Ice hockey coming of age in Warwick

Varsity and junior varsity teams reach high school playoffs Warwick - Pride, integrity, competitiveness, achievement, respect and discipline were among the driving forces behind the success of Warwick Ice Hockey in the 2005-2006 Hudson Valley High School Ice Hockey Association season. Warwick’s Varsity team finished the season with a record of 10 wins, 9 losses and 2 ties, playing in the strong “A” High School Division. The varsity finished fourth out of 11 teams. The Junior Varsity team closed out the year with a record of 8 wins, 8 losses and 2 ties, finishing sixth out of 10 teams. Both teams earned playoff berths. The Varsity was a young team with only two seniors, Captain Jon Durieux and Assistant Captain Scott Lawrence, compared to teams from Arlington (11 seniors), Washingtonville (10 seniors) and Cornwall (nine seniors). Spectacular plays from forwards Jon Durieux, Jeff Smith, Brendan Joyce and strong defense from Luke Hagen, Joel Samuels and Jake Sibilla along with the rest of the squad helped achieve the fourth seed in the playoffs. Overall, Warwick scored 89 goals while giving up 54 goals to their opponents. This was the second year of play for the Junior Varsity team, a year in which they scored spectacular wins over perennial powerhouses John Jay, FDR and Washingtonville High School with the help of outstanding goal-keeping from acrobatic goalie Gregory Hodgson; young snipers Brendan Doyle, John Hodgson and AJ Chiappone; defensemen Steve Carroll and Zack Frost; and with strong support from forward Carrie Hallahan and Sam Pine. The Junior Varsity team had one of the lowest goals against in the entire 10-team league. Both teams lost in the playoffs. But the dramatic improvement of the varsity team earned them the honor of being one of two club high school hockey teams from the Hudson Valley area to be selected to represent the Hudson Valley High School Ice Hockey Association against Smithtown High School from Suffolk County in Long Island. Although the Varsity lost 4-3 to Smithtown, the team represented the region well, earned the respect of Smithtown and 2006-2007 plans are in place for Warwick to play high schools from Central, Northern and Eastern New York. The Junior Varsity team participated in an end-of-season tournament in Voorhees, N.J., where it played against varsity teams. Junior Varsity Coach John Hodgson and Varsity Coach Tom Sibilla said they saw in the level of play of the Junior Varsity squad the nucleus that will continue the growth of the program. Varsity players Jon Durieux, Ryan Durieux, Joel Samuels and Jeff Smith and junior varsity players John Hodgson, Matt Schenk, Scott Sibilla, Jimmy Colgan and goalie Gregory Hodgson were Warwick’s All Star selections who played in the 2005-2006 All Star Game. Strong fan support within the high school community helped create the motivation for the success of Warwick ice hockey in 2005-2006. This program started with six players (we mourn the lost of Trevor Jahn, one of the original six players). Over a four-year period, the organization has put together a 15-player varsity team and an 18-player junior varsity team. Graduation rate from the program is 100 percent; 92 percent of graduates have gone on to university. Players who are interested in playing competitive high school ice hockey are encouraged to contact General Manager, Dr. Winston Samuels at 986-8196. This story was provided by General Manager Winston Samuels.