•Mites 1: The Mite 1 team came from behind to beat the SC Panthers in Falmouth. After a slow start, the team picked it up a notch and finished strong.  Matthew Quinlan lead the charge with multiple goals and clean, physical play that resulted in good positioning. Matthew Paling had a sweet shot that scored from the red line. Coach Schultz awarded the game puck to the entire team for not giving up when they were down.

•Squirt 1: The Ice Wolves remained undefeated in the Yankee Conference beating Braintree 7-1 Sunday.  After a sluggish start, the Ice Wolves pulled away in the third period. Scoring were Tyler Lovendale with another hat trick, Quirino doCanto with 2 goals, and Kaleb Riggle and Bryan Gallagher with a goal each. Chipping in with assists, doCanto with 3 and John Rodrigues, Riggle, Gallagher each with one.  Thomas Galavotti earned the win in net for the Ice Wolves.

•Bantams: Gateway recorded their fourth straight win with a 4-2 victory over Hanover Saturday night.  Again, Gateway took control of the game with a pretty two on one that saw Brady Smith draw the defender and the goalie before sliding the puck to Brian Holmes who buried the eventual game winner. Heading into the third, Gateway dug deep and created a force field in their defensive zone to help goalie Teaghin Andre frustrate the Hanover offense. Clinging to a slim lead, and outnumbered on the ice, Kelso iced the game and finished his hat trick by sending the puck through the Hanover defenders legs and into the empty net with less than a minute to play.

•Middle School: The Wareham Vikings middle school team had another victory over Oliver Ames at Raynham CDL on Friday, December 21 with a 9-6 tilt.

Wareham pulled ahead early with four quick goals in the first period. Cam DeMarco once again scored the first goal of the game, Will Paling followed with an unassisted goal, and Sean Kelso found the net while Connor Kelley finished out the scoring in the first.

Mike Houdlette came out firing in the second, scoring a goal with an assist by Kelley and a second unassisted goal. Goalie Chase Cunningham left at the halfway mark with a shutout after an excellent performance in the net.

At the end of the second period, Oliver Ames got on the board, scoring with under two minutes left. In the third, they found their rhythm, scoring a goal as the period started. Houdlette answered with an assist from Paling, giving him his hat trick for the night.

The 2013 Boston Marathon won’t commence for over four months, but preparations for Rochester resident Phil Cordeiro are well underway.  In April, Cordeiro will participate in his second Boston Marathon as a part of a team of 100 runners representing Massachusetts General Hospital.

“Several years ago, I started running to improve my health and fitness,” said Cordeiro.  “Once you start the process, you go down this road of wondering whether or not you can run a marathon.”

After he was contacted, Cordeiro began a rigorous 16-week training program in order to prepare for the big race.  While he is utilizing the same training program this year, no program would prepare him for the racing conditions he endured last year.  A random, 90-degree heat wave struck Boston in the middle of April, making conditions for all runners quite grueling.

“I finished happy and healthy,” said Cordeiro.  “It was a great experience, but it was very difficult. I’m going to be honest; part of me is doing it again this year for a little bit of redemption. I’m hoping for better weather.”

From now until April, Cordeiro will be running four days and an upward of 40 miles per week.  Additionally, he will alter his diet to cater to his training.

“It is a pretty heavy commitment and it is a lot of time away from your family, especially in the winter, but it was necessary” he said.  “ You have to eat the right food to fuel for the next run.  It was a lot of restriction that I hadn’t encountered up until that point.  It was quite a learning experience for me.”

Cordeiro, like every runner participating in the marathon, must raise at least $5,000 in order to qualify.  He says his goal is between $7,000 and $8,000.  As part of the Massachusetts General Hospital Team, all proceeds raised by Cordeiro and fellow runners will benefit children and families battling cancer.

“You’re fundraising with them in mind.  It gives you the motivation to continue with the cause,” he said.  “It’s gut wrenching, but it’s morale boosting at the same time. They’re motivating you just by their very existence.”

In addition to his fundraising goals, this year, Cordeiro hopes to run a sub-four-hour marathon. He also encourages anyone who might be on the fence about running to start small with a 5K.  From there, runners can gradually increase to a 10K and half-marathon until they are ready to complete a full marathon.

“I didn’t think I would be doing this years ago,” he said.  “There are more runners than you would think out there.  Bonding with a friend on a light weekend run is good motivation and builds your confidence.  Before you know it, you’ll be ready to go.”

To help Cordeiro reach his fundraising foal, visit http://www.crowdrise.com/TeamMassGeneralHospital/fundraiser/philipcordeiroto make a donation.

By Katy Fitzpatrick