Here’s the story that ran in today’s paper … As for my thoughts on the matter, if you read the blog you know I’m not a big fan of West Point. There’s no question it’s the best facility in the region and I’m certain the players love competing in that arena. It’s certainly media friendly. My problem is the fact that we’ve never had a championship atmosphere in that rink. Some of that it due to bad matchups. There are so many empty seats and the crowd is somewhat removed. Brewster Ice Arena is chilly and you can see the wear and tear, but with so many good teams we are probably going to have a couple of memorable championship games. The facility is easy access, so I’m expecting a big crowd. I’m hoping everyone will leave the rink buzzing about the noise level. If nothing else, this episode again highlights the lack of top shelf athletic facilities in the Lower Hudson Valley.
By Mike Dougherty
A scheduling conflict at West Point has forced Section 1 officials to find a new venue for the upcoming hockey championships.
Brewster Ice Arena will play host to the Feb. 24 title games.
The championships have been played at Tate Rink on the USMA campus since 2009, but the adjoining Christl Arena will be hosting Army-Navy wrestling that afternoon. Section 1 officials were notified of the issue earlier in the school year and requested bids from the only two local facilities with enough parking and seating to host.
Playland is off line until next fall due to damage from Superstorm Sandy.
Sport-O-Rama in Monsey also submitted a bid. The final decision was made by the Section 1 Championship Committee, and school athletic directors signed off last week.
An e-mail informing coaches of the move went out Tuesday.
“I’m good with it,” said Pelham coach Ed Witz, whose team has won back-to-back Division 2 titles. “We just want to get there. I liked West Point, it was a special place to do the game, but for me as a coach, they could play the game in a parking lot in Pelham and I’d be good with it. We just want to get there. I think it will be fine (at Brewster) unless there’s a home team there.”
Brewster Ice Arena will be installing temporary bleachers in the 98 Rink to increase capacity to 800 seats. The facility, which is located on Fields Lane, minutes off Interstate 684, has enough parking for 525 cars.
“We’re very excited,” rink owner and Kennedy/Putnam Valley/Haldane coach Steve Santini said. “We’re home to 13 high school teams. We’ve hosted a number of the outbracket games over the years, but I remember one in the late ’90s between Fox Lane and Beekman where the rink was just packed. It was a great atmosphere, so I assume this will be as good or better.”
30 Comments
You have to love Coach Witz…he is fine playing anywhere, anytime
“unless there’s a home team there”
Memo to Ed: There is a very strong possibility that HG or JJ will make the final. At this point, there are 4 legit contenders for D2 and 50% of them play 85% of their games at BIA
Anybody know what the attendance has been over the last three years at West Point for the doubleheader? Should be public info…
Interested in comparing those numbers to the 800 capacity at BIA
I think Ed’s intent was right…”we’ll play it anywhere.”
Any coach worth his weight knows he has to make the playoffs first. Then he has to win every game before him. The idea of where the final game is located should be the least of his concern. So why is it any concern of the bloggers here?
Last Section Final at BIA was the DII match between Rye and Jay on Tues Feb 27, 2007. The place was packed and rocking. MSG had cameras on the platforms above the endboards. Garnets had a fan bus or two and Jay is a short drive up 684. Remember the Rye fans tappng all the Garnet players on the helmet from the stands above on the team’s way to the ice each period. Nothing like that tight, closed in feeling for the fans and players. A loaded Jay team had beaten (6-3) and tied (4-4) Rye at Playland during the regular season. Rye cruised to a 6-1 win in the section finals before going up to Salmon River and besting the Shamrocks (3-0) at their barn in the regionals before losing to eventual state champs MW (maybe the best team in the state including DI where they should have played) by the score of 5-2 in the Frozen Four at Utica.
to @finals- HG and Jay will likely be seeded 1 and 2, which puts them on opposite sides of the bracket. One would have a better chance at making the finals if they were playing each other in a semi. Almost for sure, both top DII BIA teams will be playing one of Rye, Pel or Scars in the semi finals. I think either of the two has a shot at the finals, but it won’t be easy. Rye is currently #4 in the stae, Pel is at 8 in the state and Scarsdale will be dangerous once they get a little healtier. Wouldn’t it be great if they did the DII semis back to back up at BIA? Good stuff.
