The Rockville Centre/Hewlett/East Rockaway Cyclones hockey program celebrated a successful 2025-26 season with a festive gathering at the Tap Room in Rockville Centre that brought together players, coaches and families from all three levels—varsity, junior varsity and middle school.
About 90 attendees gathered at the gastropub on March 25 for the end-of-season celebration, where coaches handed out individual awards, recognized seniors and highlighted players who made significant contributions both on and off the ice.
The evening served as both a celebration of on-ice accomplishments and a reflection on the tight-knit culture that defines the multi-district program. Despite the challenges of coordinating athletes from three different communities, all three teams finished with winning records this winter, a testament to the program’s growth and cohesion.
Leading the way was the varsity squad, which compiled a 12-5-0 record and earned the program’s only playoff berth after finishing second in Conference II. The seniors that were recognized at the event were Matthew Regan, Brendan Rose, Sean Barrett, and Andre McClelland of Rockville Centre and Hewlett’s Chase Rafield, Michael Goldstein, and Phillip Uspensky.
The junior varsity team also turned in a strong campaign, finishing 10-5-1 and placing fourth in the West Division, narrowly missing out on a playoff spot. At the middle school level, the Cyclones posted a 9-5-1 record and were in contention for the postseason until the final days of the season.
General Manager Lauren Sobel said the night highlighted the strong bonds formed across the program, particularly among the middle school players, who remained upbeat despite just missing the playoffs.
“It’s a little unique,” she said. “Not every team is a combination of three districts, but for us it is. Nobody says, ‘that kid’s from Rockville Centre and that kid’s from Hewlett.’ They all treat each other as one team. Even though they don’t all go to school together, they still have tight bonds. They’re all proud to represent the Cyclones.”
That sense of unity was echoed by Stephen Leavenworth, the middle school head coach and an assistant at the JV and varsity levels, who pointed to the team’s resilience in the face of adversity. The middle school squad endured a midseason disruption when the Freeport rink temporarily closed, forcing the team off the ice for several weeks.
“A big effect on us at the middle school level is the range of players,” he said. “You have high-skilled kids and others coming from the rec league, so it’s a mix. The problem was the Freeport bubble collapsed under the weight of the snow. It happened twice, so we lost three practices and some games. We were off the ice for over four weeks in the middle of the season, and we lost some momentum. We couldn’t get ice time elsewhere. But the kids rallied, got it back together, and beat the team that won the championship. We just couldn’t get it done in the final game.”
Even so, Leavenworth described the season—and the celebration that followed—as one of the most rewarding in his tenure with the organization.
“That was one of the most rewarding get-togethers the organization has had in years,” he said “It was one of the best attended. I received many positive messages from parents saying their kids had a great time and are excited for next year.”
