The Boston area is affectionally referred to as the Hub of Hockey and the small coastal town of Winthrop has long been a contributor of top local talent. Despite seeing other town programs closing their doors or combining with other organizations to form teams, Winthrop Youth Hockey has seen a resurgence of interest and growth at its lower levels. For the first time in recent years, Winthrop Youth Hockey was able to form two Mite level teams and with close to 150 participants in this year’s learn-to-skate and Mite Development programs, the future of the organization remains bright.
Utilizing players from the ages of 6 to 8 years and three days of tryouts last March, WYH established an A and AA Mite team to be entered into the Valley Hockey League and internally known as Mite Gold and Mite Blue. Both teams quickly established themselves within their respective divisions with winning records and positive goal differentials and were growing in skill and ability week over week.
With game day upon us for the WYH Mite Holiday Showdown, the Larsen Rink at the Mike Eruzione Center was filled with players, family, and friends to much excitement. The skaters took to the ice for warm-ups and stood proudly like pros on their bluelines to salute the flag during the playing of the National Anthem. The game was kicked off with a ceremonial puck drop by hometown hero and Olympic Hockey legend, Mike Eruzione, between his two grandsons, Leo Callinan and TJ Callinan, to much fanfare.
The competition between the two teams was great, but Mite Blue quickly proved their ranking as an AA team with their skating and stickhandling abilities led by players Fritz Paulson, Nickolas Previte and Nicky DePrisco. Playing on a larger ice surface than normal, Mite Gold utilized their slightly larger bench to push back against tired legs in the third period. Uniting the Upton triplets to the top line and with a strong substitute goalie performance from Jonathan Paquette, they held Mite Blue’s advance and recorded their first goal by Cash Upton. Both teams gave it their all in the final few seconds with Cash Upton setting up Liam Fitzmaurice for a one-timer to be beautifully saved at the buzzer by rookie goalie sensation Caleb Skelton.
Before anyone had any opportunity to look up at the scoreboard the final tally had already been wiped clean. Both teams came together at center ice for the handshake line and left the competition on the ice to celebrate as brothers, friends and teammates.