‘Pretty Awesome’: State Title Victory Extra Sweet For Brickley Brothers

BOSTON – Connor Brickley and his older brother Brendan only had a few chances to play hockey together.

“There’s a three-year age gap between myself and Connor, so we only got to play on the same team twice — once in squirts and once in a junior hockey tournament when I was going into college,” said Brendan. “We only got to play three games together as adults.”

After falling in love with the sport in their hometown of Everett, the brothers took different paths. Brendan played at the University of New England, while Connor starred at the University of Vermont before completing a professional career that included stints with the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers. 

On Sunday, the brothers helped lead Nauset to the program’s first state championship after the Warriors skated to a 4-1 victory over Medfield in the Division 3 state final at TD Garden, where their uncle, Andy, provides commentary for the Boston Bruins’ TV broadcasts.

“It was pretty awesome,” Connor said. “It’s been a lot of fun the past few years being able to coach with Brendan. Going to practice every night and working together with the team is really special and really fun for us.”

Brendan said throughout his life as a player and coach, he’s always been his younger brother’s “number one fan.”

“I love being able to be alongside him while he’s coaching these guys,” said Brendan. “He’s been able to show them things he’s learned along the way and be a mentor for some of the older guys, especially. It’s been special to watch.”

Alongside assistant coach Al Cutts and first-year assistant Frank O’Connor, the Brickley brothers achieved their goal of helping the Warriors reach the pinnacle of Division 3. 

The accomplishment rings extra sweet for the Brickleys because the coaching staff has poured so much into the Cape community: Connor is a Chatham firefighter, Brendan is a Harwich police officer, and Cutts is a Yarmouth police officer. 

“I’m really happy for all the coaches because I know how hard those guys work and how much they truly care,” Connor said. “I was happy they were able to get the taste of that accomplishment.”

The victory is also meaningful for Connor and Brendan’s parents, Craig and Robin, dedicated hockey parents who have been there to support their sons and the Warriors each step of the way.

“All my parents have done their whole lives is go to hockey games for me and my brother when we were kids, and then when I played professionally, everyone got to watch me play,” Connor said. “We love hockey. Hockey has been in our family — it’s just what we do and we love being around the game. 

“It’s pretty awesome that my family is down here on the Cape and everyone is here to enjoy this together.”