The local high school hockey season gets off to a flying start this weekend as The Harvey School and seven other teams from area schools kick off the 2013 White Plains Thanksgiving Tournament at Ebersole Ice Rink in White Plains.
The tournament starts early Friday morning when White Plains faces off at 7 a.m. against a team comprised of players from Sleepy Hollow, Irvington and Dobbs Ferry. The Eastchester/Tuckahoe/ Bronxville team is set to play at 9 a.m. Harvey gets to see its first action when the Cavaliers face Stepinac at 11 a.m. Clarkstown and Horace Greeley will wrap up the first day of tournament play with a game that starts at 1 p.m.
On Saturday night, Harvey is scheduled to play the combined public school team of players from Sleepy Hollow, Irvington and Dobbs Ferry at 8 p.m. The Cavaliers then wrap up the holiday weekend tournament with the late game against White Plains High School Sunday at 8 p.m.
Harvey’s head coach Tim Halewicz said he is looking forward to returning to the tournament for the first time in five years. “We aren't taking any team lightly. I am excited for the potential to see a variety of playing levels and styles at the beginning of the season.”
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While Harvey’s regular season schedule pits the Cavaliers mostly against other private schools and many from Connecticut, Halewicz says playing in the White Plains tournament provides his team with the chance “to play local schools and give our team a chance to compete and show the local hockey community our talents.” He said playing in the preseason competition is exciting for his team because most of his players grew up in the towns playing in the tournament.
Coach Halewicz is keeping his fingers crossed that his team will fare well in the tournament. “Part of the pleasure and pain of coaching teens is that you never know what to expect. We have practiced a lot in the past three weeks, so I hope we are ready to go.”
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The Cavaliers begin their regular season schedule next week with a home game at Harvey's Evarts Ice Rink Tuesday, Dec. 3 against Fieldston School followed by an away game Thursday, Dec. 5 against Columbia Prep in Manhattan at Riverbank State Park.
