Journal News all-star/all-county teams
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- April
- 19
The suspense has been building for long enough. Congratulations to Matt Willows, the Rockland athlete of the season, and Marc Flory, theWestchester/Putnam hockey player of the year. And here’s the “all-star” team for Westchester/Putnam and the “all-county” team for Rockland.
There were only six programs in Rockland, so I held a coaches meeting and we selected the team democratically. There wasn’t a big enough conference table in Westchester, so I called all the League 1 coaches and a selection of coaches from Leagues 2, 3, 4 and the CHSHL and compiled the results.
One quick disclaimer — the teams are selected based on the 2008-09 hockey season. Not career or travel accomplishments. With the unprecedented success of Section 1 this year — two state finalists, 14 all-state selections, and lots of parity throughout the leagues — it was a very difficult process, but that’s good — it means there were a lot of outstanding seasons to consider.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, April 19th, 2009 at 3:35 am by Harold Gutmann. 
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I guess the Dutchess County guys (Pawling’s Burd!ck and Delaverne) are noted on an all star team in yet a third newspaper region. Pretty good list. There could have been a few more honorable mentions (some WP forwards, another pelham d man and a RCDS Dman come to mind), but you have to stop the list somehwere, even with the 23 Section One teams, 3 CHSHL locals and privates RCDS and Harvey in the West/Put area.
Also could have added another Mamo dman and Carmel goalie.
Congrats to all the All-County winners, and best of luck to Matt Willows at his tryouts for the USHL! He’s a special talent and can definetely has the drive to acheive his dreams!
I am downright SHOCKED that Jake Shuman was excluded from the Rockland All-County 1st Team. How could someone who approached the state record for assists in a season be excluded from a 1st team selection? In terms of value to his team, that statistic could not even be qualified. Instead, two players from a mediocre at best North Rockland team were selected over a player who, along with Willows, helped transform a team in almost unprecedented dramatic fashion into a state championship contender. Shame on the selection committee for either this gross oversight, or active exclusion of a very worth player from this list.
I am sorry but O’conner is better then shuman, they made the right choice. State championship contender? are you crazy, they beat up on a bunch of league 2 teams, got beat by a suffern team that wasn’t state championship contenders, and tied (and almost lost) to that mediocre North Rockland team. Shuman is a very good player but was placed on the second team where he belongs.
Sorry, Mr. Sorry, but I have to agree. The Journal News list feels they have to spread things around to a bunch of schools, and then give a bone to the CHSL. They did the same thing on the West/Putnam side by putting Stepinac’s Miano on the 1st team. A head-scratching, very questionable move.
The selection was made after speaking with the coaches listed. I think that perhaps they might no a little more about hockey than the people in the stands.
I agree with Mountie here. The JN spoke to all the coaches in Rockland. Maybe “East of River” fans have a beef if the coach for the team they follow was not from League One or one of the select League 2, 3 ,4 and CHSHL coaches contacted by the JN. But, as Harold points out above, for Rockland, the selection process was very democratic.
To Jeez- your point is interesting. Aside from the Stepinac coach, the only other coaches contacted by the JN who saw Miano play against their team was White Plains way back in the Thanksgiving tourney (big game for Miano) and then Mamo’s coach during the XMas tourney. And Miano may not have played in that Tiger blowout. So, the Miano pick may have been made by the JN without much objective coach input. His stats are pretty darn impressive, though.
GIving Miano first team could be just saying that he was the best player on a team from West that made it to the finals in the catholic league and he is a senior.
Except that I thought Miano is a junior this year (‘92 birth year??).
No particular quarrel with the Rockland County teams. If anything, I probably would have considered at least one different player for 2nd team status.
In order, Suffern, North and North Rockland were the best teams in RC, and those teams will get the 1st and 2nd team slots.
The best of the rest (PR, NTZ and South) will get the honorable mentions.
I’m pretty sure Miano he did play in the Mamk 10-1 win, but if not I stand corrected and apologize to the young man. I never said he wasn’t a great player. But the facts are that every decent Section 1 team could have crushed every CHSHL team this year. There is no parity between the leagues and there hasn’t been any for several years now. So stats for any CHSHL player need to be viewed as we view the League 3/4 stats. In other words, throw them out.
