Guest coaches have included Long Beach natives Joe Diamond, who played at he University of Maine and is currently under contract to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, an Islander affiliate and Kevin Goumas, a forward at the University of New Hampshire, and retired pro player Will Bodine, a North Massapequa native.
“Through the clinic and the drills there is position play, skating, stick handling and they put it together for game situations,” said Edery, adding that the league doesn’t advertise and builds on word-of-mouth referrals.
Learning about the HHL through a previous story, Cedarhurst resident Ezra Cynamon, 15, a student at Rambam Mesivta in Lawrence, joined the league in its first year. “It’s a great sport to play, the guys who play and the coaches are, it is a lot of fun,” said Cynamon, a Rangers fan, who plays both offense and defense but not goalie. “Also there are a lot of good people to hang out with, friends and I get to play hockey.”
Learning and playing hockey — the games become a seven-game series at the end of the season where teams compete for the Hebrew Hockey Cup, Edery calls it a “Kiddush cup on steroids” — is part of the experience. Respect of teammates and opponents alike is emphasized and teamed with having fun. “We don’t tolerate trash talk and disrespect,” Levin said. “We play hard but we walk out friends.”
When Alec Rapp, 12, of Lawrence, learned there was a hockey league that played on Fridays he joined. “We have a clinic to improve our skills and a competitive game after,” he said, explaining why he enjoys it. Rapp, also a Rangers fan, mostly plays offense and embraces one of the HHL’s tenets. “We all learn sportsmanship,” he said.
For information about the league email Edery at Michael@paradigmcre.com.