STATEN ISLAND, NY — You could say Midland Beach resident Patrick Hickey Jr. is wearing many hats these days.
A Renaissance man of sorts, he is the editor-in-chief and owner of Legacy Comix, a company specializing in comics and other merchandise, and a full-time assistant professor of journalism and director of the journalism program at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn.
He is also the author of seven books on the history of video games, which have been published in 2,000 libraries worldwide, including Harvard, Yale and UCLA.
Hickey also reveals that he works as a voice actor and has done voiceovers in over two dozen video games, including as Nick Cage’s Dracula character in “Renfield: Bound for Blood” and as Macho Man Randy Savage in “WrestleQuest.”
But what inspired him to write his latest work, Aces Over Brooklyn And the EPHL’s Fight For Hockey Relevance, was his passion for covering professional hockey – something that had always been his lifelong dream.
Hickey wryly recalls that while he covered hockey for NBC and several magazines and websites, his first year as a professional hockey reporter happened to be for a team and league that no longer exists.
The epic journey of Brooklyn’s forgotten professional hockey team
The 2008–09 season of the Brooklyn Aces Eastern Professional Hockey League was the first and last for the league and the team.
Still, that one full season in Brooklyn was an unusual journey, because the lives of those who experienced it changed forever.
Hickey went on to explain that the season was marked by an explosive combination of goals and battles – and that the EPHL, an all-professional hockey league, came as close to portraying the sport as one would see in films such as “Youngblood,” “Mystery Alaska” and “Slapshot.”
The country watched with extensive national media coverage as a Brooklyn team playing at Floyd Bennett Field led the league in wins and goals – before disappearing from the scene forever.
The cover of Aces Over Brooklyn and the EPHL’s struggle for hockey relevance. (Courtesy of Patrick Hickey Jr.)Staten Island Advance
The author, the only sports reporter to cover the team, resurrects game reports, interviews and insights lost on the internet for over a decade, shedding light on a magical team and a league with more blood, sweat and tears than anyone could have ever expected.
And Hickey said that if he didn’t tell his story now, it could be forgotten forever.
“That league was like something out of a movie,” he added. “There was fighting. There was passion. There was energy. Every single night. Every game was special. In the 15-plus years that have passed, I have never covered a league or players that wanted to play so badly and loved the sport so much. The fact that there are virtually no records (aside from a few small newspapers and rare reports) or photos of those players and that era on the Internet scared me. If I didn’t tell that story, no one would or could.”
After publishing his memoir under his Legacy Comix imprint and seeing how smoothly he made the transition from comics to full-length books, Hickey felt that even though other publishers were interested in the book, it was special for him to have the writing, editing, layout and marketing all done in-house.
“I want Legacy to be a place for people who love to read, not just comics but nonfiction,” he exclaimed.
Hickey points out that while his story is about a hockey team and a league, it is also the story of a young journalist trying to find his way.
“I hope it serves as a reminder to all who experienced it and is an entertaining read for hockey fans who had no idea what happened during the magical 2008-09 hockey season. – It is a complete review of that season – all the accounts that are no longer available on the internet, with over 125 photos (all written and taken by me), all in chronological order so readers can experience the season the same way I did.”
Additionally, context and insights from the author himself and some players he reconnected with while writing the book were added.
Hickey’s book is available on Amazon.com.
CELEBRATIONS – AUG 25 TO AUG 31
25.08.
Happy birthdays Sunday to Mary Beth Francis, executive director of Carmel Richmond Health Care & Rehabilitation Center, John James Noone, Daniel Santapaga, Rebecca Zalkin, Kayla Sliger, who turns 11, and Nicole Leonardi Azarraga.
Kathy Taylor will celebrate her 86th birthday and her cousin and traveling companion Agnes Rubino will celebrate her 87th birthday on August 29. They joke that they are the same age four days a year. Both women will celebrate with family members.
26.08.
Monday is birthday time for Julia Kruse, who turns 31, Erin Aversa, who turns 18 (2015), and her sister Michaela Aversa, who turns 21 on September 1. Erin and Michaela are granddaughters of the late Jerome X. O’Donovan and Vita O’Donovan.
Happy birthday on Monday to Robert Ricco, Dorothy Taylor, Victoria Nicole Falco and Joseph Golden.
Happy wedding anniversary on Monday to Nora and John Rosati and Justine and Jon Cauldwell.
27.August
Happy birthday on Tuesday goes to Jianna Jackson, who turns 14, Tony Flagello, Lulu Chiminski and Mario Naccarato, who turns 30.
28.08.
Happy birthday on Wednesday to Bill Van Name, Joan Mary Andersen, Christopher Giovinazzo, Carol Dennis and Marilyn Wickert.
Happy birthday on Wednesday to twins William and John Malczewski who turn 25 and were born on the same day as their great-grandfather John Cotton Sr., who was a very special member of the family.
Happy wedding anniversary on Wednesday to Colleen and Tim Kelly and Carmine and Felicia DeBetta – we celebrate 58 years of married bliss.
29.08.
Happy birthdays on Thursday to Jennie Sweeney, Brian Cregg, Susan Santorelli, Danielle Martino, John Edward Sciarrino, who turns 18, Jeff Coogan, Ken Anderson, Nanette Scarcella, Michael Alvarado and Douglas Baker, a lifelong Staten Islander who turns 72.
Happy wedding anniversary, Jessica and Liam Collins.
30.August
Happy birthday Friday, Dylan Gaugh.
And happy wedding anniversary on Friday to Denise and Pat Arena.
31.August
Happy birthdays on Saturday to Assistant County Clerk Ron Arabia, Victoria Rose Mazella, Kenny Warner, who turns 62, Katie Salerno, Jennifer Driscoll, Thomas Cellamare, Jason Greco, Michele Martino, Maureen Gorman, Frank Giovinazzo and Nancy Logozzo, who turns 68, and Kristin Bowers, Jamie LaBetti, Anthony Loffredo and Ryan Eisler-Grynsztann.
Happy wedding anniversary on Saturday to Gina and Robert Greenstein of Great Kills.
