Grizzlies Pride
Guilford Hockey has a rich history of growth, resilience, and success.
Founded as a family-funded club in the late 1970s, it became a varsity team in 1980, thanks to the Rosa Family’s support. Bill Rosa organized logistics, with his sons, Ron and Fred, among the first players, along with alumni who still support the program, such as Jerry Hutchinson and Rod Cross.
In 1994, under Coach Bill Gerosa, Guilford won its first state championship, led by captain Brian Ruck and top scorer Andy Bussman. This victory moved th
e team to Division I, where results were mixed until returning to Division II in 2004. A new era began with Coach Ralph Russo in 2001, whose first team rallied from an 0-4-1 start to achieve a winning season and CIAC playoff berth, with Jon Bellonio and Gil Schaper leading the way.
The 2005-06 team, featuring seniors Patrick ‘Box’ Davitt and Dave Chenell, advanced to the quarterfinals, beginning a strong playoff run that saw Guilford reach the postseason in nearly every season since. The program’s second state
title came in 2010, and the team reached a record 20 wins in 2011 before losing a thrilling championship game.
In 2017, a standout group including John DeLucia and Jack Ring led Guilford to its first SCC tournament title and third state title, with more success in 2018 as the team reached the finals again. In 2019, a high-scoring season saw a 6.8 goals-per-game average but ended in tough playoff losses. The COVID pandemic brought canceled games and a temporary rink closure, yet Guilford returned to postseason play in 2022 and 2023.
As the team approaches its 50th season, the 2025-26 squad aims to honor this legacy of determination and achievement laid by past coaches and players.Coach Ralph Russo