Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame

The official Twitter account of the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame! #SuffolkHOF

[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame @SuffolkHOF]

Oehler represented the U.S. in three Paralympic Games & earned 10 medals, including 4 gold.

At the 88 Paralympics, he captured gold in the 100, 200 & 400-meter events, setting world records in all three. He later won the long jump at the 92 Paralympics.

[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame @SuffolkHOF]

The Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame is saddened by the passing of Dennis Oehler, a Deer Park native and member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2000.

[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame @SuffolkHOF]

The Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame mourns the passing of John Niland, an inductee of our Class of 1997, who passed away on August 15, 2026, at the age of 82.

[Chris R. Vaccaro @ChrisVaccaro]

Today was special … and historic for Suffolk County and Long Island.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender and Sound Beach native Brandon Bussi brought the #StanleyCup home to #LongIsland, celebrating in true #SuffolkCounty fashion at the place where it all began for him: The Rinx in Hauppauge.

Brandon’s journey is an incredible source of inspiration for the next generation of Long Island hockey players. As the first and only Suffolk County native to win the Stanley Cup as a player, he has carved out a unique place in our region’s sports history.

It was my privilege, on behalf of the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame, to recognize Brandon as the inaugural Suffolk County Sportsperson of the Year - a new honor celebrating individuals whose accomplishments and impact represent the very best of Suffolk County sports.

I was honored to present the recognition to Brandon at The Rinx alongside Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, District Attorney Ray Tierney and Sheriff Errol Toulon, with a packed house of family, friends, young hockey players and Long Islanders who came out to celebrate Brandon and Lord Stanley.

A Stanley Cup champion from Sound Beach. A piece of Suffolk County history. And, most importantly, an example for every young athlete on Long Island dreaming about where the game might take them.

Congratulations, Brandon … thanks for making us proud! 🏆🏒

[Chris R. Vaccaro @ChrisVaccaro]

Sachem Family ... join me at the Sachem Library on September 14 as we unveil the latest local exhibit for the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame.

Of course, this one hits close to home, so come down as we recognize Suffolk HOF inductees with connections to the Sachem community!

[Chris R. Vaccaro @ChrisVaccaro]

I love some of the projects we've worked on between the @SuffolkHOF and Suffolk County Police Athletic League-PAL.

We unveiled a new print on the centerfield wall at PAL Valero Field of Dreams Stadium in Holtsville. The large-format print celebrates the people, moments, and stories that have helped shape Suffolk County baseball history while highlighting their connections to the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame and PAL. Many of these amazing individuals have influenced the success of the Suffolk County PAL, especially its baseball program; from coaches to players, each one had a definitive effect on our youth.

Thanks to George Waldbauer, Don Yorie, Ken Kortwrite and Gregg Sarra for joining me to make it official.

Read more: https://t.co/cdM9dfKox7

[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame @SuffolkHOF]

Come out and support Suffolk Sports Hall of Famer Buddy McGirt and Long Island Boxing Charities!

[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame @SuffolkHOF]

Please join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of Suffolk Sports Hall of Famer and legendary Brentwood Soccer Coach Ron Eden on August 15 at Brentwood High School.

[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame @SuffolkHOF]

🎉 Congratulations to Suffolk County Sports Hall of Famer Rob Pannell on becoming the all-time leading scorer in professional lacrosse history! 🥍🏆

[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame @SuffolkHOF]

Congrats, Buzz! Another hall of fame for this Long Island Ducks legend and Suffolk Sports Hall of Famer ... keep making us proud! 🦆 🏒

[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame @SuffolkHOF]

Through our traveling exhibits, educational programming and community partnerships, we’re helping preserve local history, inspire the next generation and celebrate the people who made Suffolk one of the nation’s great sports communities.

[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame @SuffolkHOF]

What an incredible evening celebrating Suffolk County’s rich sports history, community pride and America’s 250th anniversary.

A heartfelt thank you to Jamie LaBelle and James Bertsch for organizing a truly memorable event at Sayville Library.

[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame @SuffolkHOF]

The evening became even more special with a visit to the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum, a fitting reminder of the courage, sacrifice and service that are also part of our region’s story.

[Chris R. Vaccaro @ChrisVaccaro]

So proud of what we're building on a local level with the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame during America's 250th anniversary.

Our library exhibits are opportunities for people to reconnect with their hometowns, celebrate local history, and honor the athletes, coaches and leaders who have shaped our communities. That's exactly what happened last night at Sayville Library.

A sincere thank you to Jamie LaBelle and James Bertsch for organizing such a memorable evening. An especially meaningful addition was the gathering afterward at the LT Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum. Thanks to James, who serves on the museum's board, our guests had the chance to experience a place that beautifully preserves the legacy of one of Long Island's greatest American heroes.

For anyone from Suffolk County, having a connection to Lt. Murphy's story is something truly special. It was an honor to speak at the museum and express my profound appreciation for Lt. Murphy, his family, and the brave men and women who have served our country. I also reflected on my grandfather's service with the U.S. Navy's Underwater Demolition Team during World War II, the elite unit that became the foundation for today's Navy SEALs. A brick honoring his legacy is featured at the museum.

I spoke about the power of community and the role our Hall of Fame can play in inspiring the next generation. We preserve history not simply to remember the past, but to encourage young people to dream bigger because they can see greatness that came from their own neighborhoods.

Seeing so many of our extraordinary inductees join us throughout the evening made that message even more meaningful.

These are the moments that remind us why preserving local history and celebrating local excellence matters. 🇺🇸

[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame @SuffolkHOF]

The Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame wishes our inductees, their families and the greater Long Island community a happy and healthy Fourth of July!

And as always ... Honor the Past, Inspire the Future! 🇺🇸

[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame @SuffolkHOF]

2026 INDUCTEE: Kerrigan Miller established herself as one of the most accomplished lacrosse players ever to come out of Long Island. A standout at Bayport-Blue Point, she was the nation's No. 1 recruit and enjoyed a decorated scholastic career.

[Chris R. Vaccaro @ChrisVaccaro]

Congrats to @SuffolkHOF inductee @lindacohn on a legendary career at @espn. After 34 years and 5,000-plus episodes of @SportsCenter, she retired this past week.

A few years ago, I presented her Suffolk HOF plaque in California, where she lives and does the West Coast version of SportsCenter every night. Don't mind the casual nature of this ... it was the club/park where Linda plays tennis.

The Newfield High alum has made us proud, served as a great example for young women sportscasters and has left her legacy on sports and media. Bravo, Linda!

[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame @SuffolkHOF]

Kost continued her playing career at Duke University on a full basketball scholarship, where she earned team MVP honors. She later won a gold medal in team handball at the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival and competed with the United States National Team program.

[Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame @SuffolkHOF]

2026 INDUCTEE: Monika Kost was a three-sport standout at Lindenhurst High, excelling in basketball, volleyball and field hockey. She remains one of the most accomplished girls players in Suffolk history and is Lindenhurst's all-time leading scorer with 1,428 career points.