On & off the ice

News & Highlights

Tournaments, grants, community events, and the moments that make the RoughRiders a family.

Latest news

Grant July 22, 2026

WE CARE Fund awards the RoughRiders a grant

Members of the Nassau County Bar Association WE CARE Fund Committee presented a generous grant to the Long Island Sled Hockey team. Our team is extremely grateful to be awarded this grant to help defray some of the cost of new equipment and upkeep of existing equipment for our athletes. The presentation was held at the NCBA, where representatives of the LISH RoughRiders were invited to receive their check. Pictured left to right: WE CARE Co-Chair Joshua Gruner, LISH Board Secretary Roberta Grogan, LISH Head Coach Phil Derenze, LISH Board President Sheila Gillece, WE CARE Past Co-Chair Barbara Gervase, and NCBA President Hon. Maxine Broderick.

Scrimmage vs. Portledge School Ice Hockey Team — photo 1

Scrimmage vs. Portledge School Ice Hockey Team — photo 2

Scrimmage vs. Portledge School Ice Hockey Team — photo 3

Scrimmage April 18, 2026

Scrimmage vs. Portledge School Ice Hockey Team

A tremendous thank you to Ryder Alstodt from the Portledge School for organizing this exciting scrimmage. We are grateful to Ryder for putting the “fun” in fundraising, while bringing awareness of our sport to others!

Tournament March 29, 2026

Third place at the New England Sled Hockey Tournament

The Long Island Sled Hockey team placed third in the Recreational Division at the New England Sled Hockey Tournament in Westfield, MA. It was a fun and exciting weekend for our team of new players mixed with our “old” players. Congratulations RoughRiders!

Community February 2026

NCBA Winter Warm Up Social

LISH board members Sheila Gillece, Kelly Palfi, and Mary Capobianco, along with Athlete Representative Sean Harrison, gratefully attended the NCBA Winter Warm Up Social — a chance to meet and mingle with supporters and recipients of the Nassau County Bar Association WE CARE Foundation.

Grant December 18, 2025

Honored again by the NCBA We Care Fund

The members of Long Island Sled Hockey are honored and grateful to once again be recipients of a generous grant from the Nassau County Bar Association’s We Care Fund. President Sheila Gillece and Brett Blomquist — current player and son of LISH’s founder — attended a presentation luncheon hosted by the NCBA on December 12th. Pictured left to right: NCBA Past President Daniel Russo, WE CARE Co-Chair Barbara Gervase, and NCBA President James P. Joseph.

Tournament 2025

2025 USA Sled Hockey Classic a big success!

Our 2025 USA Sled Hockey Classic was a big success. Thank you to everyone who came out to support adaptive hockey!

Community November 3, 2025

Butts in a Bucket!

Come down and check LISH out! We’ll get your “Butt in a Bucket” and there’s no looking back. Check out these smiles!

Grant October 2025

WE CARE Fund grant presentation

A tremendous thank you to the Nassau County Bar Association WE CARE Fund — the RoughRiders were presented with a generous grant for our team. LISH President Sheila Gillece and goalie Sean Harrison joined outgoing co-chair Jeffrey L. Catterson, incoming co-chair Joshua B. Gruner, and NCBA President James P. Joseph.

Tournament October 18, 2025

Invitational Challenge in Albany

The LISH squad boarded the bus at our home rink in Bethpage and travelled “over the bridges” to Albany to meet the Capital District Sled Warriors for a two-day Invitational Challenge. With plenty of new young blood on the ice, this newly formed squad’s first outing was nothing short of extraordinary. We’re grateful to Stride Adaptive Sports and the Capital District Sled Warriors for hosting — see the gallery below!

Community September 27, 2025

Elks Lodge #1 presents a $5,000 check

Members of Elks Lodge #1 (Lynbrook, NY) joined RoughRiders practice to present a $5,000 check to the organization, with Brett Blomquist accepting as honorary recipient. Brett spoke of his late father Bryan — LISH’s founding father and longtime president — and his recently passed mother Diane, and their long, meaningful relationship with the Elks. Pictured with LISH President Sheila Gillece and Coach Phil Derenze.