Scholastic Roundup: LIU women’s hockey continues undefeated streak

December 23, 2022 Andy Furman

Scholastic Roundup logo

Share this:

There’s one thing that’s extremely hot during this cold spell—the Long Island University women’s ice hockey team.

The Lady Sharks of coach Kelly Nash has an unbeaten streak that stands at 10 games. Last Saturday’s 4-2 win over Franklin Pierce has vaulted the Sharks into first-place in the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance.

LIU plays host to Minnesota State Mankato tonight (7:45) and Saturday (2 pm).

And freshman Annie Abramson will be in goal – starting both games.

The Boise, Idaho native will step-in for starting goalie Tindra Holm, who is back home in Sweden this week playing in an international tournament.

“I’m so excited for Tindra,” said Abramson in a prepared statement. She considers Holm a role model. “She is one of the best teammates that I have ever had. Having the opportunity to be around her on a daily basis has been such an honor.”

Holm should be back to the lineup after Christmas, when she joins LIU from Europe. Until then, Abramson will get the nod from head coach Nash.

Abramson earned the win in her first collegiate start, making 20 saves on October 7th at Sacred Heart—en route two days later being selected NEWHA Rookie of the Week. She is 2-0 with a 4.13 GAA and .823 save percentage in three appearances this season.

* * *

Speaking of hot – how about the Transit Tech High School basketball team. Coach Kenneth Hafford’s squad has amassed a 36-2 record in two seasons and runner-up in the PSAL League Championship.

Currently, Transit Tech is ranked Number Two in New York State, Class A. Murray Bergtraum is Number One, with Nazareth three and Brooklyn Law and Technology at nine.

Tom Ferrante, a New Utrecht High School Football alum, reports Reade Sands – Utrecht footballer 1989-92 – now head coach at Sayville in Suffolk County, led his team to an undefeated season and won the Long Island Division III title defeating Plainedge two weeks ago.

The 2022 edition of New Utrecht’s football team finished with a 3-5 won-loss record, following their Rd 1 38-0 playoff loss to Madison last month.

“They went into the season with just one returning starter and went into a lot of games very overmatched. They fought hard all year and gained valuable experience,” Ferrante wrote.

* * *

Former Tilden High School basketball coach Jeff Schrier chimed in with some comments on the 40th Annual Original South Florida Basketball Fraternity Luncheon – staged earlier this month at the Polo Club in Boca Raton, Florida.

“One of the great stories from the luncheon,” Schrier writes, “was Table Number 18. That is the table where former high school coach by the name, Gil Fershtman (Lafayette High) sat with members of teams he coached in the’60s.”

Gary Fass, ’64; Rich Amato, ’68; Dan Schirippa and the inimitable Ed Birch – both ’69 – sat along with Schrier ’64 – sat with Gil and his son Gerry.

“By the way,” Schrier adds, “Gerry was seven years old when Fass and I knew him from Friday night games at Lafayette, when coach used to bring him.”

Schrier says this is wat the luncheon is really all about. “The renewal of acquaintances of not just distant memories, but the chance to get together and see former teammates and competitors from other schools as well.”

* * *

Jerry Domershick, a former Thomas Jefferson High School basketball captain – and three-year captain at CCNY – was the recipient of the Marv Groverman Good Guy Award at the South Florida Basketball Fraternity luncheon.

“I played for Jerry, his last year of coaching the Beavers of CCNY,” writes Ira Levine, who later served as coach at Lafayette High. “Jerry was a coach who took the team to a higher level. He worked with his players, both on and off the court.”

Former Lafayette High football player Andy Carino, recently passed, reports Levin. “He played for Murray (Ace) Adler, and went to Rutgers; and the 6-2, 225-pound Linebacker played for the New Jersey Generals (1983-84) and with the Pittsburgh Maulers in the now-defunct United States Football League.

* * *

Michael Pressman sends an interesting note to Scholastic Roundup from his Madison, Wisconsin home, about his dad, Mike.

“My dad played basketball for Boys High in the late 1920s,” writes the younger Pressman, “and he worked at the Williamsburg Y.

“My dad played in an era where they had a center jump after every basket. He went to college in Jersey City – The John Marshall College of Law – that burned down. And that Williamsburg Y,” he notes, “had games and then dances after the games.”

* * *

Look out – the future looks bright for Jaiden Cadotte who scored 18 points helping Xavierian’s jayvee boys basketball squad down Long Island Lutheran, 63-40 last week.

* * *

After being named one of the best players in the Northeast region, St. Francis College soccer standout Sokol Ymeraj was recognized as a top student – and top athlete. United Soccer Coaches named Ymeraj to its NCAA Division I Men’s Scholar All-American Third Team. Ymeraj currently holds a 3.737 GPA and on track to graduate with degrees in Project Management and Healthcare Management,

He was also named to the NCAA Division I Men’s Scholar All-East Region Team.

Andy Furman is a Fox Sports Radio national talk show host. Previously, he was a scholastic sports columnist for the Brooklyn Eagle. He may be reached at: [email protected]. Twitter: @AndyFurmanFSR