BETHPAGE, Long Island (PIX11) – A teenager died after having a medical emergency during a hockey game in Bethpage Saturday evening, according to Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino.
Connor Kasin, 17, lost consciousness during a break in a hockey game at the Town of Oyster Bay Skating Center around 9 p.m. Saturday, according to the Nassau County Police Department.
Kasin, a senior at Massapequa High School, was on the ice when he had a "sudden medical emergency" and lost consciousness, officials said. Onlookers gave the teenager CPR before he was rushed to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
"Connor was and always will remain one of the most hardworking, dedicated, and spirited players we’ve had the privilege of coaching and knowing on and off the ice," said Kasin's hockey coaches.
Kasin was a beloved community member, according to William Brennan, Superintendent of the Massapequa School District.
"Connor was a cherished member of our school community, known for his kindness, positivity, enthusiasm, and big smile. He had a way of bringing light and joy to those around him, and his absence will be felt deeply by all of us," Brennan said.
The game was part of a charity event in honor of Sabrina Navaretta, a graduate of Syosset High School who died in 2023 at the age of 19. Navaretta died in a car crash, according to her college, the University of Delaware.
After Kasin's death, counselors will be available for students on campuses.
"There are no words to express how devastating this loss is to our Massapequa hockey family," Kasin's coaches said. "Our bench will feel empty without Connor."
