LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the Long Beach High School Hockey
Team and Head Coach Joseph Brand on capturing the 2012 New York State
AAU Small School Ice Hockey Championship

WHEREAS, Excellence and success in competitive sports can be achieved
only through strenuous practice, team play and team spirit, nurtured by
dedicated coaching and strategic planning; and
WHEREAS, Athletic competition enhances the moral and physical develop-
ment of the young people of this State, preparing them for the future by
instilling in them the value of teamwork, encouraging a standard of
healthy living, imparting a desire for success and developing a sense of
fair play and competition; and
WHEREAS, The Long Beach High School (LBHS) Marines are the 2012 New
York State AAU Small School Ice Hockey Champions; and
WHEREAS, For the second consecutive season, the Long Beach Marines won
a hockey State Championship title; the LBHS hockey squad followed their
championship in Suffolk last year by sweeping Syosset to earn another
title in the High School Hockey League of Nassau County; and
WHEREAS, After taking the first game of the best-of-three series, 4-2,
Evan Schwartz scored a hat trick and Tom McGovern had five assists as
the Marines scored five power play goals to dominate Syosset in Beth-
page, 10-1; and
WHEREAS, The Marines, who finished second in the Michelino Division
behind Syosset with a 16-4-1 record and 33 points, earned its first
division title since the 2008 season and Coach Joseph Brand, with the
victory earned his eighth county title and his sixth Runner-Up title in
the last 14 years; and
WHEREAS, Last year, the Marines squad played in their first season in
the Suffolk County High School Hockey League and captured the county
championship by defeating the Connetquot/Sayville T-Birds, followed by a
state championship victory against Hudson Valley's Arlington Admirals,
both series of which were played at the Rinx in Hauppauge; and, this
year, successfully defended their state title when they hosted the state
tournament at the Long Beach Ice Arena on March 2, 2012; and
WHEREAS, The athletic talent displayed by this team is due in great
part to the efforts of Head Coach Joseph Brand and his team of outstand-
ing Assistant Coaches, Keith Casey, Richard Chimienti, Cody Mackston,
and Robert Rochford, all skilled and inspirational tutors, respected for
their ability to develop potential into excellence; and
WHEREAS, The team's overall record is outstanding and the team members
were loyally and enthusiastically supported by family, fans, friends and
the Long Beach community at large; and
WHEREAS, The hallmarks of the Long Beach High School Hockey Team, from
the opening game of the season to participation in the Championship,
were a brotherhood of athletic ability, of good sportsmanship, of honor
and of scholarship, demonstrating that these team players are second to
none; and
WHEREAS, Athletically and academically, the team members have proven
themselves to be an unbeatable combination of talents, reflecting favor-
ably on their school; and
WHEREAS, Head Coach Joseph Brand and his dedicated staff have done a
superb job in guiding, molding and inspiring the team members toward
their goals; and
WHEREAS, Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride and
accomplishment, and Head Coach Joseph Brand, Assistant Coaches, Keith
Casey, Richard Chimienti, Cody Mackston, and Robert Rochford, and Long
Beach High School Hockey's outstanding athletes have clearly made a

contribution to the spirit of excellence which is a tradition of their
school; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the Long Beach High School Hockey Team; its members: Joseph
Brand, Kevin Brand, James Delahanty, Kevin Pues, Liam Pues, James Forkin
Jake Brown, Tyler Tamulinas, Richard Guido, Matthew Possidel, Ian Grant,
Evan Schwartz, Robert Delury, Nolan Pues, William Guido, Harris Pittin-
sky, Sean Dublynn, Michael Leonetti, Marc Pennetti, Mark Zapson, Justin
Kapelmaster, and Thomas McGovern; and Head Coach Joseph Brand; and
Assistant Head Coaches Keith Casey, Richard Chimienti, Cody Mackston,
and Robert Rochford, on their outstanding season and overall team
record; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Long Beach High School Hockey Team, Head Coach Joseph
Brand, and Assistant Head Coaches Keith Casey, Richard Chimienti, Cody
Mackston and Robert Rochford.