Rye vs. Pelham in hockey matters. Sure, it’s just another game on the schedule, but it’s more than that.
The Pelicans, who entered this week as the top-ranked team in Section 1 Division 2, tied the fourth-ranked Garnets in their first meeting a week ago.
In Tuesday’s rematch at The Ice Hutch, Rye picked up a resounding 4-1 victory. Riding an eight-game unbeaten streak, the Garnets (8-1-1) left little doubt as to which team is the current class of the division.
Rye senior captain Will Weinman likes the direction this team is headed.
“Of all the teams we’ve seen so far this season, I don’t think there are many who are more skilled than we are top to bottom,” Weinman said. “But it took us a few weeks to understand that skill will only take us so far. Tonight, you could feel guys buying into their roles on this team. We’re starting to find our identity as a group.”
Following an unproductive first-period Rye power play, that group found themselves trailing the Pelicans 1-0 after the first 15 minutes of hockey. Rye responded with four unanswered goals over the next two and a half periods, with scores from seniors Ryan Draddy, Jamie Morris, and Cody Greenhaw, plus freshman Connor Dehmer.
Coach Pete Thomas – and the entirety of Section 1 hockey – took notice of the quality of this win.
“I’m really proud of how our guys played tonight,” Thomas said. “They knew the plan going in and they executed it. Down 1-0 after one, we never wavered. We took control of this game back after our first goal and never looked back.”
Rye is halfway through the 2025-26 campaign, with serious challenges still to come. Next up is a game at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday at Clarkstown.
While Rye and Pelham have faced off for the last time this regular season, it would come as no surprise if the rivalry was renewed in the section playoffs.
