Assembly Resolution No. 1131

BY: M. of A. Otis

CONGRATULATING the Rye High School Boys Varsity
Hockey Team upon the occasion of winning the
school's first New York State Division II
Championship

WHEREAS, The New York State Legislature has long valued athletic
excellence and success in school sports, recognizing exceptional
achievements, outstanding accomplishments, and state championship wins;
and

WHEREAS, For generations the City of Rye has been the home of great
ice hockey, from frozen ponds, backyard games, youth hockey play
beginning at the earliest ages, to being the home of players who went on
to excel in high school, collegiate, and professional play; Rye has been
a hockey city with the game being embraced by those who play and the
spectators who support this game of speed, skill, and constant
excitement; and

WHEREAS, The storied tradition of high school athletic success at
Rye High School has continued with the Rye Boys Varsity Hockey Team's
victory in the New York State Division II Championship game, topping
Byram Hills with a dominant victory of 5-1 at the LECOM Harborcenter in
Buffalo, New York on Sunday, March 15, 2026; this historic win caps off
the greatest season in program history and marks 44 years since the
Garnets Hockey Team last appeared in a state championship hockey game;
and

WHEREAS, The victory over Byram Hills was a rematch of the Section 1
Division II final, where Bryam Hills had previously defeated Rye by a
score of 3-2 in overtime on March 1, 2026; however, under the NYS Public
High School Athletic Association regulations, Rye earned an at-large
berth in the state tournament where they defeated Aquinas 4-1 to win a
Regional Championship and earn a final four spot in Buffalo to set up an
eventual rematch with Byram Hills; while the Byram Hills Bobcats scored
the first goal early in the first period, the Garnets would go on to
shut them out for the remainder of the game while scoring 5 unanswered
goals; and

WHEREAS, This achievement follows the tremendous effort the team
executed to get past the powerful Clarence Red Devils in the NYS
semi-final game a day earlier, winning in overtime with a score of 3-2;
trailing Clarence by 2-1 with three minutes remaining in the game, the
team scored on the power play with 2.22 minutes left in regulation,
going on to score the winning goal at 4.5 minutes into overtime; and

WHEREAS, The Rye Garnets have built one of the most solid and
consistent high school programs in the state, finishing with a 19-3-3
record that includes a Crosstown Cup victory over Rye Country Day School
and a season sweep of NY State Division I Champion, Suffern; the Garnets
are led by skaters able to score goals in close games against
challenging opponents and are regarded for their powerful defense, only
allowing nine goals, while scoring 22 in their championship run; and

WHEREAS, This championship season was made possible with the
Garnet's combination of balanced offense, sound defense, outstanding
goaltending, and dominant special teams play that powered point
production, creating victories throughout the season; and

WHEREAS, The 2026 Garnets have been led by Head Coach Peter Thomas,
a two-time New York State Coach of the Year and three-time Section 1
Coach of the Year, who for the past 12 years, has brought together a
skilled high school hockey team dedicated by a process over outcome
approach to create a team balanced by outstanding defense, wise
strategy, and teamwork where every player was prepared to get the job
done; and

WHEREAS, The Rye High School Boys Varsity Hockey Team and their
coaches were loyally and enthusiastically supported by family, fans,
friends, and the community at large who enjoyed watching their home
games at the historic Playland Ice Arena and were all treated to the
contact, sights, and sounds of high school hockey at the highest level;
and

WHEREAS, We congratulate the Rye High School Boys Varsity Hockey
Team, consisting of Defensemen: Kai Brittain, Luke Davies, Julian
Levenson, Aidan Lynch, Will Molin, Jake Souza, and Will Weinman;
Forwards: Connor Dehmer, Trevor Dolan, Ryan Draddy, Finn Draddy, Cody
Greenhaw, McGee Kelly, Jack McGill, James Morris, Maxson Niejadlik,
William Niejadlik, Colin Nigro, Matthew Rovenger, and Baker Wells;
Goaltenders: Fernando Mosquera, Conor Crotty, and Davis Goodman; Head
Coach Peter Thomas; Assistant Coaches Thomas Bailey and Mark
Kronenberger; Managers Elle Ridley and Grayce Coyne; Athletic Trainers
Erin Madden and Thomas Carson; Director of Athletics Susan Reid;
Principal Andrew Hara; and Superintendent Dr. Patricia Murray upon their
outstanding season and championship title win; and

WHEREAS, Athletic competition instills the values of teamwork,
sportsmanship, pride, and accomplishment-traits demonstrated throughout
the season by this championship team, its coaches, and support staff,
all of whom demonstrated their commitment on every shift to make the
championship and the new page in Rye High School hockey history
possible; and

WHEREAS, The winning of a state championship title is an
extraordinary achievement made possible this season through the team's
exceptional skill, resiliency, teamwork, and energy delivered in the
spirit of the best collegiate and professional championship hockey
teams; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate and honor the Rye High School Boys Varsity Hockey Team upon
the occasion of winning the school's first New York State Division II
Championship; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the members, coaches, and administrators of the Rye High
School Boys Varsity Hockey Team.