Apple Core Junior Hockey Skating Toward Another Title

The Long Beach-based Apple Core Junior Hockey Team is a rowdy, exuberant bunch with nothing but championship on their collective mind. And why not? In a sport dominated by teams from the North Country, they're 22–1 and ranked as the best Junior Hockey team in the country.

The team is comprised of 15- to 20-year-olds who aspire to be college hockey players. With tri-state area high schools offering few options in the way of organized hockey, Apple Core attracts the cream of the crop. And this current group has a lot to live up to: Apple Core Junior Hockey has won three National Championships, in 1996, 2002 and 2010.

"This group is special because they are a team in the truest sense of the word," said Oceanside's Jon Sandos, who was an Apple Core player before be became a coach. "The camaraderie that is displayed on a daily basis both on and off the ice is second to none."

Sandos is responsible for pulling this group of exceptional young athletes together from throughout the tri-state area and leading them as they travel as far as Vermont, Buffalo and Virginia.

After graduating high school, defenseman Zander Masucci, 18, transplanted himself from New Jersey to play with Apple Core. He sees the carryover from last year's championship as a major advantage in this year's campaign. 

"The leaders from last year's team really brought this team together," said Masucci. "We started off hot and stayed that way."

Masucci's teammate and fellow defender Pat Condon boils Apple Core's success down to two essentials: dedication and chemistry.

"We're a hard working team," said Condon. "All around, everybody's good friends and we just work well together."

Those words are a coach's dream, and Sandos echoed the sentiments.

"The players stick up for each other and really play for each other," said Sandos. "Five players on the current team were on the team last year that won the National Championship. They know what it takes to win over the course of a long season and the rest of the team has quickly bought into that work ethic."

Apple Core is a strong, fast skating team that plays a strong puck control style, creating open space and scoring chances with efficiency and precision. They get a healthy dose of both on the offensive end from Michael Mascaro, 18, of Merrick, who leads the time in goals (17) and points (32).

Like his teammates and coach, Mascaro also acknowledges the leadership of last year's returning championship team as the driving force behind the quest for another banner.

"We're returning kids from last year that won nationals," said Mascaro. "We have a bunch of good kids together, hopefully we win another one."