Wilmington Scores More Hockey Hardware

Editor's Note: The following information was provided by Wilmington Youth Hockey.

The Breakaway Ice Center was the sight of the Mite level MVC Cup tournament this past weekend. Teams from around the Middlesex Valley would battle for the title. Twelve of Wilmington’s best mite level players from various teams in the area came together as one to represent the town. Wilmington's 7- and 8-year-olds drew Andover, Greater Salem and Masco in the preliminary round, easily the toughest qualification group of the three. 

The Andover game was a back and forth affair with each team gaining a one goal advantage at one point during the game. Aiden O’Connell had a hat trick with Matt Ardito and Matt Vinal each lighting the lamp once. Meanwhile the defense of Brendan Ardito and Jack Farrell helped secure a 5-4 victory for the Wildcats. 

The second qualification game was against Greater Salem. The Wildcats opened up the floodgates, managing to get eight behind the goalie while Sam Cedrone shut the door on all but one, final score being 8-1. Outstanding efforts by Colin Sainato and Owen White as well as a goal by Riley Fitzgerald and a hat trick by Nolan Vigeant was coupled with great defense by Aidan Elkins and AJ Lavigne. 
The third qualification game was against tournament favorite Masconomet, with several players wearing their Valley Jr. Warrior socks with their Masco jerseys.

This was a battle to advance to Sunday’s playoff and both teams being undefeated. The game started with one way traffic in Wilmington’s favor. After one period, the score was 1-0 Wildcats. Midway through the second period it was 3-0. However, Masco got things going with a goal at the end of the second period and managed two more in the third, resulting in a hard fought 3-3 draw. With 2 wins and a draw each, both teams would advance to the next round, a double elimination 20 minute period playoff with four teams left competing. 

Sunday's round robin double elimination championship format started with the Wildcats playing against a 3-0 Reading team, who earned their #1 seed for the playoff round by beating Tewksbury, Greater Haverhill and Billerica.

The game was tightly played, with both teams unwilling to give an inch. In the end, a nice goal by Aiden O’Connell helped the Wilmington team earn the victory. The second game was against the same Masco team from the night before. Again, a tightly contested matchup resulted in a 2-1 victory by the Wildcats, with goals by O’Connell and Nolan Vigeant. 

The championship game was yet another rematch of the Masco game from earlier in the day and the night before, as they beat Greater Salem to advance to the final game. The Wildcats gave up an early goal but were able to keep the game close and tied things up with just under three minutes left.

The clock wound down and headed for a five minute sudden death overtime. With a little over a minute gone, the Wildcats scored a nice goal by O’Connell, leading to sticks and gloves in the air and a pile of kids on the ice in celebration. 

Thanks to the coaches for their hard work this weekend, Mike Vinal, Craig Conway, Dan White, Dave Sainato and Andy Lavigne. Also a special thanks to the parents and friends in attendance who helped push the Cats ahead when they needed a boost.