The Gateway Youth Hockey Vikings notched two wins this weekend to better their championship chances. The team plays again on Friday, April 4. To read more see below.

Pee Wee Warriors

The Gateway Warriors defeated the North Devils 1-0 in the final preliminary game of the Yankee Conference Pee Wee playoffs. Jared Westgate scored the only goal of the game, unassisted.

Steven Strachan and Zachary Pateakos were stellar in the net, as the defense of Westgate, Jackson St. Don, Beth Davis, and Noah Demoranville stifled the Devil’s shooters. Warrior centermen, Jake Demoranville and Robert Ramsay offered critical back checking support each and every shift, as their line-mates struggled to find their skating legs after the two-week layoff.

The Warrior/Devils rivalry will play for the final time next week, as the teams meet in the league championship on Sunday, April 6, at Hobomock 1 in Pembroke. Puck drops at 12:50 p.m.

The Squirt Grizzlies will also play its Championship Game on Sunday in Pembroke, v.s. Braintree 3, starting at 10:30 a.m.

Middle School

The Vikings had a tough draw Friday night in their first game of the playoffs, facing the North Attleboro Devils, a team they had lost to twice before. The Devils were the first to find the net, scoring on Vikings goalie Steven Strachan early in the first period.

The Devils kept the lead until midway through the second period, when Vyper Latulippe scored on a long distance, top shelf shot to even the score, 1-1. At the start of the final period the Devils scored on relief goalie Teaghin Andre. But Cam DeMarco of the Vikings quickly answered, assisted by Latulippe and Bryan Gallagher.

Vittorio Consoletti scored the go ahead goal two minutes later, and the assist went to Seth Tomasik. Zack Lovendale bought some insurance, scoring at the five minute mark with the help of Kaitlin Kelly and Quirino DoCanto. The Devils found the net once more, but despite pulling their goalie, were not able to score again, giving the Vikings their first win of the playoffs, 4-3.

It looked like the tide had turned against the Vikings in their second playoff game Sunday night. Norton took an early 2-1 lead, scoring twice on goalie Teaghin Andre. Norton generally dominated the game, outshooting the Vikings three times to one, but Andre worked overtime to protect the net, making 20 saves in his half of the game.

The Vikings had the advantage of a deeper bench and their passing game came together midway through the second period. The turnaround started with Latulippe finding the net on a great pass from Makayla Wood. Quirino DoCanto scored next, assisted again by Wood and Coleby Paling. The third period saw three more goals from the Vikings, starting with Consoletti, scoring on Wood's third assist of the night. Matt Maloney scored next, assisted by Seth Tomasik. Then Zack Lovendale went all out to score the fifth goal for the Vikings, leaving the game soon after due to injury.

Down 5-2, and with two Vikings in the penalty box, Norton pulled their goalie for a six on three power play, but were not successful. Relief goalie Steven Strachan had a stellar night, making 20 saves and earning a shutout for his half. of the Viking 5-2 victory.

With two wins, the Vikings stand a good chance at the championship. They play again Friday, April 4.