By Russ Cohen
Brosnan was a standout at Dexter Southfield, a terrific prep school where the blueliner scored seven goals with 44 assists in 30 games. His greater challenge happened at the All-American Game, but he wasn’t originally selected.
“I was disappointed at first when I didn’t make it,” said Brosnan. “I know they usually don’t take prep school kids, but I thought I had a good case. Since I played in the Fall Classic and NTDP games. Then somebody got injured, and I got the call-up. I was kind of bummed that I wasn’t going, and then it was a quick turnaround. I went there, and it was great. USA Hockey was great.
“It was competitive. I like playing against my peers. It was good going there and seeing that you’re better than some of those kids.”
There is a jump in play from prep school to the USHL to playing in the All-American Game.
“The pace, it’s more physical. Guys are bigger, but there are pros and cons to each side. In a game with all that talent, it’s so structured you almost have to do less. In the All-American Game, less is almost more,” Brosnan explained. “When you’re at prep school, there is that extra burden put on you to make that extra play. Take those extra shots and maybe take those extra risks. In prep school, I really got to expand my tool box. I got to try a lot of things. I got to make 10 extra plays a game because there was that much more ice.”
In late March the Boston Bruins announced that Brosnan won the John Carlton Memorial Trophy along with Christina Scalese as the best senior boys and girls hockey players.
Brosnan is a smart player and a smart person. He’s due to go to Harvard in 2027-28, so his path won’t be a fast one and that’s fine. This will prevent him from getting rushed and he gets a tremendous college education and experience as a result.
“I had a lot of schools that were really interested and Harvard just jumped out,” Brosnan stated. “I just think going in next year as a true freshman and I think there will be a lot of opportunity there. Education is important to me as well.”
His summer training is important to him, too.
“I’m lifting five days a week and working on skating too,” he said, after the season ended, in hopes of getting invited to the NHL Combine. That didn’t happen. “This is to get ready for the college season, too.”
I’m sure after the teams talked to him, they were interested in him as a late-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft. His play is smart, I liked his breakout passes, he’s a smooth skater, and the framework is there for this 6-0, 194-pound defenseman to have an NHL career down the road.
