Be honest, if someone were to ask you to name five players on the Providence Bruins, would Brandon DeFazio be among those five? I doubt it. The first names that would come to your head when the P-Bruins are most likely some combination of Seth Griffith, Frank Vatrano, Malcolm Subban, Tommy Cross, Austin Czarnik, Noel Acciari, Colin Miller and Alex Khokhlachev.

But Brandon DeFazio? Who the heck is he? Well, let’s learn a little bit more about him shall we?

DeFazio, a pro since 2011 after four seasons at Clarkson, is currently sitting fifth on the team in points with 41. His 22 goals, which are a career-high, place him fourth, sitting just one behind Griffith and Khokhlachev for second and has appeared in 68 games, second only to Colby Cave.

After not registering a point in five straight contests, DeFazio has found his scoring touch once again, at best possible time too. DeFazio potted a goal in all three games this past weekend that saw the Bruins win two of and punched their tickets back to the Calder Cup Playoffs.

DeFazio got Providence on the board early in the third period on Friday, April 8 in which a late P-Bruins rally fell short in a 3-2 loss to the Portland Pirates. He then gave Providence some insurance the next night against those same Pirates, netting a power-play goal with just under five minutes to play in the second period that put the Bruins up 3-1 en route to a 6-1 victory. DeFazio then capped off his stellar weekend with another power-play goal at Springfield that put Providence up 2-1. The Bruins would hang on to win 3-2 and earn their trip back to the postseason.

For DeFazio, the three-game scoring streak is the second-best of the season. Back in late March, DeFazio had six goals over a five-game stretch and also added two assists to the stat sheet.

For DeFazio, the key is to simplify things for himself and to continue to build on his strengths.

“I’m a versatile guy,” DeFazio said. “I can play all sorts of styles, play on the first line, or fourth line, on the power-play or the penalty-kill and I hope that would help me. At the end of the day, you can’t overthink things, and you have to do what you do best and hope at the time it happens, you’re playing consistent.”

Consistency has been a big thing for DeFazio all season. Whether or not guys like Griffith or Vatrano are up with Boston, DeFazio sees himself on one of the top two lines.

This past weekend, DeFazio saw most of the action with Khokhlachev and Czarnik.

“With those guys, I kind of know my role. I’m always the forecheck first kind of guy and be the reliable guy for them, get in get in front of the net and create some space for them,” DeFazio said. “I’ve been lucky to play with some talented players this year. This organization is in a good place right now with a lot of high-end talent.”

“He’s an every-dayer. He comes to play everyday he knows what his role is to get in front of the net,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said of DeFazio. “He’s good on the penalty-kill for us; he’s playing with Czarnik a lot, and he makes sure that a young guy like him stays comfortable out there. He’s been a good, solid, consistent player for us.”

Part of the formula of a championship hockey is pretty simple; the deeper the team, the better they are. DeFazio is unquestionably one of those depth players, an unsung hero if you will.

Still don’t know the name Brandon DeFazio? Play close attention to the P-Bruins upcoming Calder Cup run. You’ll probably hear the name a time or two.