I as a Pelham follower will tell you that the consenus is that Pelham plays well at BIA. I do not recall many if any losses there over the years. Sportorama is a different story for Pelham. So I could see BIA being favorable to Pelham, like coach says, “IF” they make it there
Sorry FOTG. Its way too soon to make seeding assumptions for Pelham. Just looked at their upcoming schedule, and still yet to be played, Ithaca, Salmon River twice, Massena Rye Scarsdale New Hartford Rome Free Academy so theres no automatic seeding points in that group. I think the BIA teams can be figured out though
You honestly think Mamo or WP have the same chance to win a final at Sporto as they would at West Point vs. Suffern…LOL
BTW – why do you bother getting on the hockey blog? u don’t seem to like any of the topics discussed. what do you want to talk about? You seemed shocked that bloggers (parents, kids, fans & coaches) want to discuss where, over 1,000 of us, want to watch the Sec1 finals
@fanotgame
I was also at the JJ v. Rye game and it was an unreal atmosphere. With 300 extra seats the kids playing in that game will have an unbelievable experience. It should be a ton of fun come February.
Alias,
I’m just pointing out that YOU and I don’t get to make the choices of where these games are played. But YOU and many others are doing so much whining about it for such childish reasons on a previous thread.
I don’t care where they play the game. I’m going to go watch it even if it is in a Pelham parking lot. But they chose BIA. All I hope for is competitive games. I think you will get that at BIA
It’s too bad you feel Mamo and WP aren’t mentally tough enough to win the title if the game were to be held at SOR.
u r 1 angry dude…relax – it’s a blog – it is for expressing ur opinion, hearing what others have to say and having fun in the middle of the Winter – you r totally missing the point of the exercise
Let’s hope the new, improved Playland (part of the overall Sustainable Playland Master Plan) will take seating capacity into consideration and end this debate with a quality facility and abundant wintertime parking. Got to think Manhattanville is pushing for permanent seating capacity of at least 1,000)
The competitive level of the game is entirely dependent on the two opponents. The outcome of the game is determined on the ice and not in the stands. True competitors will come to play regardless of the rink. Whether BIA can accommodate the parking and seating needs of the large crowd is a logistical rather than a competitive question and by all accounts they can. Good for them in stepping in to fill the void.
Very well said in your tweet Coach Witz, You have a lot of class!!
Alias, I’m very relaxed thank you.
New Poll…Playland once held well over that amount. The 1982 state semis were played there. Rye beat LaSalle from Albany. Estimates had the crowd somewhere around 1,500-1,700. It will be interesting to see if they ever get it back up and running. The new proposed 4-rink facility could determine that.
Ed Witz just gets it. All class. I wish my kids had a chance to play for a coach like him.
Ok – thanks for 1982 info but no way they were all sitting
they had to be three or four rows deep in the balconies on either side
the new Playland needs at least 1,000 SEATS
seedings- based on who is currently in front and behind Pelham on Cliffs “Standings” page, and considereing who everyone plays for the remainder of the season, I would be shocked if Pel wasn’t a 3, 4 or 5. Rememeber, even if they lose to a team like RFA, they still get two points (the same as what they would get for tying a .500 team in Section One). And some of those big name teams like Salmon and Ithaca are just OK this year. Not much different than a RTH, SNS, Ctwn or New Ro on a good nite. Neither in the sportwiter’s rankings which usually show deference to the “name” programs. HG should be a 1 seed, even if they lose to Jay. Rye and Jay likely the 2,3 seeds, unless one or the other tanks it down the stretch and Pel runs the table. Remember, under our crazy seeding formula the winner of the Rye/Jay game gets 6 points, which would be more than what Pel would get for beating Massena off the bus. I see Scars a 5 as they might struggle a bit until they get healthy. But, a tough out once they have a full roster.
My prediction for seeds:
1. HG
2/3. Rye/Jay pick ‘em
4. Pel
5. Scars
In that scenario, Pel hosts Scar in the 1/4ers with the winner visiting HG. Jay and Rye would likely meet in the semis on the other side. That is a great bracket.
