Bulldogs stay hot on the ice

Posted

Bellmore-Merrick’s hockey team has almost made it look easy on the ice, running out to a 17-0 record with one regular-season game remaining. But the Bulldogs are built for the long haul, and the goal is not only regular season success, but a continuation of that right into and through the playoffs as the program aims for its first-ever Nassau County title.

“We like to think we’re built as a team,” coach Chris Patten said. “[The guys] sacrifice and do whatever it takes. We’ve got a lot of character players.”

In running off 17 consecutive wins, Bellmore-Merrick, which was a New York State semifinalist as recently as 2014, has outscored its opponents by a 159-37 margin, with the most recent victory coming Monday night in a 6-5 decision over Long Beach at Newbridge Arena. 

In the scoring column, the driving force has come from the No. 1 line of senior center Tyler Anzelone (Calhoun) and his junior wings, Tommy Condon (Calhoun) and Jon Olson (Mepham). A four-year varsity player and the team’s captain, Anzelone has had plenty of success finding Condon, the team leader in goals (36) in the offensive zone. And Olson’s 48 points trail only Condon’s 60. “They’re beautiful to watch,” Patten said of the line’s fluidness and smoothness moving the puck. “When [defenses] think they have one guy [covered] we have another [scoring]. They don’t care how many points they have or who scores.”

With all three players on the top line enjoying breakout seasons, the Bulldogs have also been boosted by a second line that includes sophomore Jake Gallitto (Kennedy), a first-year varsity player, centering sophomore JT Intravaia (Kennedy) and freshman Jack Mitchell (Calhoun). The three varsity newcomers have developed a knack for grinding out possessions — and points — from below the goalline and have had no trouble adjusting to Bellmore-Merrick’s style of play.

Junior Daniel Corona (Mepham), junior Noah Jacobs (Kennedy) and senior Danny Grubb (Calhoun) comprise the third line, while senior assistant captain Mike Brue (Mepham) centers for sophomore Joey Iacono (Calhoun) and senior Austin Brill (Mepham).

The defense is anchored by senior Joe Grice (Calhoun), an assistant captain and four-year varsity player who can do it all. “He can defend, lead the rush, shoot the puck or facilitate the offense,” Patten said.

Grice is paired with junior Anthony Cicchetti (Calhoun), while junior Chris Kraemer (Calhoun), junior Nick Connors (Mepham), junior Anthony Scoca (Mepham) and junior Robert Lynott (Calhoun) are also in the defensive mix. The Bulldogs rotate three goalies in the lineup—senior Kyle Gannon (Kennedy), senior Stefen Rosner (Mepham) and freshman Eric Smith (Kennedy).

On top of all their success on the ice, the team has also become involved within the local community and this Sunday is set to play its annual sled hockey game with the Rough Riders at 9 a.m. at the Bethpage Rinx. “It’s not just about being good hockey players but also great students and positive members of the community,” Patten said.