Eastport South Manor and Center Moriches are combining to make one ice hockey team for the 2015-16 season. There are about 40 to 60 kids ready to play, which would make three teams. Two freshmen teams and a junior varsity and varsity team. The team would join the Suffolk County High School Hockey League, which is a club league, not a school affiliated team. One of the main reasons schools don’t have teams are the high costs that are involved with the sport. Creating this club team will considerably lower the cost from about $7,000 to $2,000. That money covers the cost of ice time for games and practices, with the team’s jerseys costing about $250.

Mark Levitan will be the general manager and head coaching coordinator for the ESM/Center Moriches team, he coached previously in Centereach and Selden for the past nine seasons. Cheryl Moran is one of the biggest reasons for bringing a team to ESM/Center Moriches. She posted a petition a few months back and things have grown from that time. Cheryl will also serve as a GM for the team.

The team will be holding tryouts Saturday, April 11, and Saturday, April 17, at 10 a.m. at the Dix Hills Park Skating Rink. Once cuts are made the rosters finalized, the team will start practicing at Dix Hills through July and August, every Sunday at 4:45 p.m. After Labor Day, the team will start practicing on a weekly basis from September through March at The Rinx. The team will hold its final community meeting on Tuesday, March 17, at the Center Moriches Library on Main Street at 7 p.m, all interested in joining the team should attend.