ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira Aviators have reached a tender agreement with Max Festa.
Festa, a 2007-born forward from New Haven, CT, currently plays for the Connecticut Chiefs 18U AAA team. He is a right-hander standing 5-feet-10-inches and weighing in at 174 pounds.
Festa is having an incredible season, leading his team in goals and points. In just 44 games, Festa has racked up 45 goals and 46 assists.
The Connecticut native has dynamic speed and an outstanding hockey IQ. He excels at making the plays that are supposed to be made and getting the puck to his linemates in the right spots.
He, of course, is also a prolific goal scorer, averaging over a goal per game in the last two seasons. Festa has piled up 118 goals over his last two years of hockey.
The forward also offers versatility, spending the majority of his ice time as a center this season and as a winger last campaign.
Festa is ready to join the Aviators organization and is looking forward to getting to work on the ice.
“I’m very excited and honored to join the organization,” Festa said. “I picked Elmira because while I was practicing with the team, it really stood out that coach Shtrom is a coach I would be honored to play for.”
Festa felt like he was part of the squad when brought in to tour the team facilities and the LECOM Event Center. He appreciated coach Shtrom’s diligence and intentionality in addressing the team in preparation for practice and games.
Coach Shtrom believes Festa’s effort will allow him to fit right in with the Aviators.
“We are excited to have Max join our Aviator family,” Shtrom said. “He’s shown to have high compete and character which are traits we want in our locker room as well as on the ice.”
Coach Shtrom is also looking forward to seeing how Festa’s offensive game translates to the NAHL.
“His ability to score and make plays in tight areas will help him transition to our league and help our team on a nightly basis,” Shtrom said.
The Aviators will welcome Festa’s scoring ability with open arms as some their top goal scorers like Evan Dantas and Corson Maguire age out of junior hockey after this season.
Festa will suit up for Elmira beginning this fall for the 2026-27 NAHL season.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him, email [email protected].