SILVER SHIELDS SHOW THEIR STUFF

The Suffolk County PAL Mite A Hockey Team to represent Long Island at international tournament

The Silver Shields, Suffolk County's Police Athletic League (PAL) Mite A Ice Hockey team from Hauppauge, New York may consist of kids ages seven and eight, but they already know what it's like to play as a team. After 45 games this season, playing in various tournaments and exhibition games, the Silver Shields are an astonishing 32-9-4.

One of their most recent tournaments was the Regional Qualifying Round for the International Silver Sticks Tournament. One of the largest international ice hockey tournaments, it spans all ages at the youth level and is held in cities throughout the United States and Canada.

The Silver Shields put in a strong showing at the Silver Sticks qualifying tournament, going 5-1-0, which earned them a spot at the main event, to be held the last weekend of January in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. The grueling qualifying tournament consisted of 16 top Mite teams from the Northeast. The final round in Michigan will comprise of the top Mite teams from around the United States and Canada.

"This is a great group of kids with a lot of heart," said assistant coach Bob Lund. "They have sound positional hockey and show a lot of spirit for kids at such a young age."

In exhibition games this season against teams on Long Island and around the tri-state area, the Silver Shields have amassed a staggering record of 15-5-4. In those games they've totaled 126 goals, while allowing only 57.

"They have a lot of chemistry," said Lund. "The team also gets better as the game goes on, considering they have scored more goals in the third period than in any of the other periods. That comes with their no-quit attitude. They're a resilient bunch and have been a pleasure to work with."

The Silver Shields Mite A team has been in existence for 40 years and is run by head coach Mike Fogarty and assistant coaches Lund and Tom Haggerty.