Mites C: The Gateway Gladiator Mite C team defeated YD 18-8 on Saturday and ended the regular season on a high note. The Gladiators came ready to play, executing on play after play. The Gladiators showed true sportsmanship through a penalty filled game with only one being called against them. The Gladiators stuck to our team motto of total teamwork playing solid on both offense and defense. Jarrod Frates led the team with eight goals. The other scorers included Brayden Cannon with four, Pat Tripp with three, and Tommy Clavell with two. Ben Hebbel and Brayden Hathon ended with a goal apiece. Charlie Carroll played another strong game between the pipes, ending with 35 saves with one coming on a penalty shot. The Gladiators had several great goals resulting from stick-to-stick passing and relentless back checking. The Gladiators are waiting to hear who their opponent will be in next Saturday’s playoff tournament. The team has been by far the biggest surprise in the league after struggling in the first half of the season. The coaches are thrilled with the improvement and the teamwork they have displayed throughout the season.
Squirts: The Gateway Squirts started its playoff series on the right skate Saturday morning, getting the win 6-0 against Braintree White. Scoring the first of the game was Matthew Quinlan, followed by Nathan Rebeiro assisted by Quinlan. Gateway had a shaky start trying to get their legs moving but soon began to gel as the game got going. In the second period, Quinlan added another goal, assisted by Juni Suarez and Lucas DeMoranville. In the third period, Suarez scored a hat trick with assists from Ty David Rebeiro on two and Brady Kidney on one. The Squirts play again Sunday against YD Dolphins.
Pee Wees: The Gateway Youth Hockey Pee Wees had their first play-off game of the season against KP Walpole on Saturday morning. Gateway came ready to play and out paced Walpole in three strong periods of hockey. Gateway had excellent puck movement, good positioning and played well as a team. Walpole fought hard to keep the scoring low, allowing only two goals in the first two periods. Danny Flynn, assisted by Stephen Old and Zach Barris, scored one in the first period, while Jack Martins, assisted by Old, scored one in the second period. Gateway tired Walpole out by the third despite Walpole sneaking one goal in, but Gateway fired back with three additional goals of their own in the third. Matt Quinlan scored two unassisted goals and Luke Mello scored the final goal off of an assist by RJ Vickery. The final score was 5-1 with Gateway going into a tough game two with a little momentum.
Middle School 1: The MS1 Jr. Vikings were back in action Friday after a month of not playing. They came away with a 5-0 win against FR Shaughnessy. Quirino doCanto got the scoring starting making a nice move to beat the goalie. Tyler Lovendale put home the second goal, assisted by brother Zack Lovendale and doCanto. Peter Pimental got into the action next, putting in a rebound from a Robert Ramsay shot. Robert Maloney followed up with a goal, knocking in a rebound from a James L’Heureux shot. Vyper LaTulippe finished up the scoring, assisted by defenseman Coleby Paling. Alex DeMarco played great in net, earning the shutout for the Jr. Vikings.
Bantams: The Gateway Gladiators began the Yankee Conference Bantam division playoffs with a 6-3 victory over the Pembroke Titans. A sluggish start and a lack of execution by the Gladiators resulted in a tied first frame, as each team netted two goals. Coleby Paling netted a slapshot from the blueline and Jake DeMoranville went top-shelf with a wrister for Gateway. A slightly better effort in the second period resulted in a Gladiator goal for Nick Snow. Gateway found its rhythm midway through the third period, as Snow scored again, hustling to create a breakaway opportunity. Josh Smolinsky and Zachary Lovendale also added goals in the final minute of play. The “round-robin” tournament continues next weekend, as the Gladiators meet up with the WHK Hawks.