Brackett plays for future with Junior Bruins

Tessa McAndrews, Staff Writer

Playing hockey is an extreme commitment alone, but playing states away from home is even harder. Freshman Hunter Brackett moved without his family from Florida into a billet house in Northborough.

At his billet home, with the family that hosts him during hockey season, Brackett, who plays left wing, lives with their team’s goalie, Junior Nick Stiles.

“It’s different, [there’s] more freedom and a lot of new things,” Brackett said. “Having Nick by my side is like having an older brother instead of a younger sister. [The parents] have a 12 year old daughter and a 10 year old son. They are kind of strict, but I’m used to it now. I met them in January when I toured Algonquin for the first time.”

From the age of  three to 14, Brackett has not hung up his skates and has no intention to do so. He has big plans for the future and believes that hard work will get him there.

“Next year I’m planning on going to a prep school,” Brackett said. “My ultimate goal is to play Division One.”

At his billet home, with the family that hosts him during hockey season, Brackett, who plays left wing, lives with their team’s goalie, Junior Nick Stiles.

“It’s different, [there’s] more freedom and a lot of new things,” Brackett said. “Having Nick by my side is like having an older brother instead of a younger sister. [The parents] have a 12 year old daughter and a 10 year old son. They are kind of strict, but I’m used to it now. I met them in January when I toured Algonquin for the first time.”

Brackett said that it wasn’t hard choosing to come play hockey in Massachusetts. Despite being away from his mother, he is still enjoying his time up north.

“My dad’s side of the family is from Cape Cod,” Brackett said. “Also, there’s really no competition in Florida. Once you reach a certain age, you have to come play up north.”

Brackett says his life is basically eat, sleep, hockey, repeat. Every day he is either at the rink or doing something hockey related at home.

“I play everyday,” Brackett said. “With either league games or tournaments on the weekends. After school we have two hours to get homework done, then we have practice and get home really late,” Brackett said.

According to Brackett, “Everyday is a great day for hockey.”