Titans capture league championship, head into hockey playoffs next week
February 14, 2024 at 10:44 p.m.
The Rye Town-Harrison Titans are back on track and have persevered through another winning streak.
On Tuesday, Feb. 6, the Titans hockey team competed head to head with Carmel for their last home league game at Playland Ice Casino in Rye. The mood was both celebratory and wistful, with an air of appreciation for the journey the team and the fans had undertaken together. Player Nico Corvalan (Blind Brook freshman) made an assist to player Billy Villanova (Port Chester sophomore) resulting in a goal, marking Corvalan’s first varsity point of his career. Players Julian Gahr (Harrison sophomore) had two goals and one assist, Max Tse (senior captain Harrison) and Peter Boraczek (Harrison sophomore) had one goal and two assists, Jack Mazzella (Harrison sophomore) had one goal, and Messier Mollica (Port Chester sophomore) made one assist. With CJ Stumpf (Blind Brook junior) making 12 saves, Jackson Scala (Blind Brook freshman) making seven saves, and Nick Villanova (Port Chester freshman) making six saves, the Titans pulled out a 6-1 victory.
The Titans defeated ETBE (Eastchester, Tuckahoe, Bronxville and Edgemont) once again, trampling them by a score of 11-2 on Thursday, Feb. 8 at the Ice Hutch in Mount Vernon. Gahr delivered the play of the game with a hat trick, as well as netting one goal on top of that and making one assist. Tse had two goals and six assists, Isaac Schultz (junior assistant captain Harrison) had two goals and one assist. Players Tyler Beardsley (assistant senior captain Harrison), Alex Sabino (Harrison junior), and Boraczek each delivered one goal and one assist. Two assists were made by player Shuya Watanabe (Rye Neck senior), and one each came from Mollica and Villanova. Scala had 21 saves and Villanova had four.
“The games against Carmel and ETBE were against two teams that were dealing with injuries, so they didn't have their best team on the ice. But it did benefit us and the fact that we were able to get all players into both of those games, including all three goalies,” said Coach Rich Myers.
The Titans next faced their biggest game of the season, which would determine the league championship, against the Rivertown Legends on Saturday, Feb. 10 at Westchester Skating Academy in Elmsford. The crowd buzzed with excitement and nervous energy, and an electric anticipation hung in the air. Every shot, every pass, every save became a pivotal moment during the game. The meticulous planning and training that were undertaken in preparation for this game were crucial in ensuring the team’s readiness and ability to play to their fullest.
“We came out hungry, played very aggressively and very disciplined,” said Coach Myers. “The game plan was to get a lot of shots on the net.”
“Key player” Mazzella understood the assignment. Mazzella achieved a hat trick by finding the net three times. Three more shots were netted by players Tse, Boraczek, and Schultz. Tse’s shot marked his 50th point of the season. A total of 12 assists were made during the game. Gahr and Alex Sabino (Harrison junior) contributed a trio of assists individually, Sean Mohr (Rye Neck junior) had two, and Tse, Boraczek, Villanova, and Beardsley contributed one each. Stumpf guarding the net made 23 saves. The Titans finished with a crucial 6-3 triumph.
“They stuck to the plan and the results are obvious,” Myers concluded.
After receiving a bye in the first round of the playoffs, the Titans will play at home against the winner of the New Rochelle vs Cortlandt game on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 8:45 p.m. at Playland Ice Casino in Rye. If they win that contest, they will play again Thursday, Feb. 22 at Ebersole Ice Rink in White Plains at a time to be announced.
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