The first season of the Great Neck Park District’s United Middle School Hockey Team finished with a Bang. They won the Nassau County championships 2-1 on Tuesday, March 29 in double overtime.
The participating teams are part of the New York Islanders High School Hockey League. The Great Neck United team is comprised of fifth-graders to seventh-graders from the Great Neck Public Schools, as well as four players from the Herricks School District.
In the first three minutes of the game, Dilan Greben (seventh-grader, GNNMS) scored the opening goal, with an assist by Ben Halpern (seventh-grader, GNSMS). The United Team remained scoreless for the rest of regulation play.
After a scoreless 4-on-4 five-minute overtime period, the teams proceeded to a 3-on-3 second overtime. Twenty-six seconds into the second overtime period, Ben Halpern won the face-off with Jaden Wang (sixth-grader, GNSMS) who went end-to-end to score the winning goal.
Goalie Dylan Ruzz (seventh-grader, GNNMS) was incredible throughout the playoffs and won League Playoffs MVP.
During the season, the United Middle School ice hockey players exhibited excellent teamwork which helped them reach the final win during the championships.
Many thanks go out to coaches Mark Abramson, Joe Calandra and Frank Cilluffo, as well as to the administration of the Great Neck Park District, including Superintendent Jason R. Marra, Assistant Superintendent Anthony DiDomenico and Great Neck Bruins Co-Hockey Director Dan Marsella.
—Submitted by the Great Neck Park District
