The Middle Village Roller Hockey League capped off an unforgettable Mites season last weekend with a playoff run that delivered one thrilling game after another.
Featuring players aged 5 to 10, six competitive teams battled it out for the Queens Maloney Cup in a series of matchups that kept fans and families on the edge of their seats. In the end, the High Flyers were crowned champions, but not without a fight from the resilient Hitmen and a playoff bracket filled with heart-pounding action.
The postseason began with two intense overtime matchups in the first round. The Thunder Trucks faced off against the Tigers in a contest that came down to the wire, with the Thunder emerging victorious in sudden death.
In a similarly close battle, the Squirrels managed to outlast the Stingers in extra time, securing their spot in the next round and continuing the theme of razor-thin margins.
The second round raised the stakes even higher. The top-seeded Hitmen had to dig deep to come from behind against the Squirrels. Despite a strong effort from the underdogs, the Hitmen’s leadership and teamwork prevailed, sending them to the championship game.
On the other side of the bracket, the High Flyers broke a late tie against the Thunder Trucks in a tightly contested match that highlighted the skills and determination of both teams.
The championship game brought together the two top teams from the regular season — the Hitmen and the High Flyers — and the showdown did not disappoint.
The High Flyers burst out of the gate, dominating the early minutes of play and jumping out to a 5-1 lead. With the game seemingly slipping away, the Hitmen mounted an incredible comeback. Led by team captains Daniel Krawiec and Alexander Posylkin, the Hitmen scored three unanswered goals to cut the deficit to 5-4 and shift the momentum in their favor.
However, the High Flyers had an ace up their sleeve. League MVP Anthony Wilkos delivered a standout performance, scoring the final two goals of the game to secure the 7-4 victory and finish with an astonishing six goals in the championship alone.
In nets, his younger brother Alex Wilkos played a crucial role, stopping nearly 30 shots and providing a strong backbone for the Flyers’ defense during the late-game pressure.
The season featured remarkable efforts from every team. The Hitmen, coached by Gary Posylkin, Sean Rock, and Arthur Szablinski, put together an inspiring campaign and proved to be worthy finalists.
The Thunder Trucks, guided by coaches Tom Schmidt, Eugene McPhillips, and Justin Skrapits, claimed third place and showed tremendous grit throughout the playoffs.
League Administrator Paul Pogozelski extended heartfelt thanks to all the coaches, players, referees, and families who supported the league throughout the season. He also gave special recognition to Giedre Pogozelski, the league’s team parent coordinator, whose efforts behind the scenes helped make the season run smoothly.
The Mites season concluded not only with a championship trophy but with lasting memories for every child who laced up their skates, played their hearts out and brought excitement and sportsmanship to the rink each week.
