Kings Park-Commack Knights 2024-2025 Preview

HAUPPAUGE N.Y. (LISN) — College Football Hall of Fame Coach Bear Bryant once said, “offense sells tickets, defense wins championships.” Coach Bryant didn’t have to account for goaltending, Head Coach Duane Kilmer does. Last season the Kings Park-Commack Knights  allowed the fewest goals against in the entire SCHSHL. This year the Kings Park-Commack Knights are title contenders, and with Senior Jayson Krauthamer in between the pipes, the hype is real. 

All In On Krauthamer 

The aforementioned Jayson Krauthamer was named to the All-Star team as a junior last year. Krauthamer posted a 1.99 GAA in the SCHSHL last season, the lowest among goaltenders who played eight games or more.  

The Forwards 

Veterans  

Eight forwards are set to return this season for the Knights. Senior Jesse Lemza, who tallied 36 points last season, is returning for what will be his third and final season with Kings Park-Commack. Lemza‘s most common linemates from last season, Tyler Granelli and Former Captain Stefan Hludzinski, have since graduated. 

Granelli and Hludzinski were the Knights second and third leading scorers respectively. Ryan Walsh, a center who played top line minutes down the stretch, has transferred to Boston Hockey Academy. That’s not to say that KPC is without options or that the knights lack high end talent. 

The leading candidate to play with Lemza next season is Senior Ronny Kemly. Kemly is a strong, speedy forward who hounds opponents up and down the ice. Kemly had 17 points last season and spent some time playing with Lemza down the stretch.

Senior Jack Salva, a dual sport athlete who is committed to Merrimack College for lacrosse, tallied 14 points in the regular season before a strong showing in the county playoffs and at the state tournament. 

Senior Johnny Coyle, a speedy two-way center, came on late in the season with a four point performance against the Northport-Huntington Tigers.

Senior Brian Prange, whose older brother William starred for the Knights, finished the 2023-2024 campaign on a high note. 

Senior Michael DeSaro, whose older brother Justin was a goaltender for the Knights, was noticeable down the stretch for KPC until an injury brought his season to an early end. 

Senior Franco Justinic has been reliable in a checking line role. Senior Greg Galgano is another solid two-way player for the Knights. 

The New Guys   

Senior Will Bozeman will join the Varsity squad after spending last season at the JV level. Bozeman plays a hard nosed, two-way game and has the ability to chip in offensively. 

The Knights added a trio of junior forwards to help generate scoring chances. During the 2023-2024 season, Junior Jackson Ciofrane tallied 9 points in 22 games for the Long Island Royals U-15 AAA team. Junior Frankie Delio scored 6 goals and added 9 assists in 25 games for the 2023-2024 Long Island Rebels U-15 AA team. Junior Ryan Flynn, who spent last season with the Freeport Arrows U-15 AAA squad, scored 11 goals and had 15 points last season. 

The Defense

Veterans  

Three defenseman are set to return for the Kings Park-Commack Knights. Senior Ryan Furst is a shutdown defenseman who eats minutes for KPC. Nick Sattler scored 3 goals and added 4 assists in just 11 games last season. 

Junior Maximus Hludzinski, the younger brother of Stefan, is the Knights other returning defenseman. Hludzinski could step into a much larger role for the Knights after the graduation of Sean Richardson and Connor Cohen. 

The Rookies 

The Knights have brought in three new defenseman for the 2024-2025 season. 

Ryan Angello, a senior who spent last year with the Long Island Edge, is set to re-join the Knights for the 2024-2025 season. Angello had 7 points in 14 games at the JV level for Kings Park-Commack during the 2022-2023 campaign. 

Junior Jack Franke played for the Knights JV team last year. Franke made his varsity debut last season and looked like one of the fastest players on the ice.  

Aaron Haberman will be the lone sophomore on the Knights roster this season. Haberman had 5 points in 9 games last season.  

Goaltending 

Junior Jacob Dufresne, who spent last season with the Westchester Express U-16 AAA team, will be the other half of the Knights tandem. 

Coaching Staff and Captains

The entire Knights coaching staff is set to return this year. Coach Kilmer is joined by three assistant coaches: Dan O’Donnel, Anthony Napoli, and Frank Paratore. Jesse Lemza has been named team captain with Ryan Furst being named assistant captain.