Hockey Brothers Heat Up Long Island’s Ice

The Bernardo Brothers – Anthony and Nick – have been involved in sports since they were able to walk. Both have participated in the sports programs of the Hauppauge School District and they also have played hockey with local teams for more than 10 years. Most of their ice time has been with the PAL Junior Islanders.

The boys’ commitment to hockey recently came to the attention of James C. Metzger. He referenced their athletic development in his March 15 sports blog.

Many on Long Island know Metzger as a star lacrosse, football and basketball student-athlete at Half Hollow Hills High School in Dix Hills and then a lacrosse All-American at Hofstra University. For many years, Metzger and his company, The Whitmore Group, an insurance brokerage and financial services firm in Garden City, have supported lacrosse, other athletic programs and education programs at his alma maters, St. Anthony’s High School in Huntington and Hempstead PAL.

Metzger is a 2014 inductee into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. Recently, a mural showcasing his sports, business and philanthropic endeavors was unveiled in the Hall of Fame satellite exhibit at Huntington Town Hall.

In his current blog post that focuses on his personal philosophy (“Everything I Ever Needed To Know About Business I Learned On The Sports Field”), Metzger maintains that development of a young athlete should occur before he or she can concentrate on a game’s X’s and O’s. Encouraging young athletes to play multiple sports and learn several positions, according to Metzger, will teach players to adjust to different roles, improve game awareness, foster skill development and build confidence.

The Bernardo Brothers receive the spotlight in Metzger’s blog. He considers them fine examples of young local athletes who have developed their talents with the support of parents and coaches.

Anthony Bernardo’s Goals

Though he knew early in his young sports career that he preferred hockey, the older Bernardo brother also participated with the school’s lacrosse and track teams.

“Lacrosse helped me with conditioning, leg strength and hand-eye coordination,” said Anthony. “Track helped me with endurance and increase the power in my legs.”

As he concentrated more on hockey, Anthony played for the Smithtown-Hauppauge Bulls, helping the team capture summer tournaments and county championships. Travel time with the PAL Junior Islanders last season led to the semi-finals in a tournament in Calgary, Canada, the capture of the state championship and competing in the national tournament. Leading his team in points this season, Anthony was selected to the PAL’s All-Star Game and he was ranked the top player in the game by Neutral Zone (neutralzone.net), a hockey scouting and news website that identifies, ranks and profiles more than 16,000 NCAA and other prospects.

Mostly a left wing, Anthony, at times, also has played right wing. Since he is a right-handed shot, fewer options to score are available for Anthony on right side. But, the role on right wing has provided him with a greater understanding of the entire game.

Recently, Anthony, who is taking courses at Suffolk Community College, has been scouted by Division 1 college teams and Junior A hockey teams. He also was invited to visit the United States Military Academy at West Point.

“My goal is to play Division 1 NCAA,” said Anthony, “and then eventually play professional hockey.”

Nick Bernardo’s Lessons

Nick Bernardo found that baseball on the high school level helped him improve his hockey game.

“Training and playing on the junior varsity team helped me improve my overall compete level not just for baseball but also for hockey,” said Nick. “You run a lot when you train for baseball, and this improved my speed and conditioning. Eye and hand coordination and arm strength developed during my baseball training.”

Nick has been a forward and a defenseman on the ice. He has played right and left wing and right defense, and he has become highly skilled as a defenseman.

“I read the plays very well,” added Nick, “and my comfort level at the position has increased my success on the ice. The arm strength that I developed to play baseball has helped me develop a strong shot on net from the point when we are in the offensive zone.”

Nick also learned a valuable lesson when he was a forward, and that lesson has helped him improve his game.

“After playing forward a few years,” said Nick, “I realized that the defensemen were not moving the puck up the ice as quickly as needed to create scoring chances for our team. On defense, I make sure I move forward with the puck quickly and accurately to help set up our scoring opportunities.”

Nick, too, has college and professional hockey on his mind. He recently committed to Brown University.

_______

Mike Virgintino is the author of Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History, the story about America's theme park located in The Bronx. Published by Theme Park Press, it can be found on Amazon, eBay, Goodreads and Barnes & Noble.