Senior varsity ice hockey player Brendan Casey (Jersey Numer 29) is a superb force of defense like none other while on the ice. Having played on the ice hockey team all four years of high school (Junior Varsity and Varsity as an underclassmen, Varsity as an upperclassmen), he has improved in skill with each passing year. Standing at a height of 6 feet 3 inches tall, his size makes for a very successful aggressive defenseman. But his talent is not only because of his size. He combines fluid and swift skating skills with quick thinking in an attempt to block every would-be goal scorer on the teams that Bethesda Chevy Chase plays. His skating ability stems from his experience; he started skating at age 4, and played on an MYHA (Montgomery Youth Hockey Association) club team from when he was 5 through when he was 13 years old. As far as previous BCC Ice Barons go, Casey lists Paul Steinitz (class of 2008) and Kerry Goebel (class of 2009) as those he looked up to. Casey claims that Paul Steinitz was “always optimistic and willing to play whatever position the coach would ask of him.” Casey also informed me that Steinitz is now playing on Salisbury University’s ice hockey team. Kerry Goebel, a player who is currently on The University of Maryland’s team, played both center and defense when he was attending BCC. Casey says that Goebel was “a fantastic player and good captain” who had “a fancy way of making a puck float”. As far as NHL idols, Casey lists Nicklas Bäckström, Center for the Washington Capitals. As the ice hockey season progresses, it’s no question that Casey will continue to play his best and stay a key defenseman for the Ice Barons.
Casey (far left) during the BCC/Churchill game on November 16
