Happy Friday. 🏒🎄🥅🚨 It’s Dec. 26. If you’re reading this, congratulations on making it to the other side of the holiday season.

The goal this week is typically to spend less time around teammates and more time with family. But for some of Rye hockey’s key contributors, there’s no difference between the two.

Brothers Ryan and Finn Draddy, and twins Will and Max Niejadlik, were among the Garnets who bused 300 miles north to win a hockey tournament last weekend in Plattsburgh. While many student-athletes went their separate ways during Rye’s two-week break in the sports schedule, this quartet takes team brotherhood to another level.

Let’s go “Between the Lines” for a look at the Garnets’ gifted family tree.

“Between the Lines” is curated by sports editor Chris Marshall.

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Hockey Preview: The Family That Skates Together…

Every family has different holiday traditions. Some light menorahs. Others light Christmas trees. For siblings on Rye’s hockey team, it’s become common practice to light the lamp.

Twin brothers Will and Max Niejadlik made the most of the Garnets’ two days in Plattsburgh, combining for seven goals. In the first game of last weekend’s Applebee’s Winter Classic, Max had a hat trick, and Will scored twice. The next day, both scored again, and Max was named tournament MVP. Rye outscored its two opponents by a combined margin of 14-2 to win the tournament for a second year in a row.

And those aren’t the only family ties that have paid off for the 5-1 Garnets. Senior captain Ryan Draddy and sophomore Finn Draddy had their star turn earlier this season, combining for three goals in a 4-2 win against Clarkstown.

Going back even further to the season opener, senior captain Trevor Dolan scored the game-winner in overtime. A year ago, he played alongside his brother, Drew, who is now a freshman on the University of Richmond club hockey team.

After an extended break to enjoy family time in their homes away from the ice, Rye’s schedule resumes Jan. 7 at Playland against Pelham. Then, it’s time to hit the road again. The Garnets’ next bus trip on Jan. 9 will take them 350 miles north to Massena, then another 30 miles to nearby Canton the next day.

Weather Report: Check out Rye’s weekend forecast here.

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Performer of the Week: Charlotte Storz

🏀 Congrats to Charlotte Storz — winner of the Sportech Performer of the Week.

Rye’s girls basketball team did its part to make the holiday season special for others. In addition to last weekend’s Tiffany O’Toole Memorial Game, which raised money for ovarian cancer research, the Garnets held a toy drive for the Head Start preschool in Port Chester, then hosted area kids for a basketball camp.

It may be the season of giving, but on the court, Storz has stolen more than the Grinch. On three different occasions, the freshman has recorded four steals or more for the 6-0 Garnets.

In a 58-33 win Monday against Harrison, Storz had season-highs in points (23) and steals (6) to earn MVP honors of the annual Rye Rotary Challenge. Senior Phoebe Greto, junior Frankie Chiaravalle, and sophomore Stella Maresca each had 10 rebounds against the Huskies.

The girls will close out Rye’s 2025 sports season, traveling to a tournament Dec. 29-31 in Florida.

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Game of the Week: Garnet Basketball Teams Sweep Huskies 🐕🧹

🏀 Like the girls team, Rye’s boys also beat Harrison on Monday to enter the holiday break with a winning record. After splitting their first four games, the Garnets (3-2) showed their potential in a 59-33 win at Harrison, holding the Huskies to 11 first-half points.

Rye’s scoring was well-distributed between seniors Henry Shoemaker (12), Carson Miller (9), Sebastian Lewis (8), and junior Ben Hudson (10). Junior Luke Denvir had some strong minutes, and junior Ryan Hess came off the bench to add a couple of buckets and two beautiful assists.

“We’re in a better place as a team tonight than we were 10 days ago,” said coach Tom Proudian. “And the goal is to be in a better place than tonight 10 days from now. We’ll rest up, enjoy the holidays with our families, and be ready to get after it in January.”

Rye’s next game is its home opener, at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 6 against New Rochelle.

— By Steven Kearney