Smithtown-Hauppauge Bulls 2024-2025 Season Preview 

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (LISN) — Winning the SCHSHL is hard, going for double at the NYSAHA High School Club Hockey Tournament is even harder. The defending champions learned that lesson the hard way. The Smithtown Hauppauge Bulls were a perfect 4-0 entering the State Championship game in Saugerties. They lost 5-2 to the East Islip Chiefs, who were the favorites to win the SCHSHL at the start of last season. In other words, Head Coach Mark Dubeau’s Smithtown Hauppauge Bulls have unfinished business. 

Landrigan Bros United  

Senior Brendan Landrigan is one of three returning SCHSHL All-Stars on the Bulls roster. Landrigan garnered a team leading 37 points last season and spent most of his time at wing. This time around he will be joined by his younger brother, Sophomore Aidan Landrigan. The younger Landrigan brother, who also plays wing, led Smithtown Hauppauge JV Red in total points last season. The Bulls were crowned JV Champs and finished with a perfect 24-0 record. 

The Forwards

Returnees  

The aforementioned Brendan Landrigan isn’t the only SCHSHL All-Star forward in the Bulls arsenal. Senior Gavin Bareham, who tallied 30 points for the Bulls last season, was also named to the SCHSHL All-Star Team. Bareham spent some time at center last season, before moving to wing full-time shortly before the playoffs.

Senior Jackson Cantalupo is a silky smooth winger with a high-end shot who had 30 points last season. Cantalupo is a highly skilled playmaker who spent the better part of last season with former captain Bobby Trites and former Bulls center Victor D’Errico.

Senior Michael Arnoni, who centered the Bulls second line down the stretch last season, is Mark Dubeau’s Swiss Army knife. Bulls fans should expect to see Arnoni start the season centering Bareham and Landrigan. 

Senior Shane Reidy slotted in as the Bulls third line center in Saugerties, but the Bulls lost two top-six forwards over the off-season. Reidy is the early favorite to move up the lineup. 

Senior Max Campo was on fire at the NYSAHA tournament, scoring five goals and adding another two assists. Campo scored ten goals in a middle-six role for the Bulls last season.  

Senior J.P. D’Allessandro has done it all for this Bulls squad. The Smithtown Hauppauge speedster saw some time on defense at the JV level two years ago, but has played forward at the Varsity level. D’Allessandro plays with pace and could be the early favorite to lock up the third line center spot if Reidy moves into the top-six. 

The New Guys 

Senior Michael Wagner, who made his varsity debut last season, is set to join the Bulls varsity squad. Wagner is the Former Captain of the Smithtown-Hauppauge JV Red squad. Wagner won back-to-back championships and could be a key piece down the stretch this season. Senior Draven Cacciani, who scored the golden goal in Game Three of the 2022-2023 Finals, is a scrappy winger who is coming off another strong season at the JV level. 

Junior Brayden Beltrani, who had 26 points in the regular season, played center at the JV level. Beltrani shined in the playoffs with 14 points in 4 games. Sophomore John Avlonitis had 13 points in 13 regular season games at the JV level.

The Defense

Returnees 

The Bulls have four seniors returning on the blue line. Ray Sherwood is the longest tenured member of the Bulls roster and a reliable two-way defender. Sherwood’s defensive partner, Andre McGraime is entering his second season as well. Expect the two Bulls defenders to eat some of the tough minutes that C.J. Guglielmo and Adam Lackowitz, who graduated in the spring, played last year. 

Senior David Wetzel, an SCHSHL All-Star, scored the eventual game winner in Game 3 of the SCHSHL finals. Wetzel is a key puck carrying defenseman for the Bulls. Senior R.J. Pfister rounds out the Bulls defensive core. The Bulls blue liner finished the season on Smithtown Hauppauge’s top pair alongside David Wetzel. Pfister is a dynamic defenseman who played a key role in last season’s semifinals win over EI and played some of his best hockey down the stretch. 

The New Guys   

Junior defenseman Connor Dubeau netted the eventual game winner in Game Two of the 2023-2024 JV finals against Sachem. The Bulls are also adding a few familiar faces. Junior defenseman Dean Falcone, who scored in his Varsity debut against the Connetquot Sayville BBP T-Birds last year. Brendan Power, a junior defenseman, will join the Bulls varsity squad after transferring from Chaminade to Smithtown East. 

Goaltending 

Senior Aidan Halliday returns in goal for the Smithtown-Hauppauge Bulls. Halliday posted the 5th lowest GAA in the SCHSHL last season with a 5-3 record. After the graduation of Patrick Ryan, Junior Jack Pring will join the Bulls goaltending tandem for the 2024-2025 season.

Coaching Staff

Coach Dubeau returns for what will be his first full season behind the bench for Smithtown Hauppauge. The Bulls bench boss will be joined by two new assistant coaches, Jason Pring and Pete D’Allessandro.