Mahopac Achieved Success Before Loss in Sectionals

Bobby Fatone SKIP PEARLmAN The Mahopac High ice hockey team managed to have a successful campaign, going 10-9-3 and 9-4-1 in Conference 1 play before bowing out in the second round of the Section 1 playoffs.

The Indians finished second in Conference 1 behind Lakeland.

Mahopac defeated Mt. Pleasant 2-1 in the preliminary round of the Section 1 playoffs, before falling to White Plains, 1-0, in the second round last week.

Indians coach Steve Tuite was pleased with how his team played this year.

“I was certainly happy with the season,” Tuite said. ”I thought we did a nice job in Conference 1. I felt we would compete and we did right up until the end.”

Six of Tuite’s players received postseason honors, including senior goalie Bobby Fatone, who was named to the All-Section 1 team and the All-League team. Fatone closed the season with a 2.60 goals against average. The tri-captain also saved 89.3 percent of the shots he faced in goal. He was also the recipient of the Doc Rasbeck Award, which recognizes academic achievement and is given out in each conference.

Mike Gilmore SKIP PEARLmAN “We stress defense, and defense comes from the goalie out,” Tuite said. “Bobby played solid - game in and game out. I thought the consistency with Bobby was there all year long,”

Junior forward Tyler Gyscek, also a team tri-captain, was also named to the All-League team, as was senior forward/defenseman Mike Gilmore. Gyscek had 15 goals and 17 assists on the season, which was good for 32 points. Gilmore contributed four goals and five assists. He had nine points.

Tuite spoke highly of both players.

“Tyler has progressed every year. He has been a very consistent player for us. Being a junior, it is sometimes hard to be a captain. He was great. He is a real smart playmaker,” he said.

Tyler Gyscek SKIP PEARLmAN Tuite credited Gilmore as being someone who was always willing to do what was best for the team, even if it meant changing positions.

“He was a kid that I went to at the beginning of the year and asked if he would play forward,” the coach said. “Mike matured as a player this year. He was not one of the captains, but you would have thought he was.”

Junior defenseman Paul Hoppinthal was named All-League Honorable Mention, as was senior forward/defenseman Rich Barletta. Hoppinthal had one goal and three assists on the season for four points and Barletta contributed seven goals and nine assists, totaling 16 points. Senior forward and tri-captain Nick Lopilato received the Russ Simon Award, which is given to a player in each conference for good sportsmanship.

Tuite noted that Hoppinthal’s importance to the team was evident when he missed a few games due to a shoulder injury and the Indians went 1-4-1 during that span.

“You could see it hurt our defensive side,” Tuite said. “He got back into the lineup and stayed in good shape and it made a difference for us. He really was a stay-home defenseman and he did well with that.”

He praised Barletta for being willing to move from forward to defense this year, even though that meant he would not get as many scoring opportunities.

“He was an unselfish player. I think he did a good job for us by accepting that and playing good,” Tuite said.

Tuite was also thrilled that Lopilato was recognized by being given the Russ Simon Award, awarded for good sportsmanship. “He was a solid player for us who had a never-say-die attitude,” he said.

Tuite said that he was also impressed with the play of junior forward Mark Sottile, senior forward Bobby Erickson, senior defenseman Robert Harker, junior forwards Dillon Savitzky, Eddie Dipasquale and Kevin Kennedy.

The Indians will be graduating eight seniors from this season’s team, five of whom were starters. However, Tuite does not seem concerned about younger players stepping in to fill those shoes next season.

“I think we have good kids returning,” Tuite said. “I think that the biggest question mark is in goal. I think we have some good competition for our goaltending spot.”