Holze has brought chemistry to Lynbrook

Lynbrook has been one of the biggest surprises in Nassau hockey this season.

Starting off at 2-4-1 coming off a one-year hiatus from varsity hockey, the Owls (7-5-1, 15 points) surged in December, winning five of their last six games before the winter break to get back in playoff contention.

Struggling with little team chemistry early on, the addition of junior Dylan Holze in early December has turned Lynbrook's season around. Holze plays junior hockey for the Long Island Royals, and scheduling conflicts prevented him from skating for Lynbrook at the start of the season. But since he's joined the squad, the Owls have gone 5-2 with wins over Syosset, Massapequa and Levittown.

"He's great," coach Jim Laurelli said. "He hustles like no one else on the team, he's got great hands, great scoring ability and is always looking for his teammates."

Holze plays with Jonathon Kaszuba and Gerard Clayton on Lynbrook's first line, and Laurelli said the dynamic they've developed has made Lynbrook a legitimate contender in the Liberty Division.

"That line has really jelled," Laurelli said. "The games they've played together have just gotten better and better and I'd put that line against any other line in the league."

"It's a lot of fun playing with this team and I like knowing that the team is counting on me to score," Holze said. "[Clayton] is a good skater and has a good shot and [Kaszuba] is really fast and I know if I'm in the zone and I get [the puck] to him, he'll put it in." Lynbrook plays Levittown at 9:30 p.m. Monday.