Wilmington Peewee1s Win State Championship

What a weekend by your Wilmington Wildcats Peewee 1 team! Going 5-0 on route to winning the Peewee Tier IIs State Championship in Springfield, MA. The work behind the scenes to help prepare these kids compete for the State title is often done and not recognized. The Wilmington Youth Hockey Board of Directors work hard each year to help facilitate goals for the organization and States was definitely one of them. They brought in independent skills instructors, setup and implemented Coaching standards for practices, secured ice time when little was available, facilitated evaluations, with the hope of setting higher standards to help prepare our kids learn the sport of hockey, have fun doing it, constantly improve with hopes of competing at every level and ultimately be able to compete for a high school team in the future.
Led by Coach Robbie Peterson, Assistant Coaches: Dave Glinner, Marc Gallucci, Eric Packer, Jim McCarron, Mark Cedrone and James Peterson this group brought years of wisdom and experience to this team at all levels. The speeches these coaches gave before and after each game will be heard in these young minds for years to come.
Wilmington secured a wildcard spot in the State tournament due to their success and overall record in the Valley League, currently in 1st place in the North American AAA division.
The team arrived in Springfield MA late on a Friday afternoon to faceoff against a little known opponent from the Cape named South Coast Panthers. South Coast Panthers brought a winning record and a 2.85 Goals For and a 1.2 goals against average to this tournament with high expectations. As the team's warmed up just before the puck dropped it was evident that South Coast Panthers were for real. It was clear that the jitters had set in for this one as the puck dropped and the teams played a tough first period. The Wildcats goalie Sam Cedrone found himself making some key saves early in this one as his teammates adjusted making it a 0-0 first period. Wildcats forwards Jake Glinner, Drew Gallucci and Will Alworth had plenty of chances early in the second period as they tested the Panthers goalie on numerous occasions with some great passing and shooting. The Panther's defense was solid as they eliminated rebounds taking away second chances. Defensive parings of Conor Peterson and Nate Packer found themselves blocking numerous shots as the Wildcats started the second period a little flat footed. It hasn't been often that they found themselves in a scoreless situation when starting the 2nd period and the pressure of the State tournament set in as it was evident while trying to keep puck possession. The offense line of Brendan Ardito, Matt Ardito and Michael Daniels started to get the team going as they controlled the puck and successfully penetrated the neutral zone for some great shots on net, only to be stopped by a goalie who was clearly on top of his game. Derek Gallucci and defensive partner Jack Farrell worked hard at moving the puck and had numerous opportunities skating the puck in the offensive zone for some shots, but again the goalie made the initial stop and defense was all over any rebounds. Peter Kourkoutas, Gabby Daniels and Joey Cornish worked the puck well deep into the zone and had their chances too. Jimmy McCarron and James Kourkoutas played great stay at home defense with great tape to tape break out passes as South Coast brought pressure onto the Wildcats late in the second period. Sam Cedrone was just awesome keeping the game scoreless after 2 periods. The pressure was on, heading into the third period at 0-0, the Wildcats were struggling to put the puck in the net.
Unfortunately South Coast struck first after a neutral zone give away about 3 minutes into the third period going up 1-0. Coach Robbie Peterson called a timeout to regain confidence in the group, setting a audible game plan for the rest of the way. The Wildcats responded and fought hard as Drew Gallucci, Will Alworth and Jake Glinner peppered the goalie with more shots. The team tried everything, as the defense pair of Conor Peterson and Nate Packer were aggressive in the offensive zone with shots from the point hoping for a tip or a redirect. The South Coast goalie was just too hot, until 5 minutes left in the game with Peter Kourkoutas and Matt Ardito fighting to get possession on an offensive zone forecheck, only to have Matt Ardito win the battle into the corner then firing the puck on net while Peter Kourkoutas cut across the middle and hitting the puck in mid air sending it top corner short side to tie the game up, an incredible forecheck effort and resulting it what might have defined how the whole team played in the rest of the tournament. It was a heavy weight battle from here on out as both teams traded shots and saves, with 1:00 left the Wildcats had a great opportunity to win it as Brendan Ardito found a streaking Jack Farrell across the middle for a one timer only for it to take a funny bounce and sail just wide, but that wouldn't stop these two as they were relentless and getting the same opportunity just 52 seconds later, with 8 seconds left of the game doing exactly the same thing, but this time no bounce as Jack Farrell rifled a one timer inside the circles from a saucer pass from Brendan Ardito with the game winner making 2-1 Wildcats!!!
