Henry Wilder ’20, a four-year Senior and member of the Boys Varsity Hockey Team, is a co-captain of the team and serves as the starting goalie. Next fall, Wilder will play hockey as a member of the Eagles at Boston College. Teammate Luke Johnson ’22 said, “He gives us a chance to win every game. [He is], no question, the best goalie in prep [school] hockey.”

How has the season gone so far?
[It has] gone well. This year we made it to the finals [of the Flood Marr Tournament, but] we ran into Salisbury, which was unfortunate [since Salisbury is ranked 3rd in New England]. It really gave us momentum heading into Christmas. I think it gave the team a lot of excitement and something that we hadn’t felt in a couple years. Right now, our goal is to win out until Long Winter Weekend and put ourselves in the best position possible for a playoff spot in the Elite 8 Tournament.

How do you feel about the team this year?
Last year, we had a really tight-knit group, and I think it’s the same this year. I really love the underclassmen getting into the mix, and I think that you can give some credit to the upperclass [students] for bringing them under their wing and introducing them to what we’re about on the hockey team.
We have a really nice group of kids this year, and I think for next year they are set up well with the Upper Mid leaders and [Lower Mids] who are pretty experienced after this year.

What adversity has the team had to overcome so far and how it will affect you later in the season?
We’ve gone to overtime three times already [this year], which is good. Last year, we didn’t really face that pressure until the last five games of the season, and the last five games didn’t go our way in overtime. But [this year] we won two of those games and tied one, so I think we are a little bit better at bearing down.
I think the everyday grind of going to the rink and also having practice on Sunday, [when] we work out and have a goalie session, [has helped]. Everybody has bought into that. It ’s definitely a seven-day program, and just going through that and all the schoolwork that we have to do is enough for us to handle. [It] definitely teaches you discipline and tests every kid on the team.

What are your aspirations for this season, and moving forward in your hockey career?
It [has] definitely been a goal of mine, and the other Seniors, to lead Hotchkiss to a playoff berth. It [has] been a while since we’ve really been in any [postseason play], so to bring that back to Hotchkiss and contribute that to the hockey program would be amazing.
Obviously, getting there and taking our team as deep as we can is definitely our ultimate priority, but we’ve still got a bunch of games to focus on. Going back to my hometown of Boston next year and playing for Boston College will be a pretty cool experience. I live about ten minutes away from campus and used to go to games there growing up, [so] it’s going to be pretty crazy being on the other side of the glass. It’s one of the [best college] programs; five national championships kind of speak for [themselves].
I hope [that] in my four years there, I can be [a] part of a sixth or seventh [championship], or contribute to their program [in another way]. While I’m there, [I’ll still] give back to the Hotchkiss hockey community, whether that’s helping a kid that’s looking here and talking about my experience [or] just doing anything I can for the school.