Dropping puck on new Hebrew Hockey season

They range in age from 6 to 60 and their skill level varies from beginner to talented amateur; nearly 50 hockey players hit the ice at Long Beach Arena from October until summer as part of the Hebrew Hockey League.

Formed in 2010 by Cedarhurst businessman Michael Edery, 46, a native of Montreal but now a diehard Islander fan, and Long Beach resident Hank Levin, 28, who played at the high school, college and professional levels, the HHL provides an opportunity for Jewish kids and adults (the league welcomes all) to play a sport not typically associated with the culture.

“With Sabbath observances the kids can’t play on Saturday, so we have our league on Friday afternoon,” said Edery, who loves to be on the ice with his two boys, Avi, 15, and Yoni, 10.

Now in its fourth season — face-off is on Oct. 4 — the league which began with seven players is gaining its ice legs and not only includes a clinic portion, where players learn new skills, organized scrimmages based on age and talent level, but will add another 30 minutes to its ice time for skating practice. The two-hour session is from 1:40 to 3:40 p.m. The HHL is also seeking a slot at the new ice rink being built at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. The fee is $20 per session, and $10 for the extra half hour.

“The real point of emphasis of the program is proper technique,” said Levin, a hockey player since he was a tyke, who played at Western New England College (now Western New England University) and for the Finland Varkaus Eagles and the Flint (Mich.) Generals as part of the Detroit Red Wings system in the International Hockey League, a U.S.-based minor league.

Coaching and teaching the players is the league’s strength. In addition to Edery, who learned his hockey on the “pond” in Canada and Levin’s experience, all the coaches involved have played hockey at a competitive level, including coaches Mordechai Moseson, John Osesi-Tutu and Jesse Lehman.

Guest coaches have included Long Beach natives Joe Diamond, who played at the University of Maine and is currently under contract to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, an Islander affiliate, and Kevin Goumas, a forward at the University of New Hampshire, and retired pro player Will Bodine, a North Massapequa native.

“Through the clinic and the drills there is position play, skating, stick handling and they put it together for game situations,” said Edery, adding that the league doesn’t advertise and builds on word-of-mouth referrals.

Learning about the HHL through a previous story, Cedarhurst resident Ezra Cynamon, 15, a student at Rambam Mesivta in Lawrence, joined the league in its first year. “It’s a great sport to play, the guys who play and the coaches are great; it is a lot of fun,” said Cynamon, a Rangers fan, who plays both offense and defense but not goalie. “Also there are a lot of good people to hang out with, and I get to play hockey.”

Learning and playing hockey — the games become a seven-game series at the end of the season where teams compete for the Hebrew Hockey Cup, Edery calls it a “Kiddush cup on steroids” — is part of the experience. Respect of teammates and opponents alike is emphasized and teamed with having fun. “We don’t tolerate trash talk and disrespect,” Levin said. “We play hard but we walk out friends.”

When Alec Rapp, 12, of Lawrence, learned there was a hockey league that played on Fridays he joined. “We have a clinic to improve our skills and a competitive game after,” he said, explaining why he enjoys it. Rapp, also a Rangers fan, mostly plays offense and embraces one of the HHL’s tenets. “We all learn sportsmanship,” he said.

For information about the league, email Edery at Michael@Pardigmcre.com.

A version of this story first appeared in the Nassau Herald.