Game two vs Chelmsford was the following morning after our thriller. We have seen Chelmsford in prior games and they came in motivated and more prepared than ever. This was a game with over 19 minutes in penalties against The Wildcats, it seemed the deck was stacked against us but we did not give up. The Defense combinations of Conor Peterson, Nate Packer, Jimmy McCarron and James Kourkoutas was just awesome as they had to kill THREE 5 on 3's in this game. Sam Cedrone was as usually money, just awesome. This game started like the first, as both teams played chess trying to spot weaknesses in the other's game. The first first period ended in a 0-0 tie. Chelmsford struck first 3 minutes into the second on a rebound just outside the lower circle. The Wildcats found themselves playing over half the period short handed so their offensive opportunities were limited. Indirectly they seemed to adjust and respond better down a player which ended been the Achilles heal for Chelmsford as the 2nd period ended with the Wildcats down 1-0. The third was no different with a bunch of penalties on the Wildcats but that did not stop them as they were determined to win no matter what. Peter Kourkoutas started the period taking the puck from a center ice face-off and going in for the kill as he was not to be stopped, following his own rebound to tie it up shorthanded at 1-1 just seconds into the third. With 5 minutes left in the game, the Wildcats were killing their third 5 on 3 situation and Conor Peterson cleared a rebound into the defensive zone corner where Nate Packer quickly got it to the top of the circle where he made an awesome pass off of the boards to a streaking Derek Gallucci who blew by the defenseman and buried what proved to be the game winner, 2-1 Wilmington!
Game 3 just 5 hours laters vs Nashoba a team the Wildcats never played against was no different as the Wildcats found themselves down yet again 1-0 in the first. With 2.5 seconds left in the 1st period the Wildcats had a offensive zone draw in the Nashoba zone, when coach Robbie Peterson called an audible and pulled Same Cedrone sending Peter Kourkoutas as the 6th player on the draw. It was just awesome as Brendan Ardito won the draw directing it to Peter Kourkoutas for a one timer bar down just prior to the buzzer going off ending the period, 1-1 Wildcats! This changed the momentum of the game as the Wildcats dominated from here on out. Early in the second the Wildcats got some calls their way, and they made Nashoba pay. Derek Gallucci found Brendan Ardito on a nice pass as Brendan buried a far side goal making it 2-1. Minutes later yet another power-play was called as Jake Glinner was tripped on a break in. This time Gabby Daniels scored going to the net strong from Conor Peterson and Peter Kourkoutas making it 3-1. Will Alworth found Joey Cornish in the middle and Joey used his power as he moved through the defender then roofed an amazing right corner shot for a goal making it 4-1. The Wildcats had a good lead and dominated the game for the first two periods as they came out hard in the third with Gabby Daniels scoring her second of the game from Peter Kourkoutas and twin Michael Daniels making it 5-1. Gabby almost completed the trick late in the game but the goalie made some great stops. Nashoba answered with a late goal but he damage was done and the Wildcats prevailed 5-2.
The Wildcats won their division in preliminary play placing first and earning a spot in the semis for a Sunday morning game. First up was South Boston, a team that let up only 2 goals the whole tournament till they met the Wildcats.
Again the Cats found themselves down 1-0 to South Boston early in the first period. At the 2 minute mark in the second, Peter Kourkoutas won an offensive zone draw to blue liner Jimmy McCarron who riffled home a shot to the bottom right corner tying it up at 1-1. Then it was the Derek Gallucci show, as he was just awesome on left wing showing his speed, control and finish. He received a pass from Jack Farrell and Brendan Ardito and beat the defender going from left to right and burying the first of three consecutive goals. His second was received from James Kourkoutas and Will Alworth and his third was almost a copy of the second as Jake Glinner and again Brendan Ardito found him open on the left side to complete his Hat Trick, Putting the Wildcats up 4-1 early in the third. Derek Gallucci and Jake Glinner found Brendan Ardito late in the period for a goal finishing the game with a 5-1 Semi Final win!
Championship Game vs Norwood, who was the leading goals for team in the tournament, scoring over 18 goals against opponents showing their powerful offense. Our Defense would not be denied, Jimmy McCarron, James Kourkoutas, Nate Packer, Conor Peterson and Jack Farrell played incredible defense. Sam Cedrone wanted this game more than anyone. Coach Robbie Peterson's pregame speech had them fired up not to go down by one yet again in this game. The defense responded as James Kourkoutas and Jimmy Mccarron's physical game moved Norwood to spots they didn't agree to be in. The Wildcats struck first, just half way through the first period, Peter Kourkoutas won an offensive zone face-off to Jack Farrell who rifled a shot from the point making it 1-0 Wildcats as the crowd went wild!!!! Towards the end of the first the Wildcat's found themselves killing yet another penalty, which they got a lot of practice vs Chelmsford, so they did not panic. They produced! Brendan Ardito found his left wing Derek Gallucci with yet another beautiful break in pass and Derek turned on the jets, going in for the kill and putting in a nice shot and finish to make it 2-0! Our second period was not one of our best, as Norwood took the game to us, but again our defense was awesome, Sam Cedrone was impenetrable against the tournament's top scoring team and all pucks and bodies were cleared from the vicinity ending the period scoreless at 2-0. Coach Robbie's speech hit home in the third as the kids went back out and dominated with Drew Gallucci scoring from Matt Ardito and Joey Cornish making it 3-0 Final, State Champions, Your Peewee1s!!!!!