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18U HockeyThe South Kent School Hockey Experience
The South Kent School Hockey 18U program allows those players moving on from the 16U levels to continue their education without disruption, while offering a widely desired and, until now, unavailable alternative to New England Prep School Hockey. Our 18U team plays the most competitive Tier I Midget schedule, participating in the top 18U tournaments in the northeast and across the country.
By continuing their high school education at South Kent School, our 18U players position themselves to make the transition to higher levels on graduation, including the NCAA, USHL and CHL. South Kent School students on the 18U team are receiving college commitments from some of the top academic and Division 1 NCAA schools in the country. In addition, our students regularly receive attention from NHL scouts. They are placed on the NHL Central Scouting List and projected as future NHL draft picks.
Coaching Staff
Head Coach
A native of Swansea, Illinois, Connor Court has had a deep passion for hockey since he was 4 years old learning how to skate. Coach Court was devoted to bettering himself on the ice all throughout his childhood, which led him to having a successful high school career at Belleville East High School in Belleville, IL. Connor became a standout prospect, allowing him to play junior hockey for the Boston Bandits for three years. Connor excelled with the Bandits, becoming the assistant captain and working his way up to the collegiate ranks. After his final year of junior hockey, Connor went on to play for the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. His hard work and dedication helped him earn assistant captaincy his senior year, all while earning the ACHA All-American Scholar award for his excellent academic standing.
Connor carried his love of hockey into the coaching profession, first working as a coach for the Neponset Valley River Rats in 2018. During the 2020-21 junior hockey season, he coached for the Lincoln Stars of the USHL, cultivating 7 future NHL draft picks, future NCAA commits, and representatives of the World Junior Championships. In the fall of 2021, Connor arrived at South Kent and instantly found success. Since the beginning of his tenure, Connor has won many tournaments as a head coach, such as the 15O Beast League Playoffs, the Northwood School Tournament, the 2021-22 South Kent Fall Classic and the 2021-22 South Kent New Year’s Invitational. Following his stint with the 15O team, Connor was the head coach for the 16U and currently reigns as the 18U head coach.
Since joining South Kent, Connor has made it a mission to develop the young men into well-rounded individuals, leaders on and off the ice. He aims to do everything in his power to help his players reach their hockey goals and give them the opportunity to reach their fullest potential in all aspects of life. When not on the ice, Connor enjoys playing golf and tennis, and he loves to spend quality time with his family and friends.
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Coach Bonis has extensive experience with both hockey and athletic conditioning. He played both at Proctor Academy and in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL). He is a USA certified swim coach, lifeguard, lifeguard instructor and is the Connecticut Trainer for Heroes of Tomorrow, run by former Navy Seal Stewart Smith.
Coach Bonis was a competitive cyclist and now competes as an open water swimmer, conquering the 2018 Lake Champlain Open Water Race and the 2019 Peaks to Portland open water swim. Whether it is climbing the tallest peak in the Rocky Mountains, swimming across the largest lake in New England, clinging to a rock face, or pushing impressive weight in various directions, Coach Bonis has spent the better part of his life connecting with people through fitness.
Coach Bonis has a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health and has taught anatomy, physiology and philosophy. He has been mentoring student-athletes both inside and outside the weight room at South Kent School since 2005. The classes he has taught, as well as the training programs he has designed, always take the mind and body connection into account. An excellent motivator, Coach Bonis knows that it takes self-reliance to accomplish anything, “Working out is not always the hardest thing, it’s sometimes just getting to the gym that is the most challenging part.”
Goalie Coach
Ryan Goodliffe joined South Kent School as the Assistant Hockey Coach/Goalie Coach in 2023. Born and raised in Brewster, NY, Goodliffe became a goaltender at a young age. Goodliffe played three years of Junior Hockey and, in 2023, signed a professional tryout contract with the FPHL Elmira Mammoth.
Goodliffe has spent the last year coaching for Prime Goaltending, training young goaltenders to enhance their skills. Previous to working as a goaltending coach, Coach Goodliffe worked with equipment suppliers as a Goalie Sales Assistant for Wesco Sports and as a Customer Service Representative for Cooke’s Skate Supply.
Coach Goodliffe joins South Kent to continue to inspire and develop young athletes so they are prepared for the next level. In his free time, he enjoys the health and fitness space.
