Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, others make themselves loud and clear as they implore mayor to allow youth hockey teams to play

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis wasn’t alone in her thinking when she asked a simple question during a press conference at the Staten Island Skating Pavilion (SISP) in Charleston on Monday evening: Why is it OK for the venue to host 200 people (at 50 percent) free skating on a Friday night, but not for 12 youth hockey players to compete on the same ice in game competition?

“I have no idea. It absolutely makes no sense,’' the freshman Congresswoman told the Advance/SILive.com shortly after the presser ended. “Especially when you consider there’s been a low transmission rate (of COVID-19) among children. They’re not transmitting the virus by playing hockey and I can’t understand why, if they follow the proper protocols, they can’t play like other kids are in Long Island (and Westchester).’'

Malliotakis had plenty of support on hand as well, including Anthony Reinhart, Sen. Andrew Lanza’s Deputy Chief of Staff; George Hinz, the commissioner of the Long Island Amateur Hockey League (LIAHL), which the SISP plays under and Sal Tirro, the long-time owner of the Pavilion. City Councilman Joseph Borelli is strongly supportive of the movement as well.

Hinz, a Rossville resident who has been commissioner of the LIAHL for 17 years, briefed Malliotakis prior to the presser. He too is dumbfounded over the fact youth hockey in New York City is a high-risk sport instead of a moderate risk. For starters, Hinz pointed out that neighboring Nassau and Suffolk (Long Island), Putnam and Westchester Counties are all moderate risk areas despite having higher infection rates than the city.

“Plus, not all (youth hockey age) levels include checking,’' added Hinz. “And, the kids are wearing helmets with full face shields underneath their masks and the filtration system to make the ice in a place like (Pavilion) makes it even safer.

“Why can’t we open? All protocols will be followed,” he asked, noting approximately 300 Island kids have gone to New Jersey because they can’t play on the Island. “The infection rate is better here than in the surrounding counties, yet they’re allowed to play and we aren’t.

“I’m just hoping (the city) turns around and puts us on the same level as the counties surrounding us so that we can play the game too.’'

Malliotakis, meanwhile, wants de Blasio to reconsider the facts concerning youth hockey and COVID and make an adjustment with the city’s classification.

“They’re aware of it, but they haven’t been doing anything to fix it. We’re here to urge the mayor to please let these kids play,’' said the Congresswoman, who received a resounding yes after turning and asking the youngsters if they wanted to start playing hockey again. “My colleagues and I have been vocal on causes like this and, thankfully, the mayor will now allow (our high school student-athletes) to start playing again sometime next month.

“We’re hoping he makes a similar decision concerning this asl well.’'

Tirro was also given a chance to speak at the mic and noted SISP has been serving the Island since 1995. He, perhaps more than anybody, would like nothing more than to see the mayor switch youth hockey to a moderate-risk sport — and soon.

“(Otherwise), we won’t be here in 2022 because we simply can’t survive,’' he said, grimly.