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Varsity Icemen Open With a Bang!

After unveiling their new home white jerseys, the Hicksville Ice Hockey Varsity Team opened its session against Manhasset. This was the first time Hicksville has worn white in some 15 years and some thought it would be enough to carry them through this game. Hicksville was eliminated from playoff contention in their final game of the season by Manhasset last year and revenge was on the mind of some, but even after losing only two players from last year, there are six new players and it is hard to instill that feeling in the gut of a new player. It is equally as hard to plant that sense of heritage and pride that has stayed with Long Island's oldest high school hockey team for all these years. It just takes the new players a little while until they start to feel it all around them.

The game opened to a moderate and overconfident pace at best. Hicksville was by far the better team in passing and skating, but Manhasset opened the scoring in the ninth minute of play. Not until four minutes into the second period did Hicksville get on the board with a power play goal by junior rookie Mark Kossack. Seven minutes later, Manhasset went up 2-1 and that ill-feeling in the gut of many was not revenge. It took a verbal "pasting" by their coach to remind them of the disappointing end to last season.

Just as if they shifted gears, the Stars scored four unanswered goals in a six-minute span early in the third period. It took another junior rookie, Brent Kyrkostas, to mount the counterattack. (If that name sounds familiar, Brent is the younger brother of "Timmy K." Hicksville's all-time, five-year leading scorer now playing Junior A hockey for the Boston Bulldogs.) Paul Catanzarita sandwiched two goals around Drew Berner and the Stars were comfortable with a 5-2 lead. Manhasset got one more with four minutes left, but the Stars clamped down and the season opener was a success. Final score: Hicksville 4, Manhasset 3.

Yom Kippur made things a little interesting in the Stars' second game of the season against Long Beach, but there was no interest at the rink. Long Beach was without six of their players because of the Jewish holiday and Hicksville was without five because of conflicts with their travel teams' schedules. Backup goalie Greg Watterson was thrown to the wolves behind a team with no heart. Only five players from last season were in the lineup. Three of them played their hearts out, diving to keep passes alive and sliding to block shots, but John Andronikides, Richie Vitzthum and Charley Hearon were simply alone.