Hockey Club stumbles in quest to make nationals

The Midget Majors AA team again was the last team playing into the postseason out of the Brick Hockey Club on Saturday night, when it was eliminated in the USA Hockey Atlantic District, 7-5, by the Quakers from West Chester, Pa., at Aston, Pa.

Had Brick's under-18s team won that game, it would have had to win a Sunday morning game and then a Sunday afternoon contest to get into the overall championship game, a grueling challenge.

"It was just different things in different areas," said coach George Colwell of the loss. He was hoping to get the team back into the nationals where it finished fifth three times back-to-back in the 2003 through 2006 seasons. Seven players on this year's team were on the last national qualifier and played on last year's team that reached the district semifinals.

Brick led, 3-0, early before the Quakers scored five unanswered goals. Kyle Williams pulled Brick to 5-4 and the Quakers went back ahead, 6-4, before Brian McAteer connected for Brick. The Quakers put in an empty-net goal with a halfminute left. Brian Kirk scored two goals for Brick and Mike Kosinski had the other, while Nick LoRusso had some sharp saves in goal with defensive help from Trevor VanRiemsdyk.

"We finished [playing games] on Nov. 30 and hadn't played together since except for one [scrimmage] game before the districts because the players were playing high school hockey; whereas other leagues in other states stay together until the end of February," said Colwell. "That's a disadvantage to some extent."

Earlier in the districts, Brick Hockey Club beat the Delaware Ducks (from Wilmington), 2-1, in a shootout. Andrew Ball scored the goal during regulation and Brian Dublon and VanRiemsdyk connected during the 2-1 shootout.

Brick on Saturday morning then lost to the New Jersey Jaguars (from Cherry Hill), 5-3. The Jaguars finished first in the New Jersey standings during the season, and Brick was third behind Hollybill of Deptford. Dublon, McAteer and VanRiemsdyk scored as both teams played to 1-1 and 2-2 ties before the Jaguars reeled off three straight goals off goalie Mike Mulcahy.

"Penalties killed us. All five of their goals were power-play goals," said Colwell. "When we were even strength, we outplayed them."

But Colwell was pleased with his team that went 21-7 after a slow start when it had trouble scoring goals and credited the play of his four defensemen —VanRiemsdyk, Williams, Ball and Matt Dornacker as well as forwards McAteer, Dublon, Kosinski, John Frost, Kevin Camichael, Brian Kirk, Tim Margadonna, Steve Giordano, Dominick Liberatore and Jack Gubuzba.

"We lost games early we shouldn't have and regrouped and won 12 in a row," said Colwell of the season. "They worked hard and found the open man. They had a great attitude and work ethnic."

"George did a great job with the team," said Alex DePalma, who coached the first two national qualifiers a few years ago that finished in fifth place before Colwell took over in the 2005-06 season to coach the other to a fifth-place finish.

As for the other levels of the Brick Hockey Club, it was an unusually quiet season as no other teams qualified for the districts, although the Midget Minor under-16s missed the postseason by one victory. Customarily in recent years, three or more teams in different age levels have qualified each year for the districts out of the club.

"The older kids did really well and the younger kids struggled," said Brick Hockey Club President Bob Auriemma, who had typically had 220 youngsters in the program. "A lot of kids moved up [to the next level] and there were a lot of new kids in the program. It was just one of those years."

Auriemma said the club was a bit unsettled this year when a number of players left to play for other clubs amid reports of the Ice Palace being up for sale. "When the township didn't buy the rink, some returning players left to play in other leagues," said Auriemma. "Fortunately, we got some new players."

Auriemma, who has been involved with the program for 20 years, said he "will not be in the program anymore [administratively] but still will be involved [helping out]. It's time for somebody else to do it. I'll still help in any way I can, but there are younger guys coming in who are good."

Patrick Kearns, who volunteers in many youth programs in the area and has served as Brick Hockey Club vice president the last four years, will become the president. Kearns is Auriemma's brother-in-law.

Also stepping down as a coach after 24 years in the program is DePalma, who instead will be a coaching director and will coordinate the Brick Hockey Club's Mite C development program for younger children. The program took hold in only its second season with more than 30 youngsters enrolled.

"It was really successful and it helps getting the younger kids involved," said Auriemma.

What helps, said Auriemma and De- Palma, is that the families pay a $50 rental fee for the equipment rather than buying it and running the risk of the youngster not wanting to play any further. It encouraged families to register in this challenging economy, said Auriemma. The fee either can go toward the eventual purchase of the equipment if the youngster wants to continue or can be redeemed for other merchandise at the Ice Palace.

"I'm not walking away," said DePalma, who also serves as USA Coaching director for the Atlantic District. "There were some great moments and some great times in the nationals and the worst times of when I lost a good friend, Lou Manzione, when he died at the rink in 2003. We dedicated our seasons to his memory when we got to the nationals."

Among the players on those teams, De- Palma fondly remembers James VanRiemsdyk, who has been drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers. Playing for the University of New Hampshire, he is currently one of the top 25 scorers nationally and a candidate for the Hobey Baker award that goes to the top collegiate player in the nation.

DePalma said the club also is starting a girls program. "We always wanted to do that; the youth program is growing like wildfire," said DePalma. "This year we were rebuilding and we're really interested in the little guys and getting them to play."