Through the early part of the 2019-20 season, one of the great successes in our program has been the debut of the Rye League.
The Rye League was conceived around the idea that with the Rye Rangers developing so many quality players, our best competition can often be found within. As a result, a number of players at both the Squirt and Pee Wee levels are now, in addition to teams that compete in either the Hudson Valley Hockey League or WestConn, divided into Rye League teams that compete once a week against one another.
Those games have already featured some of the most intense competition of any of our games. And the uniforms aren't bad either!
The Rye Rangers sent a record number of teams to the annual Haunted Shootout in Marlborough, Mass., with 11 teams playing in four different age categories (Squirts, Pee Wees, Bantams, and Midgets). The weekend was highlighted by three teams capturing division championships.
The Pee Wee A-TB team (pictured above) survived a double-overtime semifinal thriller before prevailing 4-3 in the finals over the Maine Moose.
The Pee Wee A-1 team (below)allowed just five goals in four games to win its divison.
And the Midget A-TB team, making its first appearance in the Haunted Shootout, survived its own double overtime epic to win its final 2-1 over the SW Knights.
Congrats to players, coaches, and parents on another successful weekend.
(Above: Rye Rangers Award winner Evan Ketchabaw and Good Skate Award winner Terry Morris)
One of the enduring traditions at the Rye Rangers is the presentation of the Good Skate Award.
Awarded annually since 2001, the Good Skate Award is dedicated to the memory of three former Rye Rangers—Teddy Maloney, Tommy Palazzo, and Ward Haynes—who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. The inscription on the Good Skate Award states that it is to be: “Presented annually to the member of the Rye Rangers Hockey Club voted by his/her peers as best epitomizing the human goodness of these special individuals. It shall be forever known as the ‘Good Skate Award.’ Its enduring legacy is to serve as a reminder that we are all better human beings for having shared our lives, both on and off the ice, with these guys.”
This year’s award was presented to Terry Morris, a former standout Princeton hockey player who has long served as one of the program’s most dedicated coaches. In addition, Terry has been instrumental in elevating the experience for goalies in our program by tirelessly coordinating with Prorease to ensure the best coaching for our netminders.
From left: Rye Rangers board member Rocky Shepard, winner of the inaugural Rye Rangers Award Evan Ketchabaw, 2019 Good Skate Award winner Terry Morris, and Rye Rangers president Eric Bommer. (All photos by Aileen Brown)
For the first time this year, the program also presented the Rye Rangers Award, a $1,000 scholarship funded by the former Good Skate Award winners given to a college bound former player who represents the program as a model player and citizen. The inaugural award winner was Evan Ketchabaw, a longtime player in the program who has also distinguished himself as a referee, coach, and for his charitable work. Evan will be attending Colgate in the fall.
Congratulations to both winners.
Past Good Skate Award winners, from left: Bart Lawrence, Rich Guthrie, Sam Weinman, Steve Ketchabaw, Rocky Shepard, 2019 winner Terry Morris, Rob Dorfman, Bill Steers, Jay Altmeyer, Sharon Ketchabaw, Mark Finnegan
The Rye Rangers offer a premium goaltending experience. We take great care of our goalies, ensuring they get a playing and coaching experience tailored to their specific needs, consistent with the specialized nature of the position.
Team:
Placement on a competitive travel team that competes in the Hudson Valley Hockey League or WestConn League.
Up to six teams per age group allows for ideal team placement.
Multiple practices and skills session per week in the heart of the season.
Forty to fifty games per season, including tournaments and playoffs.
Goaltender Specific Training:
Rye Rangers is pleased to have a close affiliation with Pro Crease Goaltending, the premiere goalie development program in the Northeast.
Pro Crease is led by founder Jared Waimon, who is the goaltending coach to U.S. National Under-17 Team as well as goaltender coach at Quinnipiac University.
Early-season training includes weekly goalie-specific practice sessions with Pro Crease.
A Pro Crease goalie coach is on ice for all weekly team practice sessions throughout the season.
Each goalie is also offered an additional weekly session offered at no extra cost with Pro Crease coaching for critical individual training (1:1 or 1:2 ratio)
For more information on our program for goalies, contact
Congratulations to our Pee Wee A-Tournament Bound team for their win in the AA division of the Chelsea Piers Connecticut Martin Luther King Jr. Tournament.
The Rye Rangers offers programs for every level of player, from beginners to adults. Below is a breakdown of our different programs. Please email for more information.
Mite (8U)
The Rye Rangers have four levels of instruction in our 8U program so there is a progression from one year to the next. All of our levels work on each individual player's overall skill development in a fast-paced, energetic and fun manner.
Junior clinic
The entry point into ice hockey for most players, this is for players who have recently learned to skate. Ice sessions are typically Sunday mornings at the Playland studio rink.
Mite ADM
Named after USA Hockey’s groundbreaking American Development Model, our Mite ADM program offers station-based instruction in skating, stickhandling, and shooting fundamentals. Clinics are typically on both weekend mornings.
Mite Minor
The next level of progression from Mite ADM, Mite Minor continues station-based instruction on the weekend, along with midweek intramural games and cross-ice games against other programs.
Mite A
Our Mite A team continues to emphasize skill development, and is also entered in the Chelsea Piers Connecticut cross-ice league game.
Squirts (10U)
The first year of full-ice hockey, with a continued strong emphasis on skill development. Our teams compete in the Hudson Valley Hockey League.
Pee Wees (12U)
Skill development remains a priority, with increased attention to team concepts. Teams also compete in the Hudson Valley Hockey League. Our Pee Wee A-Tournament Bound team is eligible for the New York State Tournament at season’s end.
Bantam (14U)
The first level of full checking. Teams also compete in the Hudson Valley Hockey League, with our Bantam A-Tournament Bound team also eligible for the New York State Tournament.
Midgets (16U & 18U)
Midget teams play a truncated schedule from late August through November to accommodate school hockey schedules.
Men’s hockey
Adult pick-up hockey typically on Thursday nights and weekend mornings, with some game opportunities against other programs.
General skating
Open skate sessions, with no sticks or pucks, typically on Friday and Sunday afternoons.
