Squirt Grizzlies: The Gateway Squirt Grizzlies lost in the Yankee Conference championship game on Sunday to Braintree 2-1. Braintree started off strong and took a 2-0 lead in the first period despite being outshot by the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies responded in the second with Chris Gauvin scoring to cut the lead to one. The Grizzlies outshot Braintree in the third period, but just couldn’t get anything past the Braintree goalie, who made some excellent saves to preserve the win. Ryker King made some nice saves in goal for Gateway. The Grizzlies had previously beaten Braintree 3-2 in the playoffs and ended the season 2-2-1 against them on the year. Overall the Grizzlies had a 25-2-2 record in the Yankee conference for the year.
Pee Wee Warriors: The Gateway Warriors lost a 1-0 heartbreaker in their Yankee Conference Pee Wee championship game against the North Devils. Effort and intensity were top priorities for both teams from the opening puck-drop until the final buzzer. In the end, a bouncing puck that somehow made its way past the Warrior goal line decided the game. Both Zachary Pateakos and Steven Strachan were superb in their ability to fend off the Devil’s legitimate scoring chances, much in part due to the defensive pairings of Beth Davis/Jared Westgate and Jackson St. Don/Noah Demoranville that allowed very little open ice for Devil skaters. Offensively, Robert Ramsay and wingmen Jameson Woodward/Zachary Barris forced the Devil goalie to earn his keep during each of their shifts. Brothers Ben and Jake Demoranville, along with linemate Dan Flynn, also moved the puck well and provided their share of shots on goal. However, nothing could penetrate the North Devil net. Both teams entertained a packed Hobomock Arena to what was easily the best hockey game of the season!
Middle School: It was another edge-of-your-seat game as the Middle School Vikings faced Mansfield in the third game of the championship playoffs Friday night. The Vikings were first to find the net, with Kaitlin Kelley scoring early in the first period, assisted by Zack Lovendale. Mansfield tied it up with five minutes left in the second period, but the Vikings quickly regained the lead, with a goal by Lovendale. Less than a minute later, Mansfield tied it up again. The game remained tied until nearly the end of the third period, with both teams firing on the net. The Vikings defense and netminders were especially put to the test as Mansfield played an aggressive game. The Vikings offense kept up their own assault on the Mansfield goalie and gained the lead again with one minute left in the game, as Vittorio Consoletti scored with an assist by Kelley, The lead was short-lived, however, as Mansfield tied it up again thirty seconds later. The game ended in a tie, 3-3.
Coach Howie Long was pleased with the Vikings performance. He especially noted Makayla Wood for her work on defense. Starting goalie Steven Strachan had 13 saves, and relief goalie Teaghin Andre had 15. With two wins and a tie in the series, the Vikings will play in the Championship game on Thursday night, facing Mansfield once again.
