Hershey's Sweet for Manhasset Hockey Players

Manhasset ice hockey players lead their Long Island Edge Squirt team to a tournament championship this Thanksgiving weekend. The Chocolate Town Thanksgiving Tournament in Hershey, PA, was the first tournament of the season for the team from Port Washington. Eight teams from Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey competed this year.

Heroes of Hershey - 1997 tournament champs. Chris Imperiale (far left sitting), Ryan Drago (left, standing), Anthony Mondello (3rd from right, lying on ice).

St. Mary's Anthony Mondello was the top scorer with four goals and two assists. Chris Imperiale, Shelter Rock School, had one goal and two assists, while Munsey Park's Ryan Drago anchored the checking line and played well on power plays.

The Edge tied the Nassau County Cubs at one in Friday's opening round. The Cubs scored early in the first period when they took the opening face-off down the ice for a goal. The biggest goal of the tournament for the Edge came late in the second period when Chris Imperiale fired the equalizer off a rebound from in front of the Cubs' net. "I was in front of the net with my stick on the ice, the goalie kicked Mikey's (defenseman Mike Kavanaugh) shot to me like a pass," the young center said. A loss in the first round would have eliminated the Edge from qualifying for the final round.

Centerman Anthony Mondello scored two goals against the Hershey Bears in the Edge's 4-1 win on Saturday. He had one goal in the Edge victory over Suffolk PAL on Sunday morning, and another goal in a 4-0 victory in the final against the Cubs later that afternoon. Ryan Drago centered the checking line, holding their opponents to only four goals in four games.

The Edge Squirts (10- and 11-year olds) are currently in first place in the Long Island Youth Hockey League. They are undefeated in league play and are 20-2-2. The Long Island Edge are housed at the Port Washington Skating Academy. For more information regarding ice hockey and ice skating programs at the Port Washington Skating Academy, call Fred Nielson at 484-6800.