Although early, so far it has been a very Happy New Year for the New York Junior Bobcats and their fans as the first full week of 2010 closed out with the team playing to a 3 and 1 record against some of the Northeast’s best junior teams.
On Sunday, January 3rd, our Junior Bobcats played to an overtime victory against league and divisional rival, The New Jersey Rockets.An unusual game which featured three shorthanded goals and three power play goals, the Bobcats overcame a 6 to 3 deficit in the third period to force the game into overtime.It was only after the regular 5 shooters for OT had taken their shots, did recent returnee Vinny Schieda net the OT winner to lead the ‘Cats to victory.The win placed the Bobcats in good divisional standing for post season play, with just more than a month left in the regular season.
On Friday, January 8th, the Bobcats headed up to Boston to participate in the Eastern Winter Showcase and immediately faced National Champion, The New Hampshire Monarchs of the EJHL.The Monarchs are an experienced team loaded with talent (eleven D1 and five D3 commitments) who average nearly 6 goals scored in each league game they play.Our Bobcats played tough, getting outstanding goaltending from Joe Reagan and Sal Magliocco (a second half shutout).The Monarchs, the EJ’s best, won the game 3 to 0.
With a double-header slated for Saturday, the Bobcats started with a morning game against Apple Core of nearby Long Beach, NY.A great group of penalty killers (6 man down situations in the second half alone) kept Apple Core totally off the board.Sharp goaltending, two goals by Matt Zay and another by Anthony Sgaraglio gave the ‘Cats the victory 3 to 1.Kevin Antonik notched 2 assists for our Bobcats.
Our second game of the Saturday afternoon for the Eastern Winter Showcase had the Bobcats lacing them up against the tough Syracuse Stars.Syracuse is currently second in the northern division trailing only the Monarchs.After a quick 2-0 lead, the Bobcats played smart, stayed out of the penalty box and finished the game taking home a 5 to 2 victory with them.Vinny Schieda, Stephen Nardi, Nick Giuffrida, Steve Sachman and Stephen Castriota all scored for the balanced attack of the ‘Cats.Special recognition to Vinny Schieda and Liam McKillop who tallied two points each in the contest.
This was a satisfying finish to the weekend for sure.Coach Galiani knows we are staring at the toughest part of our season and was glad to see his team respond.“This was a very good seven days for our team, our organization and our league.It was good to play against tough competition in the showcase, much like we do each and every week in our league schedule.The college scouts made many complimentary remarks about our team and I am very proud of the accomplishments we have made so far this season.However, there is more work to do and we need to get to it.”
The Bobcats are proud to announce that former standout forward, Dan O’Donoghue, has committed to the Lakers of Mercyhurst College for the 2010/2011 season. Considered a strong academic school, Mercyhurst is a member of the Atlantic Hockey League, one of the three Division 1 hockey leagues predominantly based in the northeast. The Lakers currently sit atop the Atlantic Hockey League and last season lost to Air Force in the league championship game, narrowly missing an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship tournament.
After a highly successful 2008/2009 campaign for the Bobcats, Dan was selected in the 5th round of the USHL draft by the Des Moines Buccaneers. Playing his typical and consistent two-way game, Dan has dressed in every game for the Buccaneers this season, posting a 4-2-6 line in 30 games.
O’Donoghue spent almost his entire youth hockey career playing for the Long Island Rebels organization in Dix Hills. He did not play a game at the Tier I level until the 07/08 season where as the team’s Captain and leading scorer, he led the Long Island Royals Midget Minors to a New York State Tier I Championship and a National Semi-final appearance. As a Long Island Rebel, he earned a Bantam and Midget Minor NYS Tier II State Championship, which respectively led to Final and Semi-final appearances in the U.S. Nationals. In addition to his travel youth hockey accomplishments, Dan competed for Team Long Island in the 2007 Empire State Games and was a High School Vytra Cup All-Star during the 07/08 season. He was also a member of the Comsewogue team that won the NYS Public High School Championship in 2008.
As a first year center for the Bobcats in 2008, Dan was one of the key reasons the Bobcats qualified for the U.S. Nationals as he accumulated 19 goals and 24 assists in 55 games. His 43 points placed him 5th on the team in scoring and his plus/minus rating of +26 was good for 2nd on the team. In addition to finishing 22nd in league scoring, Dan was also selected for the Atlantic Junior Hockey League All-Star game where he was voted 1st Star of the game after scoring two goals in the contest. Known for his strong play on the defensive side of the puck, Dan’s size, vision, hands and exceptional skating ability have solidified his reputation as a two-way player. His overall strengths caught the eye of NHL Central Scouting last year as he was placed on the Final NHL Draft List for 2009.
The New York Bobcats take great pride in announcing Dan’s commitment and know that his tremendous work ethic, commitment and character, and his overall respect for the game, his teammates and his coaches will continue to bring great success. We extend our sincere and heartfelt congratulations to Dan and the entire O’Donoghue family and wish him the best of luck as he embarks on his academic and athletic career.