Back to my original point … how do you keep Schuman off of the 1st team? That’s just rediculous.
It must have been a tough decision. But if as Harold says, the Rockland coaches were all locked in a room and came up with a team, that is were the praise or blame should be.
(Editorial: Of that group of six coaches, there are obviously certain coaches who carry more authority, and deservedly so, based on long term program performance.
Than again Harold says it was a democratic vote, but I’d have like to have seen the nominating process.)
Other than Flory,Hagen and Glazer…...I think the remaining picks were very WEAK! HAte to tell you this but the level of hockey talent has dropped tremendously this year.
Last year, you had Sigona, Rui, DiMaggio, Novick, Datino, Latino! All of these players would of skated circles around Miano and Jackson.
The are a ton of players who are deserving of first team/2nd team. Lets not forget to the winners go the spoils hence Suffern dominates the Rockland all county team and Mamo and Pelham the Westchester all stars. CN lost in the 1/4’s which hurt their case for another 1st teamer.
To “Northfanforlife” no doubt that Shuman had a phenomenal year and is an excellent hockey player however so is O’Conor and many believe he would have put very similar numbers if he had played on a line with Willows that was allowed to run the score up all season. It probably also helped that O’Conor never quit on his team during the rebuilding seasons of his freshman and soph year.
Miano and Jackson both won championships. The players you name that you say can skate circles around them never won a thing. All very good players no doubt but both Miano and Jackson were key components in getting their team a championship as were Glaser, Flory, and Hagen. Brewster junior fan eh? Well, maybe thats why you knock these two players who won championships
Miano, yes I mean `t to say he got to the championship he lost to an out of westchester team, but they beat Iona to get there so they were the catholic champ of westchester which is what I mean `t to say about him
Brewster Juniors- It is a common sentiment on this blog that “last year’s players were better than the present lot”. But, the Section continues to improve vs. the rest of the state. So, I think those statements are often attributable to pining for the past.
Jeez- I woudn’t be so harsh about stats generated in the CHSHL. There are some super players in the CHSHL that don’t have huge stats. It must be harder than you think it is to score in that league. You have forwards who had average stats in the CHSHL that are playing Junior A this coming season.
Jeez,
Fordham finished last in the CHSHL and beat both White Plains and Mahopac, and Mahopac was with ease. The CHSHL is a competitive league. Think before you speak
Miano has never won anything! He lost this year and lost last year. Concerning Jackson, Fine was better (end of story!) Jackson disappeared wen it counted and Fine was the go to guy!
Mianos team was the best private and catholic school in Westchester, the journal news covers westchester. Jackson disappeared? He was a key player for the second year in a row for the section champion.
Saw the results of the poll regarding team strength for next year. Who are the projected starting goalies for Mamo, Suffern and WP?
For the mounties, a fine gentleman by the name of Danny Connington should be in goal. He will be a junior and has good talent.
Winning IS everything,
Stepinac has won NOTHING! Have they ever won a varsity Championship?
To anyone who can help:
The history section of http://www.section1hockey.com is starting to take shape. I know most people aren’t checking it during the off-season, but then again most people aren’t reading this blog during the off-season either.
If you go to the site and click on the “History” section, there are links to see the league & section champions dating all the way back to 1932 as well as post-season award winners. Most years are covered in the league/section champions (although there are a few holes on the Rockland side) and the post-season award winners lists are missing quite a few years.
Aside from trying to drive traffic to the site with this post, I am also looking for help. If anyone reading this has any of the info that is missing from the site (The programs from the section 1 hockey awards dinners are a great place to start), and are willing to email or fax me a copy, please email me and let me know (You can get the email address from the site). Thanks.
Last year, you had a number of players that opted not to go to college and decided to take their chances with playing Juniors…..
Does anyone know what Natoli, Reagan, Rui and Ruthberg are doing next year? Are they playing Juniors again or are they going to College?
Also, Is Eck, King and Connors still playing Hockey? And if not, does anyone know why not?
