The All Stars.

This past Sunday, the 3-2-E coaches selected this season’s league All-Stars, Player of the Year and Coach of the Year. Here are the selections:

FIRST TEAM

Forwards:
Chris “Boo” Snyder, Sr. Clinton – He’s the kind of player who, when he’s on the ice, you keep an eye on him because of the damage he can do. That damage can come from a big hit or a goal. A quite, unpretentious kid off the ice, he’d be one of the first players I’d pick for my team.
Jordan Hobaica, Jr. Clinton – Boo’s linemate and the most dangerous player in 3-2-E. Jordan is another guy you want to keep an eye on when he’s on the ice. The problem is that the first time you know he’s on the ice is when he blows by you. I’ve said that Hobaica is a wonderful blend of high flying New Hartford style skater and hard hitting Clinton style skater. Thus, the most dangerous player in 3-2-E.
George Hajjar, Sr. Whitesboro – Clinton hockey is described as a lunch bucket style. RFA actually brings an old fashion lunch pail out to the bench. Whitesboro? They play hard hat hockey, tough, get the job done hockey, and nobody exemplifies that better than Hajjar. George Hajjar has never been a flashy player, just an ever pressing, hard hitting, non-stop skating worker who earns every goal and honor he gets.
Mike Zalewski, Soph. New Hartford – The youngest of the three hockey Zalewski brothers. I once joked with his brother Steve, a former NYS Division II Player of the Year, that young Mikey was the best goal scorer in the family. What I didn’t tell Steve is that I really wasn’t joking. For sake of full disclosure, my son was a teammate of Mike’s as a mite and squirt. In addition to the pleasure of watching my kid play the game, I got to see this kid play. He’s as close to the “real deal” a high school sophomore can be.
Defense:
Derek Farley, Jr. Whitesboro – He could also be the league’s most improved and mostly because he has become the league’s most in control. Until this season, Derek Farley’s high school career was high lighted by his ability to get himself in trouble on the ice…either by penalty or by being out of position chasing an opponent. The most impressive part of his play this year is that the kid toned it down and didn’t shut it off. He still played with an edge. His play alone, against Clinton in the second meeting at the Rec. Center, was worthy of this first team selection.
Chris Flynn, Jr. Whitesboro – Another part of the best defense in Section III Division II, Flynn can also put the puck in the net. Flynn is physical, steady and handles the puck well.
Mike Barrett, Sr. RFA – For those who were wondering how Rome was going to replace Aaron Gregory, the answer is Michael Barrett. A hard physical presence on the blue line, Barrett is what pounds the blood through the heart of the Black Knights team.
Goalie:
Jack Lambe, Sr. Whitesboro – Anyone who says that Whitesboro’s great defense makes Lambe look good didn’t see Whitesboro – Clinton II. Lambe controls rebounds as good as any high school goalie I can remember. That actually help his defense.

SECOND TEAM

Forwards:
Myles Agen, Sr. Westmoreland
Mark Bartlett, Sr. RFA
Thomas Fiorentino, Jr. New Hartford
Mark Vaughan, Sr. Hamilton
Defense:
Aaron Canarelli, Sr. New Hartford
Jim Engler, Sr. Whitesboro
Marco Dominic, Jr. RFA
Goalie:
Rich Metzger, Sr. RFA