Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer and Councilwoman Jackie Gordon joined with the Town Board to honor twelve year old Robert Hyde of North Babylon, who was the only resident from the town to make the Junior Islanders hockey team. The Junior Islanders are made up of eleven and twelve year olds from Long Island who are among the best hockey players in the area. Supervisor Schaffer and Councilwoman Gordon joined with Deputy Supervisor Tony Martinez, Councilman Tom Donnelly, Councilman Lindsay Henry, Receiver of Taxes Corinne DiSomma and Town Clerk Carol Quirk to present Robert with an official Town Proclamation honoring his achievement.
Junior Islanders are chosen by former New York Islanders forward Benoit Hogue during tryouts in the summer. The team competes in the annual Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament held every February in Quebec City, which features over 2,300 athletes from 16 countries and is attended by over 200,000 fans throughout the eleven day event. Current Islanders Rick DiPietro and Kyle Okposo have played in the tournament.
Pictured from left to right are Councilman Donnelly; Receiver of Taxes DiSomma; Councilwoman Gordon; Supervisor Schaffer; Junior Islander Robert Hyde; Maria Hyde, mother; Deputy Supervisor Martinez; Town Clerk Quirk; Councilman Henry and Town Attorney Joe Wilson.