Due to ongoing concerns over the Corona Virus COVID-19, and in compliance with NYSAHA and USA Hockey directives, the Rye Rangers 2020-21 season tryouts have been postponed until further notice.
Once we have been notified by USA Hockey & NYSAHA that we can proceed with tryouts, notification of schedule will be sent out to our membership via email and posted on this web site.
Congratulations to the Rye Rangers Bantam A-TB team for clinching a second consecutive berth in the New York State Tier III tournament to be held in Buffalo March 20-22.
Coached by head coach Brian Landy and assistants Angel Rosado and Steve Francella, the Bantams locked down the regular season Hudson Valley Hockey League title with their come-from-behind win over White Plains on Jan. 25.
"The kids worked really hard," Landy said. "They have a goal, and that is to win states. That is their focus and has been since September."
The Bantams will be joining the Midget 16U-TB team that had already secured a berth in the fall.
Congratulations to our Squirt 2010 A team for winning the Doritos Challenge Tournament over Thanksgiving weekend at the Wonderland of Ice in Bridgeport, Conn. The Rangers closed out the tournament with a 4-1 win over the Palisades Predators in the finals.
The Rye Rangers boasted four teams in the tournament in three different division. The Bantam A team reached the semifinals before losing to the host Wonderland Wizards.
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
In recent years, the Rye Rangers have emerged as a premium destination for goaltenders. Through an expanding partnership with Pro Crease,the largest instructional hockey organization dedicated solely to goaltending in the Connecticut, New York & New Jersey, our goalies get a playing and coaching experience tailored to the specialized nature of the position.
In 2020-21, we will be improving and expanding upon that experience by adding or enhancing the following features:
Personal Goalie Coach: Our goalies have mostly benefited from working with the same goalie coach at each of their “goalie specific” weekday practices. In 2020-21, the Rye Rangers will increase the focus on this to create a tighter 1:1 bond with their goalie coach than in the past. The goalie coaches will be available to discuss with their goalies not only their skill development, but also their game experiences, including select video analysis.
Webinars: Throughout the season, Pro Crease offers "live" webinars on relevant goaltending topics. Some of the webinars will be exclusively for Rye Rangers goalies, and the Rye Rangers goalies will have access to these and other live webinars for real-time interaction, and the webinars will be available for download to watch at your goalie’s convenience.
Pre-Season Goalie Tune-Up Clinics: Early Season “Goalie-Only” weekend ice sessions will continue to be offered in September-October to ensure our goalies are in top form early in the season
Ice allocation for weekly goalie sessions: As in past years, our teams allocate enough ice for our goalies to benefit from a wide range of goalie-specific training drills, generally with a Goalie:Coach ratio of 2:1
Team Placement and What Our Goalies Can Expect From a Training and Game Standpoint
Rye Rangers Teams span from “AA” competition to our internal Rye Rangers League. This spectrum of opportunity ensures goalies will be placed in both a challenging and fun environment that suits their specific experience and level of commitment.
--AA Teams to compete in the Hudson Valley Hockey League as well as a very challenging regional AA non-League game schedule.
--A/A1/B Teams to compete in the Hudson Valley Hockey League along with a full complement of non-League travel hockey schedule and/or Rye Rangers League action.
-- More “local” teams that compete in the highly successful WestConn League complemented by games in the Rye Rangers League.
-- Regardless of their team, each goalie participates in a weekly Team practice PLUS a specific goalie skills practice every week from November into March as described above.
-- In addition, Rye Rangers Teams participate in various tournament play, ensuring a high number of games each season for our goalies
More information on Pro Crease
Pro Crease is led by founder Jared Waimon,who is also Assistant Coach at Quinnipiac University, Regional Mentor for the USA Hockey/Warren Strelow National Goaltending Program, USA Hockey Goaltending Coach/Evaluator; New England and Atlantic Districts and goaltending instructor/consultant for several nationally ranked elite travel teams and prep schools including the Mid Fairfield Youth Hockey Association, Avon Old Farms, Salisbury School, Taft School and Westminster
For more information on our program for goalies, contact
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.
