RYE – Field Hockey New York

As spring turns to summer and focus moves from the hockey field to the beach, Rye FHC can look back on their 2008/9 campaign with a great deal of satisfaction. The club took great leaps forward both on the field and
through expanded membership.

First and foremost, the results were the most pleasing aspect of the season After a rocky 1-2 start to the NEFHA season, Rye FHC put together a string of fine performances winning 9 of the remaining 10 league games to finish in
second place. Their only reversal was against Champions Greenwich who finished a single point ahead of Rye. This excellent form was continued into the post-season with comfortable victories over New York Islanders
(3-0) in the semi final and Tri-State Falcons (5-2) in the championship game. It was a fitting reward for the hard work First team captain Patrick Stutz and club President Alex Rooks have put in on and off the field in
recent years. It was also a much needed remedy for the bad memories veterans of recent Rye campaigns have following championship game defeats in the preceding two years.

This seasons success wasn’t limited to NEFHA. Rye FHC successfully defended their title at the JKF Memorial Tournament in Virginia Beach beating the Toronto Lions in a penalty competition in the final for the second
consecutive year. The Rye/Toronto rivalry has become quite intense over the years with the two evenly matched sides meeting in a number of finals with Rye taking the spoils the last three times the sides have met. The one
tournament where Rye left empty handed was the Big Apple International Indoor tournament in February. Rye fielded a slightly weakened team due to injury but still managed a run to the semi final where they were eliminated
by a strong Philadelphia side. Rye last won this tournament in 2007 and will be looking forward to the opportunity to take back the title this winter.

One of the biggest developments for the club this year was the establishment of a second team. The tireless recruiting of Rooks and the recent success of the club has led to a number of new additions. The increased competition
for fist team places has certainly helped elevate the standard of hockey and the ability to offer regular competitive games for players at a slightly lower standard has confirmed Rye as one of the premier clubs in the Tri-State area (and one of only two fielding multiple sides).

In 2009/10 Rye will be looking to continue their progress. The core of the first team is returning with the only loss being James Richardson, who will return to the U.K. after completing his Masters Degree with a couple of
medals for the trophy cabinet. Oliver Stubel will return from injury/work assignment on the west coast to provide stability in goal and with further additions rumoured to be on their way, Rye will be looking forward to the challenge of defending their NEFHA and JFK titles.