boys’ ice hockey team is off to a red-hot start for the 2022-’23 campaign, having yet to lose a game. The Grizzlies are led by senior Logan Bertrand, who has been a huge factor in Guilford’s impressive undefeated start. In a recent game vs. East Catholic, he recorded a hat trick, netting three goals before the end of the second period. He also added an assist in the contest. Logan has focused this season on hitting the ice with energy and effort from the very first game. He credits that readiness to play each day with giving him the edge he needed vs. the Eagles.
“I think I just came up with a lot of energy and was really ready to play that game,” Logan says. “I just put it all on the line that game…. we have a lot of chemistry so they know where to see me on the ice.”
The team chemistry Logan values is not something developed by chance. Guilford rosters 12 seniors this season, and Logan feels that he and his fellow Grizzlies have developed that familiarity with each other over the last three years of playing on the ice together.
Head Coach Ralph Russo has noticed this chemistry, both with Logan’s offensive linemates and defensive teammates. He feels it has helped Logan’s communication in a major way this season, boosting his game considerably overall.
“[Logan] is developing good chemistry with team forwards and defenders by communicating well with teammates vocally and physically,” says Russo. “He is effectively and consistently presenting himself to receive the puck and is also distributing the puck well to teammates. He is playing really well defensively as well as offensively.”
Logan has been open about how important the entire Guilford team, from top to bottom, is going to be in order to reach the club’s goals this season. During that game against East Catholic, Grizzlies goalie Sean McSweet recorded 22 saves as a part of Guilford’s 5-0 shutout victory. Logan acknowledged that strong defense gives him and the front line the flexibility to be more creative on offense, without worrying as much about mistakes turning into goals for their opponents.
“Having a good defensive end allows you to think a bit more offensively,” says Logan. “You don’t have to worry about losing the puck as much or getting scored on as much, you can really focus on your offense.”
Guilford recently traveled north for two games in Maine. They left the Pine State with two additional wins under their belt, and another hat trick for Logan. He scored five goals total in the victories vs. Yarmouth/Cheverus Co-Op and John Baptist. Guilford won those contests 5-4 and 7-2, respectively.
Logan looked forward to the trip and saw it as a potential bonding experience for the team. He also viewed the northern trip as an opportunity to sharpen their skills and work through any early season rust before returning back to Connecticut for important non-conference matchups against schools like Hand.
Logan’s performance this season does not come as a surprise to Coach Russo, who sees it as a culmination of years of hard work paying off for the senior forward.
“It’s great to see Logan’s work ethic paying off,” says Coach Russo. “He is playing with great persistence and resilience. He has great quickness, and he is really learning how to use it consistently this year.”
Logan has been playing hockey since he was three years old — the sport runs in his family. His father played college hockey for Division III Western New England, so his dad was one of his biggest role models growing up. Logan also looked up to Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby.
Logan is encouraged by the team’s strong start to the season this year and hopes it is an indicator of things to come. He feels this team, led by the strong senior class, has the ability to qualify for states and make a deep run in the tournament.
“[I’m] feeling really good, I think we had a strong start,” says Logan. “I’m hoping that we keep up the energy, keep up the work, we do have a lot of seniors, so we have a lot of leadership on the team and I think that we can do well…in my opinion, a successful season is qualifying for states which is eight wins to qualify, and I hope we make it to states and then see how far we can go as a team.”