MANHASSET- Manhasset Varsity Hockey Team flies by With a Five-Game Winning Streak.

In just shy of two minutes, Eric Hasselberger scored the game-winning goal, placing Manhasset in first place in the Mastroianni Division.

The team entered the game with a 4-0 record, while Rockville Center headed into it 3-0. It was a tough matchup. Manhasset entered the game without Chris Boiselle, who has been one of their most valuable players throughout this season. Early in the game, Liam Sargent beat the goalie to net the first goal of the game, putting Manhasset up 1-0. They then went up 2-0 off of a goal by Jack Hitchcock, but Rockville Center battled back scoring three goals to take the lead. Manhasset then tied the game, making it 3-3.
However, Rockville Center soon scored again to reclaim their lead. Manhasset was still down by one halfway through the third period when Boiselle finally arrived. A couple of minutes later, the senior won an offensive zone faceoff, and in a few moments, the game was tied.
With two minutes to go in the game, there was tight competition in front of Rockville Center’s net, the puck was loose, Manhasset forwards were trying to score, and Rockville Center’s defensemen were trying to maintain possession. It ended with Eric Hasselberger scoring on a rebound for the game-winning goal.
This record is celebrated by the team as they now hope to win the New York State Championship. This title was last won in 2014. “We are 5-0 right now and on pace to finish the season undefeated, as opposed to last year, where we did not win a single game,” said sophomore and alternate captain Tommy Sylvia.
Last year the team’s defeated streak was as a result of various factors and was a major upset. After losing one of their key players, Jack Becker, when he exploded a vertebra in one of the first games, the team was devastated. Becker underwent a nine-hour surgery and was told he could no longer participate in contact sports, including hockey. These hard times required the team’s resilience and multiple fundraisers that attracted a crowd to the games.
Sylvia adds, “Several factors have impacted Set Puck’s success. The additions of senior Chris Boiselle and junior Jack Hitchcock, as well as the return of sophomore Sean Berger, who attended Chaminade last year, to the organization, have greatly improved Set Puck’s depth and has helped us to become an overall better team.“
“Manhasset plays Wantagh/Seaford in our next game. They have a very skilled player who is on my travel team and is very good at eagleing, so this should be a good matchup. 8:00 Monday night at Long Beach Arena. Be there or be square! “ said sophomore Sean Berger.