Garden City Ice Hockey makes it to playoffs

The Garden City Wings ice hockey team finished its very successful 2022-2023 season by making playoffs. This is the first Wings high school varsity team to make playoffs in over 10+ years. Along the way they turned many heads with their style of play resulting in a newly rediscovered respect for Garden City hockey. The boys and their coaches, Rich DeStasio and Assistant Coach Jack Ryan (GCHS ‘20 and Wings alum)can take great pride in their accomplishments this season.

The season’s highlights include a 6-0 shutout of Massapeaqua, last year’s Nassau County champions. It included losing to a playoff and states bound Long Beach by one goal, in the last minute, after a great comeback. The team then went on to play their best game all season by beating Half Hollows Hills, another Nassau County and NY State playoff bound team, on HHH’s home ice, during HHH’s senior night. Finally, in the playoffs versus Syosset – this year’s Nassau County and NY State champion – the boys left it all on the ice despite losing 4-1 ending the Wings’ season.

The Wings salute their seniors: Patrick Blum (A), Kevin Curley, Joseph Giumenta, Ben Kule, Markus Massina, John Philippides (A), Eric Rosati, Aneesh Suri, and Thomas Walker (C).

The team is well poised for next year with returning players: Alex Bedard, Michael Karcher, Thomas Landolphi, Brett McQuade, Liam Moon, Scott Podstupka, Michael Power, TJ Salvato (A), Bobby Seamen, and PJ Tursi.

Head Coach Rich DeStasio remarked: “The boys are a special group. They played tough against the ice hockey power schools like

Syosset, Massapequa, Long Beach and Bellmore Merrick. Throughout the season each player made many contributions to the team, on and off the ice. They can be very proud of how they played and the results they achieved.”

Coach DeStasio presented four players with end of season awards: Rookie of the Year - Brett McQuade, Unsung Hero - PJ Tursi, Coach’s Award - Alex Bedard and the Coach

Peter E. Gall MVP Award - Thomas Walker (C).

DeStasio added that the offense and defense were significantly bolstered by the efforts and play of Bobby Seamen and Patrick Blum (A), and that without their contributions, the Wings would not have had as successful a season.

As the Wings are a self-funded organization, the team is very grateful to their families for their support and contributions, without which there would be no team or season — thank you all very much.

This year there was a Middle School team and a High School Varsity team. We expect the same next year, with the potential for a Junior Varsity team as well (8th–10th grades). Interested players/parents can inquire with an email to gardencitywings@gmail.com. In addition, the Wings are updating their