Bethpage Eagles ice hockey finally is making a return on November 16th at the Bethpage ice rink where the Eagles will take on the Bellmore-Merrick Bulldogs at home for the first game of the season. A great season ahead is projected for this young team developing stronger together each time they touch the ice. This is perhaps one of the better teams BHS has seen: expect the Golden Eagles to make a deep playoff run and qualify (at least) for the New York State championship.

Offense 

The Eagles made two huge additions from the draft this off season: Matthew Hohhmann and Alex Labos. Hohmann, an Island Trees native, got picked up due to his district’s lack of a hockey team, and with Hohmann playing for the AAA Royals 16s, this is a massive addition to the top nine forwards. Labos is another pickup as a result of the collapse of Plainview’s varsity team, Labos also playing AAA Royals, for the 15u team, however. Bethpage lost minimal forwards this offseason and will look to roll through three lines, with Captain Marko Lisica, along with Stavros Likourentzos and Jake McAuliffe centering the three lines. Other key players such as Tyler Wodicka, Michael LoBosco, and Nick Morolla give the Golden Eagles a deep, talented forward core that expects to put up major numbers this season.    

Defense  

The Eagles may not be as strong on the blue line as they will be offensively, but the talent is still there. Captain Jake Kelly looks to anchor of this defense, coming off a sophomore year, where he led in ice time. The addition of Nick Morgan, who moves from winger to defense, will fill the role lost this offseason–the crucial loss of two key defensemen via graduation. Michael Sheahan and George Mavroukas will fill the top four defenseman. 

Goaltending

The team’s only goalie, Matteo Belise, a junior at BHS is to start between the pipes for the Golden Eagles for the first time in his years with the team. The team will rely on him heavily to come up with many big saves. With Belise being the only rostered goaltender on the team, the Eagles can expect  a E-bug-type situation (the need to fill in a  at least once this season, with Frank McCann possibly the frontrunner for filling this role.

Coaching

Coach Schmier comes back for what “feels like his hundredth season” with the Golden Eagles this year, and with the loss of the ever-handsome Matt Birofka, Mr. Regetario–a former Golden Eagles ice hockey captain who dabbed after his only career goal–will fill a very important role behind the bench, mostly handling the forwards.