Long Beach stunned in finals

Long Beach’s first losing streak of the hockey season couldn’t have come at a worse time — in the Michelino Division best-of-three championship series against Wantagh/Seaford.

The title came down to Game 3 on Tuesday night, and the Marines came up on the short end of a 3-2 score at Bethpage Community Park Rink. They got goals from seniors James Diamond and Michael Schwartz but couldn’t get the equalizer in a scoreless third period.

“We didn’t play poorly,” L.B. coach Joe Brand said. “It’s a game of inches sometimes and they deserve a lot of credit. We had some chances in the third period, but we couldn’t put the puck in the net.”

Long Beach blew out Wantagh/Seaford, the defending champions, in Game 1 of the series, 8-1, but managed just one goal in Game 2 and lost by three. 

“Every bounce went our way in Game 1,” Brand said. “We did everything right. It would’ve been nice to save a few goals, but it doesn’t work that way. “It’s tough, but we’ve got a chance to redeem ourselves at the state tournament. The kids have worked hard all season and we’ve got the talent to do it.”  

The state tournament is set to begin Friday at Long Beach Arena. It runs through Sunday, and the Marines, Cold Spring Harbor and four teams from the Buffalo area will compete for the crown. “It’s wide open,” Brand said.

Long Beach earned the No. 1 seed for the county playoffs after rolling through the regular season with a 16-1-3 record. After losing the Nov. 2 opener to Massapequa, the Marines ripped off a 19-game unbeaten streak and didn’t taste defeat again until Wantagh/Seaford got the better of them Feb. 28.

During the regular season, Long Beach led the Michelino Division in goals against with 28 in 20 games. Senior captians Sean Duffy (10 assists) and Joseph Scanlan and junior Hunter O’Neill (five goals, five assists) led the defensive corps.

Senior goaltender Sam Mignoli got the bulk of time between the pipes and posted a 9-1-2 mark with a 1.36 goals against average. He also made every playoff start, going 2-2 with a 2.25 GAA. 

“Sam’s a fantastic goalie and always played well enough for us to win,” Brand said of Mignoli, who will pass the torch to sophomores Harris Pittinsky (4-0-1) and Joe Brand.

The Marines have seven forwards with at least five goals. Schwartz, a captain, centers the top line with Diamond (eight goals) and freshman James Forkin (10). 

“Mike is one of the best players in the state in my opinion,” the coach said of Schwartz, who compiled 11 goals and 10 assists during the regular season. “He’s bound to play at the college level.”

Junior Keegan Travers (nine goals, six assists) is paired with sophomores Nolan Pues and Jake Shapiro (12 points), and junior Brian O’Sullivan centers the checking line and matches up against an opponent’s top forward.