The Mineola Fire Department and the PAL, in conjunction with the Central Nassau Hockey League, are putting the new Mineola Roller Rink to good use, raising money for the Nassau County Burn Unit.

Discussion about the tournament began, said firefighter Bill Gresalfi, while decorating the community center for the Mayor's Annual Halloween Party. Village Activities Coordinator Angelo Scuccimarri and Gresalfi were discussing the roller rink, which at the time was in the development stages.

It occurred to the men that this new rink provided new opportunities for fund raising, so they contacted the PAL and formulated an idea for a hockey tournament.

The PAL is providing the players, all star teams actually, ranging in ages from teams of 8 and 9-year-olds all the way to teams of 15 to 16-year-olds.

The teams, as well as coming from Mineola, are coming from College Point, Brentwood, Valley Stream among others to participate in this tournament.

Each team will be charged a fee and the money will be split, half going to the Burn Unit and the other half to the PAL. The MFD insisted that the PAL take half the money because they were responsible for much of the work that put this tournament together.

The reason the MFD chose to give its half of the money to the Burn Center, explained Gresalfi, was because of the profound relationship the Mineola firefighters have with such a unit, that like themselves, fights the adverse effects of fire.

The whole tournament idea is new to both the MFD and the PAL. "It is a good experience for everybody," said Gresalfi, "It will help the PAL, the Village and the Burn Unit."

As well as good experience for those involved, Gresalfi sees other benefits as the first official opening of the roller rink and exposure for the MFD, the PAL, and of course, the Burn Unit.

Gresalfi, Scuccimarri, Gary Mazur, Tom Flynn, Gene Auer, Micky DeSorbo and Al Selgado were all pivotal in bringing this idea to life.

The tournament runs through Sunday, June 14 on Mondays and Fridays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 10 p.m.

So far all goes well according to Scuccimarri. "The tournament is going great," he said, "We are very pleased with the turnout, the kids are happy and the competition is great. Who could ask for anything more?"

All participants receive souvenir T-shirts, hockey stick shaped pens and most importantly the knowledge that their money raising efforts will benefit those in serious need.