By Joshua Boyd / NCDCHockey.com
The South Shore Kings’ 2023-24 season was like the best movie that Hunter Bruce ever saw. The 2005-born forward out of Dartmouth, N.S., enjoyed the ride from Day 1 until the final day, when he was holding the Dineen Cup along with all of his teammates.
“My season as a whole was perfect, I don’t think I could have scripted it any better,” said Bruce. “The group of guys we had was incredible, and obviously winning the Dineen Cup was the icing on the cake. We all loved being around each other, which made it so easy to come to the rink every day. From the coaches to the rink management, I couldn’t have asked for better people to win a championship with.”
In late April 2024, Bruce and his Kings teammates were forced to come down from being one game down and on the brink of elimination and push all the way back to being 2-1 championship series winners.
“The Dinnen Cup Finals was incredible. Playing at our home rink (the Foxboro Sports Center), in front of all of our fans, as well as the Ogden fans that made the trip down was a crazy atmosphere. The fact that we lost the first game was a good thing for our group because it made us realize this was not going to be easy. We had to realize what got us to this point which was playing fast and smart,” said Bruce. “Winning two straight games to win the championship after losing Game 1 just made it that much better. It was simply more adversity we had to deal with, which was something we dealt with all season long. The coverage and buzz around that week was something I will never forget! The feeling of tossing my gloves and helmet off after Justin Ryan scored the overtime winner was the greatest feeling in the world!”
With the Kings last year, Bruce joined from the Mount St. Charles Academy 18U AAA team. In 50 regular season games, Bruce put up six goals and 19 assists for 25 points, and he also contributed a 3-3-6 line over their 12 playoff games.
“My time with South Shore has been simply top notch. From Coach Tyler Holske down, everyone is amazing in helping you succeed to get to the next level. Everyone truly cares about you which is huge,” added Bruce. “The details that Coach Holske notices and teaches is the reason South Shore has been so successful in recent years. He has played a huge part in my development as a player and person, and I’m excited for what is to come this upcoming season.”
Last year, Bruce won 222 faceoffs, and his 55 percent success rate in the circle was right up there with his fellow centers (Justin Ryan’s 56 percent was tops for Kings centers with at least 400 faceoffs).
“The decision to re-sign with South Shore was a no-brainer. There are so many things to mention that influenced my decision such as the locker room, the gym, and most importantly, everyone involved in the organization. Obviously winning a championship and having the chance to defend that title was a huge factor,” he added. “The whole experience of winning the Dinnen Cup made me want to do it that much more this season. Getting the chance to repeat was something I could not pass up.”
He is also excited to get back to the high level of competition and college exposure opportunities provided by the NCDC.
“The opportunity to play in the NCDC is great. The competition is top notch as you have seen throughout the past season. There are great players in the league fighting and battling each and every night,” Bruce said. “The Dinnen Cup Finals was a perfect example of that, as all three games were fast paced, skilled, and tight-checking. The scouting opportunities are great, and obviously playing in the New England Division is massive as there are so many schools and programs close by.”
Speaking of that next level, Bruce is certainly pushing to drive up his stock with NCAA coaches in the next season.
“I’ve had chats with schools, and I am mainly looking for a school that really wants me as a player and person. I’d like them to value my skills and give me the best chance to make the jump to the next level,” he added.
He goes into this 2024-25 season with some parts of his game he wants to further develop to make sure his contributions to the Kings are noticed by those college scouts in attendance at the Kings’ contests.
“The parts of my game I want to take to the next level are my hockey IQ and my competitiveness. My ability to read plays and make smart passes has allowed me to be successful thus far,” he said. “I hate losing, so the feeling of losing drives me to be better each and every day. With that, I can give my team the best chance to win each and every night. I feel these attributes are something I have always had, so bringing them to the next level could pay dividends for me.”
The NCDC wishes Hunter Bruce and the South Shore Kings the very best of luck in the coming season.
