The Garden City Wings Varsity Ice Hockey team has qualified for post regular season play, despite the fact
that many expected this to be a rebuilding year for the program.
On Sunday February 29th, the Wings outplayed the Wantagh/Seaford High School squad for a 4 - 0 victory.
Brendan Collins had an outstanding night in the nets for Garden City stopping all 30 shots for his second
shutout victory of the season. Defensemen Chris Breslin, Brian Collins, Kevin Seiferth, Kevin Rice and
Mike Makris all had solid games in their defensive zone. The game was a very physical contest, in which
Garden City found themselves shorthanded five times during the evening. Excellent work upfront by forwards
John Colan, Gerry Diamond, Ryan Norell, Brian Kiernan, Conor Sweeney, and John Iamascia who all contributed
to the penalty killing unit, minimizing the scoring opportunities for Wantagh/Seaford.
The line of Gerry Diamond, John Colan and John Iamascia accounted for three of the four goals to lead
Garden City offensively. On the first shift of the game, Gerry Diamond scored with assists going to
linemates John Colan and John Iamascia. In the second period, Ryan Norell scored a short-handed goal
with an assist from Brian Kiernan. In the third period, John Colan scored twice within 23 seconds to
seal the victory. Gerry Diamond was credited with an assist on John Colan's second goal.
The team played its last regular season game the following night against St. Mary's High School.
The Wings found themselves down by two goals midway through the first period. Defensive breakdowns,
lack of intensity cost Garden City early and would have been worse if not for the strong play of Garden
City goalie Jeff Greco. With less than five minutes left in the period, Garden City started to get back
into the game as Brian Kiernan scored off a pass from Chris Breslin. Three minutes later Ryan Norell got
the tying goal off an assist from Ryan Boelsen. The celebration didn't last long for Garden City as St.
Mary's went back ahead with one minute left in the period. The St. Mary's goal came off a wild scramble in
front of the net, during which Garden City goalie Jeff Greco was injured. After a short stoppage of play,
Brendan Collins replaced Jeff Greco. The first period ended with St. Mary's having a 3-2 advantage.
Five minutes into the second period, St. Mary's regained its two goal lead. Garden City answered back as
John Colan and Gerry Diamond outworked two St. Mary's defenders down low and got the puck out to John Iamascia
who scored to pull Garden City back to within one goal. St. Mary's again regained their two goal lead two
minutes after the Garden City goal and the period ended with St. Mary's leading 5-3.
In the third period, Garden City intensified their level of play. Following a great shift by the line of
Conor Sweeney, Kevin Betts and Conor Reeves, St. Mary's was whistled for a penalty. The ensuing power play
resulted in a Garden City goal as John Colan scored with ten minutes left in the game, assisted by Brian
Kiernan. For the next six minutes, Garden City forwards applied pressure in an attempt to tie the game.
Finally with a little over four minutes left, Ryan Norell picked up a loose puck and blasted in the
tying goal for the Wings. Ninety seconds later, Garden City was called for its only penalty of the game.
For the next two minutes, the Garden City penalty killers Gerry Diamond, John Colan, Ryan Norell,
Brian Kiernan, Brian Collins, Kevin Seiferth, Kevin Rice, Chris Breslin and Mike Makris frustrated
the St. Mary's power play. As the buzzer sounded to end the game, Garden City celebrated as the tie
clinched them a second place finish in their division. In relief of Jeff Greco, goaltender Brendan
Collins had an outstanding game for the second night in a row and finished the evening with 25 saves.
Garden City team members include: Max Auricchio, Kevin Betts, Ryan Boelsen, Chris Breslin, John Colan,
Brendan Collins, Brian Collins, Gerry Diamond, Greg Flaster, Jeff Greco, John Iamascia, Brian Kiernan,
Mike Makris, Greg McNamara, Ryan Norell, Conor Reeves, Kevin Rice, Kevin Seiferth, Kyle Seiferth and
Conor Sweeney.