Usually, when a section falls in the state finals, there’s huge disappointment and a lot of what ifs. But Section 1 hockey had every reason to be proud when the state final match-up was between Section 1 champ Byram Hills and runner-up Rye. Rye, which had been dominant throughout most of the season up until that championship loss in overtime, turned the tables to beat the Bobcats in Buffalo for the state Div. II title.
Players from that team and an on-the-rise Byram team are included, with many others, in this year’s Westchester/Putnam ice hockey all-stars.
The lead star is Rye’s Will Weinman, whose accomplishments are encapsulated below. A full list of those also honored follows.
Will Weinman
Westchester/Putnam Ice Hockey Player of the Year
School: Rye
Year: Senior
Position: Defense
Highlights: Weinman, an excellent two-way player, who earned First Team Div. II All-State honors, was a huge reason why Rye won its first state championship in the more than 50-year history of its ice hockey program. Weinman, who plans to play club hockey next year for Santa Clara University, was strong on both ends of the ice — capable of putting points on the board and also of shutting down opponents’ best players. He had a point per game with seven goals and 18 assists in 25 games. And he was clutch. Weinman netted the tying goal in the state Div. II semifinals against Clarence with just 2:22 remaining in regulation. Rye went on to win in overtime to get to the state final, where Weinman not only had a big game on defense but scored in the win over Byram Hills.
Coach of the Year
Peter Thomas, Rye
First team
Aidan Balkin, Sr., D, Rivertown
Christian Cipriano, Sr., F, Byram Hills
Billy Haggerty, Sr., F, Iona Prep
Fernando Mosquera, Jr., G, Rye
Colin Nigro, So., F, Rye
Matt Veteri, Sr., F, Pelham
Second team
Scott Alessy, Sr., F, Iona Prep
Brendan Asta, Sr., F, Horace Greeley/John Jay-Cross River
Lucas Guggenheimer, Jr., G, Byram Hills
Will Leahy, Jr., D, Iona Prep
James Munoz, Sr., F, BYSNS
Lucas Salvatore, Sr., F, BYSNS
Honorable mention: Julian Bystricky, Sr., F, White Plains; JC DiNapoli, So., G, ETBE/New Rochelle; Henry Doherty, Jr., D, Mamaroneck; Saxon Frank, Sr., F, Rivertown; Julian Gahr, Sr., F, Rye Town/Harrison; Andrew Gildard, Sr., F, ETBE/New Rochelle; Paul Heintz, Jr., F, Rye Country Day; Ryan Marcus, Sr. F, Horace Greeley/John Jay-Cross River; Buddy Meiselman, Sr., G, Scarsdale; Jamie Morris, Sr., F, Rye; Eli Morrison, Sr., F, Rivertown; Richie Morrow, Sr., F, Rye Country Day; Jonathan Mullin, Sr., D, Scarsdale; Reeve Murrell, Sr., F, Pelham; ;Max Niejadlik, So., F, Rye; Will Niejadlik, So., F, Rye; Corbyn Pozo, So., G, White Plains; Winston Speros, Jr., F, Pelham; Charlie Starr, Sr., D, Scarsdale; Brody Stogsdill, Sr., F, Horace Greeley/John Jay-Cross River; Hudson Tarkenton, So., F, Cortlandt; Jacob Tucznio, Jr., F, Rye Country Day; Derek Tumsuden, Jr., F, Mamaroneck; Aidan Wu, Jr., F, Rye Country Day; Daniel Zhu, Sr., F, Scarsdale
Nancy Haggerty covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rye’s Will Weinman leads 2026 Westchester/Putnam hockey all stars
Reporting by Nancy Haggerty, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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