Pesce Works Hard to Improve Legends Ice Hockey

Sleepy Hollow/Irvington senior forward Bradlee Pesce knew that he had a lot of hockey skill but he needed refinements to take his game to the next level.

"My dad would always tell me that I had to improve my shot so I decided to do something about it," Pesce said.

Pesce, a co-captain for the 10-6-2 Legends squad, added extra workouts to his regimen before the season even began. The work has paid off. One example of his hard work paying dividends was his five-goal effort in a 7-6 triumph against Clarkstown South Feb. 4, tying him with New Rochelle's Richie Prunesti with the most goals in Section 1 with 41. Pesce also has recorded 15 assists.

"Even though I scored five goals, I actually thought I played better defensively," Pesce said. "I think playing well defensively set up my opportunities on offense."

The extra work Pesce has put in began in October. He showed up twice a week for lessons at 6 a.m. at the Elmsford Skating Academy.

"The lessons have helped me with my shot and skating stride," Pesce said. "They have really have been good for me. I have played a lot better this season."

Pesce takes lessons from Nicole Kirnan Hall, who coached the Manhattanville women's ice hockey squad from 2002-06, each year leading the team to the NCAA tournament. Hall played at St. Lawrence University from 1997-'01 and in her senior season, she was assistant captain for a team that appeared in the first ever women's NCAA Division I national championship game.

Some may think waking up that early to improve one's game is unusual but in hockey, with rink time often scarce, that's a way of life.

"It can be hard to get up that early but in the long run it's worth it," Pesce said. "It helps me with my game and it also helps teach me dedication, which will help me later in my life."

One thing that has made this season so much fun for Pesce is that he has been able to enjoy this season with his brother, sophomore defenseman Brett Pesce and his friend, senior forward and co-captain Josh Kaplan, who he has been playing ice hockey with since he was a child.

Brett Pesce has 11 goals and 24 assists with Kaplan has 16 goals and 20 assists.

Bradlee Pesce says that his successful season never would've happened without the help from his brother and Kaplan. One example of this is when Bradlee Pesce scored the game-winning goal in a 5-4 overtime triumph against ETB on Feb. 1. That goal came after getting the assist from his brother.

"It was just awesome to be able to team up with my brother and win a game like that," Pesce said. "It's been like that all year between the two of us."

What Pesce is hoping for is that his play, along with his brother's and Kaplan's can help take the Legends to a Section 1 championship. He thinks that the Legends have the right coach to take them there in Howie Weiner.

"Coach (Weiner) is assertive but at the same time he lets you play your game," Pesce said.

And for Pesce, that's a game that is better now than ever before.