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The Cavaliers' anticipation for success in the regular season comes on the heels of its impressive performance over the holiday weekend in the White Plains Thanksgiving Tournament where the Cavaliers took two out of three from some tough competitors.
Harvey lost Sunday night in the tournament’s final game as White Plains blew open a close game in the third period, going on to defeat the Cavaliers 9-3.
Sophomore Theo Rattner scored in the first period for Harvey with help from seniors Keith Lambert and Rory Knox. Senior Curtis Rattner picked up Harvey’s second goal of the game on an assist from senior Robbie Van Raamsdonk.
Lambert, who scored a total of six goals in the three games, gave his team its third and final goal with help from sophomore Tyler Levy and Curtis Rattner.
While Harvey earned impressive wins Friday and Saturday, 5-1 against Stepinac in the first game and 10-1 in Game 2, defeating a team comprised of players from Sleepy Hollow, Irvington and Dobbs Ferry, Harvey’s coach Tim Halewicz said Sunday night’s title game at Ebersole Ice Rink in White Plains was a struggle to stay close with the home team.
“We battled hard and were in a close match through two periods, but White Plains jumped all over us to start the third, amped to make a statement in their home turf," Halewicz said.
Each team had seven penalties, but Harvey could convert on only one while White Plains converted on all seven.
“They outmuscled us in front of our own net and capitalized on key opportunities down the stretch,” Halewicz said.
As regular-season play begins, Halewicz says the holiday tournament gave the Cavaliers a good start to the hockey season.
“Being able to play three games over the weekend really jump started the season," he said. "Our team was very hungry for games after three weeks of practice. Hopefully the team recognized our strengths and weaknesses highlighted over the weekend and we improve throughout the year.”
Halewicz singled out players that made key contributions to the team’s success over the weekend, calling freshman Alex Appel “an instant catalyst to our defensive unit, making big, timely hits and moving the puck well.”
He also saluted Keith Lambert, Rob Van Raamsdonk and the Rattner brothers “for having three good games and providing the kind of consistency the team is looking for.”
Senior Connor Wilson had an excellent first game performance but Harvey lost him to injury during the second game when he suffered an injury that kept him sidelined for the remainder of the tournament.
“Before his ankle was injured, Connor controlled the game and solidified our top two lines,” said Halewicz.
At the conclusion of the eight-team tournament, White Plains finished 3-0, Horace Greeley was 2-0-1, Harvey and Clarkston were both 2-1, Monroe-Woodbury was 1-1-1, and Archbishop Stepinac was 1-2 while both Sleepy Hollow/Irvington/Dobbs Ferry and Eastchester/Tuckahoe/ Bronxville finished at 0-3.
The Cavaliers begin their regular season Tuesday, Dec. 3 with a home game against Fieldston at Evarts Ice Rink on Harvey’s campus.
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