Conversations in the Bedford High School hallways are going a little differently now.

“We’re getting more fans, and we see more people come up to us and say, ‘Great game,’” said BHS right wing Trevor Sonovick. “We don’t hear people saying, ‘Oh, you guys have hockey? How’d it go?’ anymore.”

Without any seniors, the Bulldogs have stormed Division III hockey foes, charging out of the gate with a 7-0-1 record, thanks in large part to Sonovick’s offensive attack.

The sophomore has scored 10 goals and notched five assists in his first eight games of the inaugural varsity season for BHS, earning him the Indian Head Athletics Athlete of the Month for January.

“He always wants to be the guy to score, but he isn’t selfish about it,” said Bedford’s head coach, Matthew Guerard. “He just has a hunger to score.”

During a game against Kennett on Saturday, Jan. 24, the Bulldogs entered the locker room trailing by a goal after the second period.

Guerard had a question for his team.

“We went in, and I asked them who was going to go out there and get me that next goal,” said Guerard. “Trevor said right away, ‘I’ve got it, coach.’”

Sonovick proved as good as his word; he went back out on the ice and scored the game-tying goal in a contest his team won, 2-1, in overtime.

The switch to varsity-level play has been an adjustment for all Bedford players. It’s a task Sonovick has handled especially well.

“When you go from level to level, things change,” said Guerard. “The intensity has stepped up, and he has really done a great job of adjusting. He’s made the players around him better.”

Led by Sonovick, the Bulldogs have averaged more than five goals per game, helped by a 15-0 defeat of Moultonborough and a 9-1 victory over Portsmouth.

Bedford has proven it can win close games as well, posting a 3-0 mark in outcomes decided by one goal.

Two of the Bulldogs’ last three games have been overtime efforts, a tie vs. Monadnock and the win against Kennett, something Sonovick said has required the team’s players to mature.

“It helps with our experience, with us being so young. Those games are good because it helps build the team and keep us together,” said Sonovick, who has bigger goals in mind. “It’s good to make a statement in our first year. Hopefully we’ll keep playing the way we are. Down the road we want to be looking at a state championship.”

(Editor’s note: The Athlete of the Month receives a $50 gift certificate courtesy of Indian Head Athletics.)