BYSNS (Brewster/Yorktown/Somers/North Salem) began 2026 with a bang, exploding for an 8-0 win against rival Cortlandt at the Brewster Ice Arena on Jan. 2.
“It was important for us to start the year off right and coming off the holiday break we were excited to get in the win column again,” said BYSNS coach Ryan Langkafel. “We fell (5-3 on Dec. 21) to a good Pelham team just before the break, but in a well-contested game, we were able to take what we learned and implement it in today’s game. With this January stretch of important games, we will be looking to build off of this win.”
Bison Ryan Dean (2G) said the victory was especially sweet because it came against Cortlandt.
“It was amazing to come out after Christmas break with a win against a big rival,” Dean said. “It was a huge 8-0 win and that will just keep us rolling.”
The Bisons got the jump on the Rebels, going up 4-0 after one period. James Munoz (Lucas Salvatore assist), Salvatore (unassisted), Dean (Munoz assist) and Salvatore (Munoz, Jordan Millar assists) scored in the opening stanza.
“The team was well-rested over the break and the last game against the Rebels (a 4-3 BYSNS win on Dec. 7) was a tight one, so we wanted to get on top of the game early and really came out with a strong energy and intensity,” Langkafel said.
Highlighting that stretch was Munoz (2G, 2A) assisting on Dean’s goal for his 100th career point.
“On my first goal it just kind of popped out in front and I scored five-hole on the goalie,” Dean said. “It felt great to score that goal as I have been on a little slump recently. The fact that it led to Munoz’s 100th-career point made me feel amazing, as he is a great friend of mine.”
Dean scored again with 11:15 left in the second period, off an assist from Rilind Berisha (2A), extending the Bisons’ lead to 5-0.
“On my second goal, we were putting pressure on the Rebels and kept the puck in the zone,” Dean said. “Once again it popped out in front and I got the puck and scored from the top of the circle. Getting us up even more was a great feeling, which eventually led to us winning.”
Unassisted goals by Munoz and Salvatore (3G, 1A) in the second period, along with a third-period tally by Jayden Sciallo (courtesy of assists from Berisha and Carter Jacobetz), rounded out the scoring.
Supporting BYSNS’ scoring output were goalies Patrick Vaughn (21 saves) and Jack Madden (6 saves), who combined on the shutout.
“Our offense was fueled by our good defense,” Langkafel said. “Jordan Millar, Paul Rienzi and Jack Lukse led the way defensively, making great plays and keeping everything wide for our goalies.”
Brandon Di Benedetto made 39 saves for Cortlandt.
BYSNS (7-1) played Mahopac at the Brewster Ice Arena the following night, coming away with a 3-2 victory, spearheaded by Salvatore (2G), Munoz (1G, 1A), Millar (1A), Berisha (1A) and Vaughn (9 saves).
Cortlandt (3-8) finished the weekend with a 9-3 loss against Horace Greeley–John Jay–Cross River at the Brewster Ice Arena on Jan. 4, with Aisling Stathos (1G, 1A), Kiyoshi Tomizawa Rincon (1G), Patrick Condon (1G), Hudson Tarkington (1A) and Di Benedetto (23 saves) producing for the Rebels.
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