Mamaroneck Is Ice Hot

While most people are figuring out how to avoid the cold this winter, Mamaroneck varsity hockey forward Joe Naclerio says when he gets on the ice, the temperature is the last thing he is thinking about.  

"Once your adrenaline gets pumping, you don't notice the cold," says Naclerio, a force on the team since his freshman year. "…And my adrenaline starts pumping 3 days before the game."  

Upon meeting six of the Tigers' star players, along with Michael Chiapparelli, a Mamaroneck graduate himself and head coach of Mamaroneck hockey teams for 30 years, it is easy to see why the program has been so successful. Sam Christiansen, Timothy Taussig, Dean Chiapparelli, Scott Hagan, Joe Naclerio and Matt Conner exude a sense of confidence – not always a rarity among high school athletes on a seemingly endless winning streak (the team is currently ranked #3 in New York State). Perhaps more importantly however, is the overwhelming sense of commitment these men have not only for the game, but also toward each other.  

Each of the six athletes began playing hockey together by age 5, and was coached in youth league by none other than present day coach Michael Chiapparelli, who the team lovingly and collectively refers to as "Chap."

Christiansen, now a junior defensemen for the Tigers, still remembers the dynamic coach back then. "It'd be 7 o'clock in the morning, and he'd be more wired than a group of 5 year olds running around the ice," says Christiansen laughing. "He's a crazy guy, but he's fun…Why wouldn't you want to stick with Chap all the way through?"  

And stick with Chap they have. Through frequent 5:30 a.m. practices before a full day of academic classes. Through intense off-season conditioning and play. And through countless tournaments and state championships that remain just barely out of reach. In 2008, Mamaroneck finished fourth in the state. Last year the team finished second, losing in the last three minutes of the state finals.  

Will this finally be the year? The Tigers are well on their way with an undefeated 10-0 record halfway through the season. However, with similarly successful seasons behind them, Coach Chiapparelli knows not to take anything for granted.  

"The most important thing to stay focused on is how can we win today," Chiapparrelli says. "The kids are working real hard. There's a long way to go yet, but the kids have the experience, they have the confidence, they want to get back to that championship game."  

For what is sure to be a great game, check out the Mamaroneck Tigers varsity ice hockey team on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 8:15 p.m. when they challenge visiting Suffern (currently ranked #4 in New York State).