12/16--A league of their own

For the FRHSD (Freehold Regional High School District), hockey is a new thing. Many of the six teams are still trying to find their image and style. There biggest games are against each other, where sloppy play and odd-man rushes are a constant. That is, unless you are a part of the Howell Rebels.In their first season, Howell lost a total of four games, including a state playoff loss at Brick Memorial.The Rebels blew out district opponents on a daily basis, much like yesterday's game (Howell defeated Freehold Boro 8-2).They are expected to compete with the likes of experienced, talented schools, such as Brick Memorial, whom the Rebels defeated 1-0 on opening night, and private schools like Monsignor Donovan, who the Rebels outplayed in a 3-3 tie earlier in the season.Then, one will ask, how is it fair for a second-year team to play against teams who recruit players and teams who have been playing together for several years?Well, for the Rebels and their fans, this isn't just a second-year team. Hockey has become a major part of the school quickly. Every gameday, the players are seen with a shirt and tie, usually a gray "Howell Hockey" sweatshirt, and a buzz of excitement surrounds them.On those gamedays, when student-fans talk, the question is never "Are you going to the game?", it's always, "What time are you going to the game?" That, in itself, is a vital part of what sepreates Howell from your traditonal new high school hockey team. Support is key.There's constantly a sense of excitement when a big-name website or newspaper starts to recognize the team and players for playing on such a high level.Oh yeah, and there's two pretty significant numbers that represent the expectations of Howell Hockey.ONE and SEVEN.Well, those numbers, within themselves, are what makes Howell hockey today, and what it has ever been.Number 11 Dave Ramos and number 77 Eddie Pyskaty. Together, they make Howell hockey what it is. They are involved in virtually every point (19 of 21 to be exact), pick the team up when their down (Ramos scoring the game-tying goal against Manalapan), having the ability and mental toughness to play, literally, and entire game (Pyskaty didn't miss a shift against Monsignor Donovan), and there may not be a better duo to lead any team in the shore conference.On top of their ability to play hockey, Ramos and Pyskaty are two of the best and most likable people in the school, a major reason why many take the time to support them and talk to them about hockey. In the past two years, I've conducted several interviews with the two of them for several articles, and have become extremely close with both of them, and one thing that I have noticed was they are never too busy or too impotant to talk to you, very unlike other big-headed high school athletes. They also always look like they want to talk to you. I don't think there's ever been an interview where I didn't spend the entire time laughing with them, and that's something I will remember forever, regardless of how far I ever go in sportswriting.With the skill presented in the blue and gray, the rising expectations of this hockey team are not something to resent, but instead, something to take serious pride in.