Very interested because I’m trying to figure out what steps my son might take in the next year or so!
Can’t confirm all of the following, but this is what I have heard/read/seen:
Natoli- started out on one AJHL team (Bobcats) and moved to another AJHL team (Philly Little Flyers)- was offered roster spot at DIII Lebanon Valley (ECAC West)
Reagan- played entire season on Bobcats (AJHL)
Rui- started out on Apple Core (Jr A, I think), went in season to Rockets (AJHL) and from there got a short call up to a USHL team (North Dakota???) before going back to Rockets
Ruthberg- started out PGing at New England Sports Academy (Lake Placid) and ended up playing on the second (U19) Hitman team.
King- played Boston College Club team
Eck- no more hockey. Starting quarterback at Hamilton College (DIII)
Connor- no more hockey. Attending Iona College.
Looks like those who want the best chance at college varsity hockey try to find a way to get USHL exposure. The NJ Rockets (AJHL) coach is a USHL scout.
Have heard Molinaro (Iona prep graduate in a few weeks) is playing for Rockets this coming season. Have heard others are delaying college to play juniors including Pawling’s Burd!ck
Any word on where the best players are trying out?
not interested so much in the junior players. Looking to see what local programs are stocking up?
Brewster-Mariners-Vipers?
Are the tryouts over?
After playing juniors for a year….Are Reagan , Natoli and Rui going to college and playing hockey and if so? What level…D3? Club?
Amazing! If you look at 2008 All County Westchester Team, many have finished their hockey careers. I wonder if Jackson,Flory will continue to play?
Amazing? Question? is the competition to strong or are they just burnt out?
Forward/Eck: No longer playing hockey
Forward/Connor: No longer playing hockey
Forward/King: Plays Club Hockey for Boston College
Defense/McCabe: No longer playing hockey
Glaser & Hagen were Juniors. But I think they’re done with hockey also after this year.
“WOW” good question.
Is Flory or Jackson playing anywhere next year?
Ruthberg was at NSA National Sports Academy. Its in Placid.
Does anyone know if Rui,Natoli or Ruthberg are college bound? If yes?, what colleges are they going to?
Anyone wanting to see what the “next level” looks like should attend the Mid Fairfield Midget Major tryouts next year. This year’s tryouts were this past weekend. That is where you will see all the prep juniors, seniors and PGers trying out for a team that doubles as a prep school season warm up and a National champ contending Tier I Midget Major program. NHL first rounders Paciereck (Canadiens) and Shattenkirk (Avalanche) played together on a Mid Fairfield Midget team.
Once you see a tryout like that, you understand why so few of the Section One kids advance. Lots and lots of really good hockey players out there. Even though the Mid Fairfield Major team is a bunch of 17 and 18 year olds (next year), they could handle all the junior teams around here (including Hitmen and Apple Core A with their 20 year olds).
Drafts for the USHL will happen at the end of May. The Prospects Tournament is next week in Toronto…..lots of USHL coaches and college goaches looking for players. Rui had several offers to play D3 but it is not what he wants to do. D1 is his mission and the USHL is the second stop to getting to that. Good Luck to any athlete who pursues that dream. It is a long, hard fought road and kudos to Rui and the others mentioned who perserve to try and grab their dream!
jackson is going to play for brewster juniors or a jr a team in spring filed he has a try out next week
what about flory?
Natoli will be playing D3 at Becker College in the ECAC Northeast
Well kudos to the Americans for beating the Canadiens in the Prospects Tourney this past weekend. Bob Thorton of the NJ Rocketss brought 4 teams…three made it to playoffs Sunday and two of them met in the finals! The Canadiens were not happy about losing in the semis to the Americans! Oh well…too bad. Joe Reagan was on the the Blue team and Rui was on the Red team, who won it against the Blue! (Joe was not in net for this game.) Great hockey and tournament. Kudos to Bob for being one of the best Junior coaches I have come across and having two teams in the finals and winning it all!
Where are Rui and Reagan playing next year? Or do they still need to go thru USHL camp?
training camps for ushl are comin up within the next month.