Ice Hockey Takes Root: Brian Wish’s Decade-Long Journey in the Hamptons

Brian Wish is a man on a mission: bringing ice hockey to the Hamptons and building it from the ground up. In just a decade, Wish has transformed a small community effort into a thriving, competitive program at the Southampton Ice Rink, inspiring players and parents alike. His work has not only groomed dedicated players but has also introduced the Hamptons to a sport that previously had no foothold in the area.

This season marks Wish’s tenth year of coaching in the Hamptons, a significant milestone for him and the local ice hockey community not just because the program is a decade old but also because a full-on high school program exists. Additionally, it is the eighth year with a cover over the Southampton Ice Rink, an addition that Wish sees as essential for reliable training conditions. “This makes a big difference because the cover allows you to not have to worry about the weather,” he explained.

Wish’s hockey program has seen impressive growth. With the rink open seven days a week and a season that extends through April 15th, the opportunity for aspiring hockey players to get involved is abundant. But 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 says. To counter this, he keeps the rink’s rates low to encourage participation, charging only $75 for six-hour-long sessions, which is “phenomenal in the world of ice hockey.” His hope is that by getting kids on the ice at a reasonable cost, they will come to love the sport and continue participating.

The Southampton Ice Rink program represents a first for the Hamptons. Ten years ago, the community’s only team was makeshift at best, but Wish has since expanded it into a full-fledged high school program with a feeder program for younger players who want to get involved. Reflecting on the future of the program, Wish expressed optimism: “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 COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected growth. “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,” Wish said. The surge in participation showcased the community’s hunger for organized sports and helped solidify the program’s place in the Hamptons.

The rink operates for about five and a half months each year, with a team of dedicated coaches like Ed Gaetjens, a Saunders & Associates real estate agent who brings his passion for the game to each session. Local support has also come from top sponsor Sarah Minardi, whose son, Cam Minardi, is a starting player on the high school team and has been involved since the program’s inception.

The high school team draws students from East Hampton, Southampton, Pierson, and the Ross School, forming a unified squad for 7th, 8th, and 9th graders in the Freshman division. As these players grow, they will have the chance to move up to junior varsity (JV) and eventually varsity levels. However, funding remains a challenge since the schools consider it a club sport, leaving 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.

The team will play at venues including UBS Arena and Buckskill in East Hampton. For those interested in catching a game, schedules, and updates are available on Instagram @whalershshockey, with games running through March.

The current roster includes dedicated players who have been shaped by Wish’s vision and guidance: Merritt Bistrian-Emptage, Max Goldstein, Stefano McCourt, Keegan Reilly, Tre Armusewicz (goaltender), Anthony Cappiello, Hunter Harrington, Cam Minardi, Quinlan Reilly, Teddy Teryazos (goaltender), Grady Craig, Michael Kessler, Sonny Perello, Mateo Vergara, Aidan D’Angelo, Enzo Magnotta, Luka Pisano, Andrew Wetter, and Brendan Goldstein. Coaches include Wish himself and Jason Craig, all of whom are committed to fostering a strong, competitive team in the Hamptons.

Ice hockey is thriving in the Hamptons, capturing the hearts of players and fans alike and bringing an unexpected energy to the Southampton Ice Rink.

Brian smiles, “The future looks bright.”