January 3 was a memorable evening for the NY Bobcats. Challenging the NJ Rockets, our rivals from across the river, the Bobcats played an exciting, hard-fought game which went into overtime. The shootout victory was won by veteran Vinny Schieda. Fans were also treated to the chance to win great items including guitars, hockey sticks, Rangers and Islanders tickets, navigation system, jewelry, and amazing gift baskets in a raffle for the Breathe for Britt Foundation. This event was made possible by the Bobcat players and parents who contributed the outstanding prizes which resulted in raising $1000 to help the families of children afflicted with Cystic Fibrosis.
We thank everyone who supported the NY Bobcats and helped make our annual charity game a success.
The New York Bobcats and Long Island Gulls are extremely proud to announce that Danny Linell has committed to the Crimson of Harvard for the 2011/2012 season. Considered by many to be the most prestigious academic institution in the world, Harvard is a member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference. The Crimson are coached by Ted Donato, a former NHLer and key member of Harvard’s 1989 NCAA National Championship team. Other schools that showed strong interest in Linell included Dartmouth, UNH, Northeastern, Union and Brown.
Danny’s commitment is especially noteworthy because we are once again reminded that loyalty, perseverance and hard work are the keys to success – concepts that are all too often forgotten in this era of youth sports, where parents and players invariably search for the “better” team, the “better” coach or the “better” situation. A Long Island Gull since the day he set foot on the ice and throughout his entire youth hockey career, Danny’s commitment and loyalty should be applauded and emulated, and must continue to serve as a blueprint for success. Danny was recently included on the NHL’s Central Scouting Watch List and becomes the third player from the 2009/2010 Bobcats team to receive a commitment to play college hockey, joining Matt Zay (Mercyhurst) and Brendan Valdes (Middlebury).
In addition to quickly becoming a key contributor on this year’s first place Bobcats team, Danny also attends and plays for Choate Prep School. In his first 15 games for the Bobcats, he has scored an eye-popping 10 goals. Head Coach Eddie Galiani highlights Danny’s work ethic and strong character as some of the primary reasons for his success, but emphasizes that Danny’s belief and faith in the Gulls/Bobcats program was instrumental – “he listened to his coaches and never questioned their motivations; he worked on his skill level, and stayed on track regardless of the success or failure of the teams he played for.” Coach Galiani expects Danny to continue to be a major offensive force for the Bobcats this season.
As a sophomore at Choate last year, Danny was the second leading scorer on the team with a 15-12-27 line in 25 games. Danny will be playing on Choate’s top line this year with fellow Bobcats teammate, Alex Hagen. In describing Danny’s abilities on the US Hockey Report, Choate head coach Pat Dennehy had the following to say: “He’s electric and as fast as anyone I’ve ever coached. That ability to take off makes him a threat in any situation. He also reads the play well, is strong physically, and is willing to do all the little things in the dirty areas of the ice.”
Prior to joining the Bobcats, Danny was a member of last year’s Gulls Midget Minor team that won the New York State Tier 1 Championship and lost in the U.S. National semi-finals to eventual champion Compuware. That team, which was coached by Santo Macaluso and Bruce MacIsaac, will forever be recognized as one of the best youth hockey teams in the long and storied history of the Gulls. More importantly, however, it was a team of 92 and 93-born players that faithfully bought into the development model that was put into place by Coaches Macaluso and MacIsaac at the time they were PeeWees. Despite some disappointments along the way, the players stayed together under Macaluso’s and MacIsaac’s tutelage for a period of four years, culminating in their National Championship appearance and what is expected to be many more college commitments. In 57 games for the Midget Minors last season, Danny scored 43 goals and 43 assists and was one of the key overall contributors on the team. When asked to comment on Danny’s success, Coach Macaluso had this to say – “From the time he was 13 years old, I knew Danny had the potential to be a special player. He bought into everything we asked of him and he got better every time he stepped on the ice. His attention to detail is what separates him from the pack. He has an explosive first step, which makes him a threat on both sides of the puck.” In addition to participating in the NYS Select 14, 15, 16 and 17 Camps, Danny also had the opportunity to participate in the USA National 14 and 15 Festivals. He was also selected in the 5th round of the 2009 USHL draft by Cedar Rapids.
As we often say, the accomplishments of our players clearly exemplify how education and the sport of hockey – and the primary characteristics needed to succeed in both – can combine to create tremendous opportunities for our young men and women. There is no greater evidence of that fact than Danny Linell. The New York Bobcats and the Long Island Gulls take great pride in Danny’s tremendous accomplishments and extend their sincere and heartfelt congratulations to Danny and the entire Linell family. We wish him the very best as he looks ahead to his academic and college hockey career.
Danny hopes to pursue a degree in Business Administration or Finance.
The Bobcats held their first of hopefully many, Alumni hockey games on Sunday, August 9th at Newbridge Arena.
The event brought many players together for the first time since they last played as teammates for our Bobcats.
The staffers that attended were (left to right, bottom then top): Wendy Liotti, Debbie Spidle, Mark Dubeau, Ron Kinnear, Slava Kourgousov, Frank DeMayo, Dan Marshall, Dave Starman, Alexi Nikiforov, Ed Galiani, Damian Cotto, Fred Schoenhut and Gil Valdes.
Two of the players who enjoyed themselves are pictured here with Coach Dave Starman, Pat Moriarty (Hobart) and Tim Filangieri (Boston College).
A gathering took place at Bracco's Clam Bar and everyone had a great time.
Expect a second "annual" alumni game next August too!
