Special to the Transcript
On Saturday, April 26th, Winthrop Youth Hockey hosted its second annual Mama Vikings Fundraiser Game, and it was nothing short of a tremendous success.
The rink was packed with energy as friends, families, and supporters came out in full force to cheer on the 35 moms who laced up their skates and took the ice. The line to get into the rink stretched out the door, creating an electric atmosphere before the puck even dropped.
The game itself was a thrilling back-and-forth battle, with Team Blue edging out Team White in a 7-6 nail-biter. Both teams kept it neck-and-neck right until the final buzzer, providing non-stop action and plenty of excitement for the crowd. Head coaches Mike Upton and Kim Paulson could be seen on the benches, pushing their players to work harder—complete with some animated “encouragement” (also known as screaming) from behind the boards.
The game wasn’t without a little drama either. Elizabeth Ferrara was called for a questionable penalty by her own son, high school defenseman Paul Ferrara. Mrs. Ferrara later jokingly announced that Paul Joseph would be grounded for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, Ashley Cimmino earned herself a penalty for roughing, showing that the Mama Vikings weren’t afraid to get a little physical when the game was on the line.
Adding to the festivities was the Chuck-a-Duck contest during intermission, which was a big hit with the kids and families in attendance. Participants had the chance to toss rubber ducks onto the ice for prizes, bringing even more fun and laughter to an already unforgettable afternoon.
Most importantly, the fundraiser was a major success, raising critical funds to support Winthrop Youth Hockey’s programs. Beyond the competition, the event celebrated community, friendship, and the spirit of taking on new challenges—values at the heart of Winthrop Youth Hockey.
A special thank you goes out to our referees, high school hockey players Phil Boncore and Paul Ferrara, for keeping the game (mostly) under control. And thank you to Pat Emanuelle for capturing the memories with incredible photos throughout the event.
Congratulations to the Mama Vikings and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out to support them and make the day such a memorable one!