The Connetqout-Sayville T-Birds 2024-2025 Season Preview

HAUPPAUGE N.Y. (LISN)  — It’s been said that Hockey is figure skating in a war zone, and one of the league’s toughest teams is getting ready for a new season. Last year’s squad finished 6th in the standings and spent 299 minutes in the penalty box. Only Sachem was assessed more penalty minutes last season. The Connetquot Sayville T-Birds are back, well — some of them are. There are only eight returning members of last year’s roster returning this year, but Head Coach Steve Beisel knows that the right eight can take a team a long way.

The Joe Villani Question   

Sophomore Joe Villani has great four-way mobility, a heavy shot, and the size to impose his will on opponents. There’s no two ways about it, the T-Birds star will be giving opponents fits all season long. The only question is whether Villani will be patrolling the blue line, or lining up as a forward. 

Back in 2022-2023, Villani scored 34 goals and added 6 assists in 15 games as an 8th-grader playing freshman hockey. By the time Villani was attending High School, he bypassed the JV level and made the jump to Varsity. Villani scored 2 goals and added 3 assists in 11 games last season. 

The Forwards

It’s been two years since Logan Keil laced ‘em up for the Connetquot Sayville BBP T-Birds, scoring 2 goals and adding 2 assists in just 8 games. Keil is now returning for his senior year with the program. With five of the top six scorers from last year graduating this past spring, the Long Island Gulls Product could be called upon to play a big role this season. Keil spent last season with the P.A.L. Junior Islanders U-18 AAA team. 

Senior Andrew Snyder will also return to the T-Birds for his senior season. Synder last played for the T-Birds in 2022-2023, when he scored 7 goals and added 4 assists in 15 JV games before being called up to the varsity team where he scored 2 goals in 6 regular season games.  

Senior Eathan Brdey scored 8 goals and added 3 assists in 15 games in 2023-2024. Brdey is the team’s top returning scorer. 

Senior Brady Hall is does a lot of the little things that don’t always show up on the scoresheet. Hall scored 2 goals and added 2 assists in 19 games last season.

Junior Logan Booth Alum set the league on fire last season. The Lake Ronkonkoma native played a prominent role down the stretch and had 6 points in 12 regular season games in 2023-2024. 

Junior Paul Wagner, a scrappy two-way winger, made his presence felt on the ice last season even if it didn’t always show on the scoresheet. Wagner scored 1 goal and added 1 assists in 13 varsity games as a sophomore, and is a prime breakout candidate for the 2024-2025 season. 

It’s been a long time since Colin Beisel led Connetquot-Sayville to a SCHSHL County Finals appearance, and this season his younger brother is set to make his varsity debut. Sophomore Gavin Beisel led the T-Birds JV team with 9 goals and 7 assists in 16 regular season games last season. Beisel was Villani’s running mate at the Freshman level in 2022-2023. 

Senior Nick Masi scored 5 goals and added 2 assists in 19 JV games in 2023-2024. Senior Tyler Hopkins garnered 1 goal and 1 assist in 19 JV games in 2023-2024. Senior Theo Tanzi scored 1 goal in 18 games, and Senior Nick Theodoulou 1 assist in 17 JV games in 2023-2024. 

Defense

Depending on where Joe Villani lines up on opening night, Chase Haggerty could be the only  defenseman from last year’s roster manning the point for the T-Birds. The towering defenseman does a good job of using his size to box out in front of the net and keep the opposing players away from the center of the ice. 

Two years ago, Chris Esposito scored 20 goals in 13 regular season games for the T-Birds JV team. Esposito, who had a team high 24 points during the 2022-2023 campaign, went on to appear in four varsity games. The speedy T-Birds defender is now set to return for his senior season. 

After the graduation of Brent Brdey, Ryan DeLucie, and Jack Mercado this past spring, Junior Alex Barlyski is set to move back to the blue line. Barlyski played forward last season, scoring the game-tying goal in a stunning 2-1 upset victory over the Smithtown-Hauppauge Bulls. The Junior plays a heavy game, using his size and speed to bully opponents, making him a natural fit on defense. 

Senior Trevor Rodecker, who spent last season with the PatMed Raiders JV team, was selected by the T-Birds in the SCHSHL Draft. Rodecker can play both forward and defense. The former PatMed Raider scored 2 goals and added 3 assists in 18 regular season games last year. Coincidently Rodecker is following in the footsteps of another former PatMed Raider, Alex DeLeon, who played for the T-Birds varsity team during the 2023-2024 season.

Junior Josh King had 1 goal and 2 assists in 16 JV games last season. King is a smooth skater who will be asked to play a key role in transition for the T-Birds. 

Sophomore Mason Petry, who had 1 assist in 15 games last season, projects as a strong two-way defender at the varsity level. Petry is very good at defending the rush and is a quality puck handler, whose counting stats were hurt by poor puck luck.  

Goalie 

The T-Birds were 5-2 with Alex Clark in net last season. Clark, now a senior, lost his first start before rattling off four straight wins. The second loss came after Clark spelled Shane Kirby, who has now graduated, after the latter was ejected while leading Sachem 2-1. After the graduation of the aforementioned Kirby, Senior Richie Westhoff Jr. will be Clark’s running mate for the 2024-2025 season. Westhoff Jr. played five JV games last year and was called up on an emergency basis for a Varsity game that he ultimately did not appear in. 

Coaching Staff and Team Captains 

Coach Beisel will joined by assistant coaches Darrin King and George Vadyak in 2023-2024. Chase Haggerty will serve as the team’s Senior Captain and Joe Villani will be the team’s Sophomore captain.