The NYIHSHL Play-In Preview 

The 2023-2024 season marked the dawn of a new era for the NYIHSHL, one in which eight teams stood head and shoulders above the rest in Varsity Conference I. Now three of those teams find themselves battling to secure not only their position in the playoffs, but the very future of their program. It’s the 2023-2024 NYIHSHL Play-In Round, to the victor go the spoils. 

It’s a chance for the top three seeds in Varsity Conference II to punch their ticket to the post-season as well as secure a spot in Conference I for the 2024-2025 campaign. I hope I haven’t undersold it. 

All three games are scheduled to take place on Sunday February 4th at Ice Works. The, 6th place Long Beach Marines (6-8-1-1), the 7th place Massapequa Chiefs (6-9-1-0), and the 8th place Roslyn/E. Williston/ Carle Place Spartans (1-14-1-0) are the last three seeds from Conference I. As such they will be required to defend their position in the post season as well as their spot among the league’s eight best teams for next season. The idea that a perennial powerhouse like Long Beach or a big program like Massapequa could find themselves outside the top division may be shocking, but that’s what is at stake in this year’s play-in round. The Conference II champion Garden City Wings (13-1-1-1), second ranked Manhasset Great Neck (11-4-0-1) and the 3rd ranked RVC Hewlett Cyclones (10-5-0-1) are the top three seeds from Conference II. 

The Matchups 

Game One

Long Beach Marines V RVC ER Hewlett Cyclones at 5:30 PM.  

RVC ER Hewlett Cyclones 

The Cyclones led all of Conference II in goals scored with 129 on the season with Nick Johnson, Maxim Torkiver, Benny Biniamin, Jason Rick and Daniel Sorkin all averaging over 2 points per game. Johnson leads the Cyclones with 38 points and Torkiver isn’t far behind with 35 points of his own. RVC may have been the last of these three teams to clinch a spot in the play-in round, but they did so in a decisive 6-1 win over Cold Spring Harbor. Sorkin was a force to be reckoned with against the Seahawks as he scored twice in a three point performance. The Cyclones starting goaltender, John Schmidt,  was also stellar with 24 stops against the Seahawks. 

Long Beach Marines 

The Marines will lean on their starting netminder, Matt Marino, who boasts a .908 save percentage and a 2.39 GAA. Long Beach has been able to rely on Richie Behr Jr, Patrick Henry, Quinn Judge and Luke Pichichero to generate scoring chances this season, but Liam Young remains the name to watch out for. Young has a balanced six goals and six assists in just 9 games and is among the most talented rising stars in the NYIHSHL.  

Our Pick: RVC Hewlett Cyclones 

You can’t fake your way to a +65 goal differential. While the absence of Biniamin will certainly be felt against the Marines, the Cyclones were without one of their top guns in forward Jason Rick and defenseman Matt Regan in their win against the Seahawks. That being said don’t be surprised if Marino’s squad finds a way to stave off the Cyclones.  

Certainty Level: 3/10 

Game Two

Manhasset Great Neck Vs Massapequa Chiefs at 7:00 PM 

Manhasset Great Neck

Will Sylvia and Udit Suri are among the youngest netminders in Varsity Conference II, but you certainly couldn’t tell that based on the tandem’s performance this season. No team in Conference II gave up fewer goals than Manhasset Great Neck this season. Seniors Emanuel Giouroukakis, Mike Mondiello and Daniel Perlman are tied for second on the team in points with 15 apiece, but it’s Chris Tsoromokos who could be the deciding factor on whether or not the club can secure a playoff spot. Tsoromokos is averaging nearly two points per game with 5 tucks, 11 helpers and 16 points in just nine contests this season. 

Massapequa Chiefs

Hudson Schnatter and Jack Insana are Varsity Conference I’s second and third leading point scorers this season. Connor Coyle has posted a 6-8-1 record through fifteen starts this season which is tied with Matteo Bellise for the most by any netminder in Conference I. The Chiefs are 2-2-1 in their last five and have only lost three games by three goals or more this season. 

Our Pick: The Massapequa Chiefs 

Massapequa has shown that they keep up with top flight competition all season long thanks to their strong one-two punch of Schnatter and Insana as well as the strong goaltending of Coyle. 

Certainty Level: 7/10

Game Three 

Garden City Wings Vs Roslyn/ E. Williston/ Carle Place Spartans at 9:00 PM 

Garden City Wings 

The Garden City Wings dynamic duo of Bobby Seaman, who led Conference II in goals, and Alex Bedard, who led the conference in assists, have given opponents fits all year. Jeremi Dziedzic is on a four game goal scoring streak after potting a hat-trick against the Seahawks. P.J. Tursi has the highest save percentage of any goaltender in Conference II who has played ten or more games. Tursi has not lost in regulation so far this season.

Roslyn/ E. Williston/ Carle Place Spartans

Following the graduation of a star studded senior class led by Ryan Franks, the Spartans have won just one game this season. Look for the club to lean on Jordan Sirota, who is averaging a goal per game this season with 10 gino’s, 4 apples and 14 points through ten games to lead the charge against the Wings. Don’t count on the seniors like Kash Bishop, Sammy Carrazzo and Nikolas Psalides going quietly into the night either as their program looks to stave off relegation. 

Our Pick: Garden City Wings

Certainty Level: 8/10

The Wings dynamic offense and strong goaltending make them a safe pick to secure a playoff spot and a promotion for next season.