This story originally appeared in the April issue of ESPNHS Magazine.

Brunswick is stocked with more talent than just about any team in New England, as the Bruins pencil in eight starters who have signed with Division I colleges — and that’s just the senior class.

“It’s a really talented group,” says Brunswick coach David Bruce. “We’ve got a lot of talented athletes, guys who can do a lot of different things. The depth is great.”

That depth has already paid off, though not in the way Bruce would have hoped. Senior captain John Kelly was expected to carry much of the offensive load this season, but the Georgetown recruit injured his knee over the winter and will miss the season. But Brunswick has filled the gap with players like senior midfielders Eddie DeDomenico and Billy Heidt, all-around talents who have brought scoring punch in Kelly’s absence.

Heidt is rated No. 96 in the ESPNHS 100, and he’s signed to play at Dartmouth next year. DeDomenico will play at Lehigh.

“They’re both two-way midfielders,” says Bruce, “and they’ve got tremendous athletic ability. They’re both very dangerous in transition, and that’s a big part of the way we play."

The key to Brunswick’s transition game is senior midfielder Curt Townshend, a Tufts recruit who specializes in starting fast breaks. Townshend is a solid defensive player who can ignite an up-tempo attack with his passing or by carrying the ball himself.

“We’re at our best when Curt is pushing the ball in transition,” says Bruce. “He’s a threat at all times.”

Because the Bruins like to run and gun so much, it puts a lot of pressure on the back end. It’s up to senior defensemen John Baker (Colgate) and Kip Warner (Penn) to cover most of the ground in front of the net. Sophomore goalie Tommy Heidt is a first-year starter, but he’s already drawing interest from D-I schools.

Follow Mike Grimala on Twitter (@ESPNHSGrimala).