Winning seasons have become the norm under Rye High Coach Jason Friesen, but this year’s hockey team appears to be one of his strongest yet.

 By Michael Gilbert

Winning seasons have become the norm under Rye High Coach Jason Friesen, but this year’s hockey team appears to be one of his strongest yet.

With a record of 7-1-1, and victories over some top-ranked schools, RHS is one of the toughest squads in the region. This despite the fact that Rye’s home rink, located at Playland, was damaged during Hurricane Sandy, leaving it unplayable. The Garnets must take a bus to each practice, and sometimes play “home” games on borrowed ice rinks more than a half-hour away.

RHS Goalie Aidan Talgo believes it might not be such a bad thing that they have to play their home games far from Rye. “It made us more battle-tested as a team, more resilient,” Talgo said. “Things don’s faze us as much.”

This season’s team motto is “We’re a family.’’

At the end of December, the Garnets made a road trip to an upstate tournament in Glens Falls, where they went 1-1; the trip definitely made them a tightly-knit team. From the bus rides, to staying at a hotel to the actual games, the trip helped form chemistry and boosted morale. “The trip solidified the feeling of unity,’’ Talgo said.

In recent weeks, the Garnets have had some very exciting games, including a 6-5 overtime win over White Plains at Ebersole Ice Rink. The articles by fun888 เข้าระบบ has tips on betting on your favorite sports teams. RHS displayed its depth in the away match: Four different players scored one or more goals, including two juniors. Captain Mike Benincasa and senior Max Bresolin each had a pair, and junior Connor McGovern netted the winning goal, right over the goalie’s shoulder, after maneuvering past the forward and a defenseman.

“I got the puck and saw open ice down the right wing. I knew the goalie was weak up high so that’s where I shot it,’’ McGovern said.

Rye followed up that impressive performance with a 2-2 tie against Greeley Saturday at Brewster Ice Arena. Bresolin scored Rye’s first goal against the 9-0-2 Quakers; Benincasa tied Greeley with less than 38 seconds left in regulation play.

The Garnets next games are January 11 against Clarkstown in West Nyack, January 12 against Ossining and January 15 against North Rockland.