"Old-time hockey" is a popular rally cry among hockey fans lamenting the rough-and-tumble days of bygone eras. It was also one of the themes of the 11th Annual Hicksville Hockey Alumni Games and the Hall of Fame inductions.

Once again, the games reunited graduates of the team from the 1960s through the 2000s to celebrate the heritage and the spirit of Long Island's oldest continuous high school hockey club.

Mike Mahlstadt (Class of 1970) and Jim Boesenberg (1979) were inducted into the Hicksville Hall of Fame during what has become one of the highlights of the day's festivities. Both Mahlstadt and Boesenberg enjoyed stints in professional hockey following graduation from Hicksville. Ironically, both picked up the game in the latter part of their childhood, and rose quickly to help Hicksville to some of its best years.

Mahlstadt's brief stint in play-for-pay was short, but extremely sweet. He didn't pick up hockey until the age of 12, but before long made his mark both in Hicksville's varsity program and LIAC of the Met League, a travel league founded by former New York Ranger General Manager Emile Francis and comprised of the area's elite players.

After leading Hicksville to its first-ever Nassau County Championship as player-coach in 1970, Mahlstadt starred for Nassau Community College, and word of his exploits reached the ownership of the New York Raiders of the World Hockey Association, a former rival league to the NHL that existed from 1972-1979. The team, seeking an area talent to emerge as a hometown hero, selected Mike as a mid-round pick one year in its amateur draft.

Another of Mahlstadt's career highlights was the game he played for the team he grew up watching at the old Commack Arena, the Long Island Ducks. Mahlstadt didn't see the ice in the first period, played in the second and earned a regular shift by the third period. He tallied the game winner, and turned down the chance to sign a contract with the team the next day. His last hurrah, prior to coming out of retirement to play in the Alumni game a few years ago, was a walk-on tryout with the Milwaukee Admirals.

Mahlstadt's was lauded during his induction into the Hall of Fame as "the player who set the bar so high that every player who followed had a star to reach for."

Jim Boesenberg was a standout high school goalie, and also starred for the Skateland Arrows. He too didn't hit the ice until just before his teenage years, but made a name for himself quickly.

Boesenberg has a lifetime's worth of hockey memories from his season with the Des Moines Bucs of the United States Hockey League. He returned to Long Island, continued to play competitively, and emerged as one of the best goalie coaches in the area. Boesenberg previously coached for the LI Gulls, and is currently the goalie coach for Apple Core Jr. A team.

Boesenberg's performance in the nets was the perfect set-up for his induction into the Hall of Fame that evening. Although he only plays once every few months these days, Boesenberg performed like a pro half his age, and made dozens of highlight-reel saves.

The Hicksville Alumni Association consists of past players, who reunite once a year to play in one of two games, celebrate the camaraderie of the program, and to raise proceeds to support the current team. Any past players interested in joining the alumni association should write to sullivanmatt@optonline.net. Founded in 2002, the Hicksville Hockey Hall of Fame recognizes contributions of past players, both to the team and the sport of hockey.

The Hall of Fame now has seven members: Bill Alonge (Coach 1972-present, Player 70-72), Charles Hauck (Coach 1973-1979), Glen Cassano (Player 1979-1983), James Mitchell (Player 1975-1980) and Matt Sullivan (Player 1977-1980).