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NEW YORK
SPORTS DIGEST
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LONG BEACH ICE HOCKEY TEAM
PREPARES FOR NEXT SEASON
Two years ago Leon Lifschutz took the Long Beach High School Ice Hockey team to the State championship. This year, as a senior, Lifschutz played an outstanding goal as did his backups, senior Mike Bickford and junior Rob Carson.
However, it wasn't enough as the young team advanced to the playoffs only to lose to Bellmore-Merrick, 1-0, and 5-3, in the best two out of three series.
Derek Schure, a senior, topped the scorers with 24 points on 11 goals and 13 assists. Others who contributed greatly with the points were freshman Mike Medrano, Anthony O'Neill, Chris Esposito, Tom Stamatelos, Nick Martino, Chris Bartells and Ruben Leavitt.
"We are young," explained Assistant Coach Brian Coyle. "At the beginning of the year we didn't expect a great freshman class coming in. We were amazed, and very happy how strong they were.
"Medrano is a very good freshman with a lot of potential. Esposito played with confidence and toward the end of the season played very well. And Paul Simeone, another freshman, also looked good.
"We really didn't have any high points during the season. We were so well rounded, and didn't have a prolific goal scorer. Defense and goal tending were our strengths."
During the season, Long Beach at one stage put together a seven game winning streak.
Fourteen players are returning next season. During the spring some students are playing other sports.
"Many of our players will be going to hockey camp during the summer," Coyle continued. "We will be picking up eighth graders for next season; the next two years we will have a strong recruiting class."
Joe Brand, owner of Zamboni's is the head coach.
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