Brian Wish has been on a journey to bring ice hockey to the Hamptons and build it from the ground up. Over the past decade, Wish has transformed a small effort into a competitive program at the Southampton Ice Rink, which has inspired players and parents alike. His work has not only helped dedicated players perform their best but has introduced the Hamptons to a sport that previously had little presence in the area.
10 Years of Coaching
This year’s ice hockey season marks Wish’s tenth year of coaching in the Hamptons, which is a significant milestone for him and the local ice hockey community. This is not only because the program is a year old but because a full-on high school program exists. In addition, it is the eighth year that there is a cover on the Southampton Ice Rink, which is an addition that Wish sees as essential to help train in reliable conditions.
“This makes a big difference because the cover allows you to not have to worry about the weather,” he explained.
Impressive Growth, Growing Costs
Wish’s program has seen substantial and impressive growth. With the rink open seven days a week and a season that extends through April 15th, the chance for aspiring hockey players to become involved in the sport is abundant. However, Wish acknowledges that ice hockey can be financially challenging.
“It’s an extremely expensive sport to get into because of the ice time and because of the equipment,” he said.
To counteract this, Wish keeps the rink’s rates low to encourage participation. He charges only $75 a session, which is “phenomenal in the world of ice hockey.” Wish’s hope is that, by getting kids to participate at a reasonable cost, they will come to love the sport and keep playing.
A First for the Hamptons
The Southampton Ice Rink program is a first for the Hamptons. Ten years ago, the community’s single team was makeshift at best, but Wish has expanded it into a full-fledged high school program with an additional feeder program for younger players who want to get involved.
When reflecting on the future of the Program, Wish said, “One day, I truly believe our program will produce an NHL player. Without a doubt, we will have college players in the next five years.”
The pandemic brought unexpected growth during the years it took place. According to Wish, “When COVID happened, our program exploded. Prior to COVID, we were lucky to have ten players, but during COVID, we were looking at 50 to 60 players on the rink regularly.”
The surge in participation showcased the community’s longing for organized sports and helped solidify the program’s position within the Hamptons.
A Needed Platform
The rink operates for around five and a half months each year, with a team of dedicated coaches such as Ed Gaetjens, a Saunders & Associates real estate agent, as well as sponsor Sarah Minardi, whose son, Cam Minardi, is a starting player on the high school team, and who has been involved since the program’s beginnings.
The high school team draws students from East Hampton, Southampton, Piersen, and the Ross School, which forms a unified squad for 7th, 8th, and 9th graders in the freshman division. As the players grow, they will have the opportunity to move up to junior varsity (JV) and varsity levels.
However, even with the program thriving, funding remains a challenge as the school considers it a club sport. This leaves much of the financial responsibility to parents and community donations.
“It is going great; we’ve had a lot of sponsors and donations. The schools don’t throw any money our way; it’s considered a club sport, so all the money has to come from the parents and donations. Things like uniforms, coaches, equipment, ice time—it all costs money to keep it going,” Wish explained.
Even with these challenges in place, the coaches are committed to fostering a competitive team in the Hamptons. As for Wish, he feels that the “future looks bright.”
