Crunch time for hockey season

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As the High School Hockey League of Nassau County enters the stretch run, Wantagh/Seaford is looking to keep firing on all cylinders after a difficult start. The Baymen have seven wins and a tie in their last eight and stand at 7-3-2, trailing only Levittown in the seven-team Liberty Division.

“We’re here to stay and feel we can make a big push,” Wantagh/Seaford coach Neil Robbins said. “We had some injuries early that contributed to an 0-3-1 start, but we’ve been as strong as anyone lately.”

In addition to getting healthy, Robbins attributed the addition of senior goaltender Brandon Waller through the league’s draft as a big reason for the Baymen’s high level of play. Waller and sophomore goalie Cory Levy are both riding winning streaks, the coach noted. “Brandon really set the tone for us and took pressure off Cory,” Robbins explained. 

After dropping the first meeting with Levittown, 12-2, on Nov. 10, the Baymen got a hat trick from senior Ryan Gibbons and some big saves from Levy in the rematch and skated to a 3-3 tie on Dec. 15. One of Gibbons’ goals was shorthanded.

“Ryan’s got tremendous hands and shoots the puck really well,” Robbins said of Gibbons, who spends most of his time at wing. Seniors Billy Robbins, Dylan Fogarty and George Mattheos, and sophomore John Bush are also key pieces on offense. Robbins has outstanding vision and contributes on special teams, while Forgarty and Mattheos are among the most-skilled players on the roster.

Senior Chris Marsman is the anchor of a defense that includes steady senior Zach Diaks. “He’s a remarkable leader and plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played,” the coach said of Marsman.

In their last game before the holiday break, the Baymen knocked off two-time defending Liberty Division champion Lynbrook/East Rockaway, 4-1, on Dec. 19 at Newbridge Arena. 

Lynbrook/East Rockaway, which took a 7-5 record into January, returned only a handful of seniors from a team that came up short against Port Washington in the state finals. “We’ve got an interesting team this season,” coach Frank Leone said. “Any game that we’ve had full attendance, we’ve done really well.

“We never quite know what we’re going to have in terms of personnel for a game, but I’m confident we’re going to make some noise in the playoffs,” he added.

Though Leone said the offense has been inconsistent at times, Lynbrook/East Rockaway boasts one of the most talented players in Nassau County, junior Greg Hendrickson. Through 12 games, the explosive center had 20 goals. “He’s got all the tools,” Leone said of Hendrickson, who in last year’s county finals scored in double OT to beat Levittown in the decisive game. “He’s a playmaker and a finisher who commands to be dealt with,” he added. 

Seniors Jake Sandler, Vinny Boccio and Matt Cicchetti are productive members of Lynbrook/East Rockaway’s forward crop as well, Leone said. Sandler, who serves as the starting point guard on the Owls’ varsity basketball team, has 12 goals and six assists, and excels on faceoffs. Boccio has six goals, while Cicchetti and senior defenseman Ray Mohler have four apiece. Mohler is “relentless in puck pursuit,” Leone said. Seniors Ian Kantor and Nik Roepken also provide solid defense in front of goaltenders TJ Aroksaar and Max Rovner.

The race for the eight-team Michelino Division title is expected to come down to the wire. Defending champion Long Beach (5-3) was one of five squads with at least a .500 record heading into January, although two of the Marines’ losses were by forfeit — stemming from an incident that occurred at the middle school level last season.

“We’re a good and deep team, but nothing is going to come easy,” assistant coach Dickie Chimienti said. 

Long Beach is captained by senior Kevin Brand, who brings leadership and versatility. He’s often part of a defense led by senior James Delahanty, but no stranger to a deep forward group spearheaded by top-scoring senior Will Guido. Senior goalie Mark Pittinsky has been tough to beat while starting seven of eight games.

The offense has been clicking three lines deep, Chimienti said, with Tim Hoarty, Larry Niland, Kenny Ferrara, Chris Guido, Michael Leonetti, Rich Guido and Matt Hartman all contributing.