Looking closer at Pel’s remaining opponents, only RFA gets them big bonus points with a 13-1 record. The combined records of NH, Ithaca, Massena, and Salmon twice is below .500 at 25-28-5. Not a lot of bonus points there. But, Pelham should win most of those games.
I meant their remaining out of Section opponents. They should get some bonus points for playing Rye and Scars. in Section.
Ithaca is 9-5 this year. Plays most of its games out of Section 3 area. They have a 5-1 win over New Rochelle and they beat Shen 5-1 (Shen beat Mamaroneck 4-2 this season) So I would hardly say that they are similar to RTH Ctown etc. Unless you think those teams are better than Mamaroneck. Massena shutout Qbury (thats the team that beat Rye a few weeks ago) and Massena has a win over Rome Free so those teams you mention are strong, so I would no minimize those clubs. those are no automatic wins for anyone
Ithaca started off the season with a nice win over Shen. After that, their big wins were New Ro and then Greece. They are in the middle of a tailspin. In their last 2 games they have lost to a good West Genny team 8-0 and then a just OK Baldwinsville team 4-1. Suff and Pel geting them at a good time. Should be four wins for Sec One this weekend.
I would classify Baldswinville as much better than “just OK” as they are 8-5 in a very competitive section and own a 2-0 shutout win over McQuaid
According to the Section Three website, Baldwinsville is 7-6-1. Some good wins. Some ugly losses (both in terms of blowouts and to lesser teams). I stand by my statement that if Ithaca played in Sec One, they would most likely be in the top 10, but not likely in the top 5. Not much different than the Sec Onre teams I compared them to. And Salmon, who moved up to DI this year, is having a dismal season. The Rox have not won a game since opening nite.
My opinion about the finals being at Brewster is this. It blows. I can understand going to West Point for a neutral ice Championship. This was in lieu of the high seed getting the home ice for the championship which is the 2nd best option.
Why is section 1 still doing the neutral ice thing for the championship? There are several rinks that can have a championship. It should be up to the higher seed to pick where they want to play the championship, if its not going to be at West Point. If Brewster was a superior rink compared to SOR or Hommocks than I would say, yeah lets do that. But it is not. So IF mamk and suffern played for the title, how stupid is it to play in Brewster…. this way you can guarantee that the rink rats won’t be there, as well as other locals who don’t want to drive 50 minutes on way to a game. West Point is worth the trip. Comfortable to sit, great food. Warm rink.
Brewster stinks, I feel bad for the oldsters who want to go, and have to stand the whole game because the teens in front want to stand the whole game. Just plain stupid. Mike what makes you think alot of suffern or mamk student body (if they play each other) will make the trip. Lets not forget the championship is during mid winter recess. Alot of kids go away. The atmosphere will be worse at BIA than at west point.
This is the stupidest idea section one has had since the abolishing of power leagues to save gas money. Beyond stupid.
Mike,
Would you agree with this…. If the championship games were played at the higher seeds home rink… the atmosphere would be at its highest. I don’t see how the atmosphere would be better at BIA, unless a BIA team makes the championship game.
There are a lot of teams that can make the championship game. But if the slight faves make the game… you would have Suffern v Mamaroneck and Pelham v Rye all playing at Brewster Ice Arena.
Somebody please explain to me how stupid this is. And YES, I would rather Mamk play Suffern at SOR than Brewster. If they wound up playing each other of course.
The win by Ithaca over Greece, is a 4-2 win over the Arcadia/Olympia team which is 0-12 on the season. Not the competitive Athena/odyssey team.
Thanks for the clarification NW. What do you think of Ithaca?
I agree, they do have a couple very nice wins early in the season. It seems like their play has tailed off significantly. Spoke with a coach that played against them in a tournament and his opinion was that they are definitely not the Ithaca of past years. I hope to get the oportunity to find out first hand. They come to Amherst to play the section 6 champion March 3.
Are the bathrooms fixed at the BIA? Stinky stuff. yikes
Ithace vs. Mamaroneck at Hommocks January 26 @ 5:30