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The Middle Country Cougars Season Preview

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HAUPPAUGE N.Y. (LISN) — The Middle Country Cougars are returning to the SCHSHL Varsity level for the 2024-2025 season. The Cougars last played at the varsity level in 2022-2023, when a roster led by Luke Haufler, David O’Brien, Brandon Scheurmann and Michael Sittler went 4-16. Scheurmann was selected by Longwood in the 2023-2024 SCHSHL draft along with fellow teammate Aydan Azmoun. 

The rest is history. 

Now the Cougars are set to return to the Varsity level with Head Coach Ray Carmen at the helm. All eyes will be on Senior Harold Stauffer, who has scored a whopping 63 goals at the JV level over the past two seasons. It’s been a story of continued improvement for a Middle Country JV team that was winless in 2022-2023 before making the playoffs in 2023-2024. The Cougars are back, sleep on them at your own peril.  

Forwards 

The aforementioned Harold Stauffer scored 22 goals in 17 games in 2022-2023, with his most noticeable performance coming in December of 2022 when he scored 2 goals in a tie game against Longwood JV. Stauffer stayed on the ice for all five minutes in overtime, but couldn’t complete the hat-trick. The Middle Country star returned in 2023-2024 with a vengeance, scoring 41 goals and finishing with 60 points in 18 games. 

Senior Andrew Iannaconne scored 14 goals and had 10 assists in 18 games. Iannaconne is a well-rounded center who takes advantage of time and space to make opponents pay. 

Senior Lukas McDowell scored 12 goals and finished with 18 points in 20 games. McDowell is a hard-nosed center who is good in the face off draw and wins more than his fair share of puck battles. 

Senior Sal Riccio scored 4 goals and added 7 assists in 20 games. Riccio can play up and down the lineup, which is an asset to Coach Carmen. 

Senior Jason Pesci scored 3 goals and had 5 assists in 19 games. Pesci plays a heavy game, relying on his size and positioning to keep the puck moving in the right direction for the Cougars. 

Senior Zack Atkinson scored 4 goals and added 5 assists in 19 games for the Cougars. Atkinson is a speedy winger who never gives up on a play. 

Senior Jayson Filosa had 1 assist in 12 games last season for the Cougars. 

Senior Alex Theodorellis had 4 goals and 4 assists for Smithtown-Hauppauge JV Blue. Theodorellis is a speedy straight line skater who can make things happen in transition. 

Senior Jared Catapano returns to the program for his senior season. Catapano had 1 goal and 3 assists in 12 games in his freshman campaign for the Cougars. 

Junior Ian McGee is a strong skater who plays a heavy two-way game. McGee had a balanced 5 goals and 5 assists in 17 games.

Sophomore Ryan McMillan had 1 goal and 4 assists for the Middle Country Freshman Cougars last season. 

Defense

Senior Roman Franco had 4 goals and 3 assists in 17 games last season. The strong two-way defenseman is a key cog in the Cougars top-four. 

Senior T.J. Pelio had 3 goals and 11 assists last season. The Cougars defenseman is a reliable two-way defender who ate minutes at the JV level. 

Junior Declan Munkwitz played big minutes for the Cougars last season. Munkwitz is a dynamic two-way defenseman who scored 8 goals and added 16 assists in 18 games. 

Junior Steven Graziano had 5 goals and 5 assists in 17 games last year. Graziano is a smooth skater who plays a solid two-hundred foot game. 

Senior Nick Schroeder, a draft pick who spent last season with St. Anthony’s JV Black, is a key addition for the Cougars. Schroeder scored 16 goals and added 9 assists in 18 games last season. 

Senior Sean McMillan is a defensive defenseman  who had 3 assists in 13 games for JV Black.  

Goaltending

Junior Andrew Martens started 11 games and made 15 appearances last season for Middle Country. Martens posted a 4.52 GAA and went 7-5 for the Cougars. Junior Kenny Bridgeford Jr. had a 6.52 GAA and went 3-5 in 9 starts. 

Coaching Staff and Captains 

Coach Carmen will be joined by assistant Coaches Sal Riccio and Ryan Munkwitz. Harold Stauffer has been named Team Captain with Thomas Granahan, Andrew Ianaccone, and Lukas McDowell will serve as assistant captains. 

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