Sailors aim for playoff return

With five games remaining in the regular season and a return trip to the Nassau County hockey playoffs on Oceanside’s radar, coach Bill Clark said “it’s gut-check time.”

The Sailors (10-5-1) sit in second place in the Liberty Division behind East Williston, which has defeated them three times including a 5-0 decision last Saturday afternoon at Iceworks in Syosset. “We’d like to have another shot at them in the playoffs,” Clark said. “We haven’t had our full lineup in any of the losses against them because of conflicts with travel teams.”

Oceanside’s roster features more than its share of travel players, including top forward Joe Mitchell (23 goals, 15 assists) and top defenseman Brian Hurley (eight goals, 13 assists), and a nice mix of seniors and underclassmen. “I’m very pleased with the season we’re having,” Clark said. “Last year we made the playoffs for the first time in five years, so now we’re looking to make the state tournament for the first time in program history.”

Mitchell, a senior transfer from the Buffalo area, has proven a major addition to the offense and ranks second in the county in scoring with 38 points. “He’s an all-around talent,” Clark said of the 6-foot-2, 210-pound wing. “He can skate and shoot, has playmaking ability and thrives under pressure,” he added.

Mitchell often skates on the line centered by Kieran Hurley, one of seven sophomores on the roster who also possesses scoring touch. Hurley’s 12 goals and 14 assists rank him second on the team in points (26) and among Nassau’s top 10 scorers. “Kieran can pull the trigger and set guys up,” Clark said.

Another sophomore, Mike Jennings (11 goals), is a hard-nosed winger who can dig a puck out of a corner as well as put it in the net. Junior Nick Lalli has lit the red light 14 times, and the recent return of senior Doug DiDominica from a broken ankle bolstered a forward group getting contributions from senior Erik Albertson, sophomores Cam Kelly and Jeremy Leider, and freshman Shane Clark.

On the blue line, the Sailors are led by Brian Hurley and junior Andrew Green. Both are tough defenders and keys to the power play. Green has four goals and 14 assists. Senior Jack Kotcher is a big body and doesn’t hesitate to throw his weight around.

Sophomore Dominick Lamano, who returned as the No. 1 goaltender, has eight wins and a 3.36 goals-against-average. “He’s got quick reflexes and is a big-time competitor,” said Clark, who noted sophomore Alex Feinstein is a solid backup.

The coach said highlights of the season so far are wins over Long Beach and Syosset, and qualifying for the state tournament would “be incredible.” The regular-season concludes Feb. 4 with a game against Lynbrook at Iceworks, and the playoffs begin eight days later at Bethpage Ice Skating Center.