Coach Randy Craig typically waits until after the first week of preseason practice to name captains for the Eastern Connecticut Eagles hockey team.

He made an exception with Anthony Gesino, whom he selected months before that.

"What Anthony particularly brings to the table is leadership like none other," Craig said. "That was a huge difference in the locker room, on the ice, in the off-ice workouts. That leadership went a long way. ... I chose him early based on his work ethic in the offseason and maturity level."

Gesino provided valuable leadership for the Eagles, who battled through some adversity during the regular season and ended up capturing the Nutmeg Conference tournament title. A senior from East Lyme, he scored the game-winning goal.

Gesino was named The Day's 2022 All-Area Hockey Player of the Year. He also earned All-Nutmeg Conference and Connecticut High School Coaches' Association Division II all-state second team honors.

"The reason that he's the player of the year is simple: He doesn't ask anybody to do something that he won't do," Craig said. "And he leads by example every single day at every single event. Never takes a shift off, never takes part of a workout off. It's 100% all the time. And you know it's 100% even when you're not looking. You know it's happening all the time because it's a character thing."

As a fourth-year member of the co-op program — which did not compete last year due to COVID-19 — Gesino embraced the challenges that come with being a captain on a team with about 40 players on the roster. He worked with players with different ability levels and different ages.

Craig trusted Gesino to run off-ice workouts. Gesino also organized team building activities such as playing kick ball, flag football and trivia contests.

"It's hard when you're the new kid," Craig said. "But it's really hard when you're the leader and you have that many kids that are looking up to you for leadership to take the time and spend time with each one of them to talk.

"That's the kind of character that Anthony has. ... As a 17-year-old, he takes the time to be as inclusive as he possibly can with the time he's given to talk to players that aren't as good or aren't going to be varsity players."

Gesino, who considers himself soft-spoken, is not afraid to speak up and speak honestly to his teammates. He welcomed the chance to impact the team with his hockey ability as well as with his leadership.

"I thought it was very fulfilling," Gesino said about being a captain. "There were obviously a lot of challenges that we faced last year and we had to overcome. I used it as a learning opportunity for me to grow and help some of the younger kids out.

"... There was definitely a learning curve. I wouldn't say being a leader comes naturally to me. I've always been the type of guy that's first in and last off. I've been very tenacious throughout my sports careers. But I really had to step up when it came to the actual leadership part, like being articulate to people and making sure I get my points across.

"I've never been a big public speaker. The pregame pep talk, there's definitely a few I dropped the ball on. I'd say, at the same time, I'm always someone that people come to for advice in our sport. And I'm always open to giving it to people straight up, telling them what they have to improve on and how I can help."

Gesino also worked hard to improve his all-around game. He entered his senior season significantly stronger and faster than the year before, according to Craig.

He gladly made sacrifices for the betterment of the team.

For example, Gesino changed positions about midseason, moving from defense to center, a position he played on the youth level but not in high school.

"He responded," Craig said. "He scored some goals. And he never complained."

The Eagles also responded, carrying some positive momentum into the Nutmeg Conference tournament.

In the championship game, the Eagles faced Woodstock Academy, a team they lost to twice during the regular season.

Gesino's line produced the opening goal on its first shift of the game and he scored the eventual game-winner by knocking home a rebound in a 3-2 victory.

It was the highlight of the season for Gesino, who hopes to coach someday.

"That was indescribable," Gesino said of his goal. "It's something that you always dream of happening, scoring the game-winning goal that seals the deal and wins a championship. It was incredible."

Gesino, a two-sport athlete, is also a captain on the East Lyme lacrosse team this spring. He plans to attend Western New England University in Springfield, Mass. He'll play lacrosse and major in biomedical engineering.

"I've always loved biology and anatomy," Gesino said. "It kind of combines the two. I look forward to working with prosthetics. That's the field I want to go in, working with prosthetics, so helping people whether it's veterans or people born without a limb. I want to connect it to sports, too.

"A dream of mine would be working with the Paralympics and helping fit people with prosthetics that are going to be competing at that level. I want to be involved with sports, I want to be helping people and I just want to make a difference. And I feel like this would be a good way to make a difference."

g.keefe@theday.com