Lions vs Hat Trix: OHEL wins

Great Neck’s North Shore Hebrew Academy  (NSHA) Lions and Little Neck’s Har Torah Hat Trix middle schools hockey teams, of the Metropolitan Yeshiva Junior High Hockey League (MYJHHL), faced off in a doubly exciting game Saturday night, February 19th, at Yehiva Har Torah to benefit OHEL’s Hewlett House.

Over 250 spectators applauded as six special guests were welcomed from OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services. Between the first and second  periods the two cross-town rival hockey teams united to present their guests with their own hockey sticks and custom-made hockey jerseys bearing the logos of each team and OHEL. The teams then led their OHEL guests in a hockey clinic and shoot out with cheering and encouragement from all the fans.  

The OHEL guests were given front row VIP seats to watch the rest of the game, which was won by NSHA, 6-2, clinching first place in their division for the first time in the team’s history which catapulted them into the playoffs.

The Lions coached by Daniel Horowitz and Isaac Greszes, and the Hat Trix coached by Rabbi Tuvia Fried, all pride themselves on their dedication to Torah and mitzvot in addition to their hockey skills. The coaches motivated the players to raise funds for this wonderful organization through a goal-a-thon and selling snacks raising over $1000.

NSHA co-captain Bailey Greszes said, “It is my belief that when rival teams come together to share in one event as one community to help challenged kids, we score real goals!”