The Gateway Youth Hockey Middle School Vikings vied for their Foxboro League Championships on April 10. The game was decided in the final 30 seconds as the teams traded goals, however, the final goal belonged to Mansfield who won 4-3.

The Vikings had played Mansfield in the last game of the playoff series, and they knew they had their work cut out for them.

Mansfield set the tone early when the team’s goalie punched Vikings forward Quirino DoCanto in the face after a collision at the net.  Referees did a good job of keeping the game in check though, and the Vikings kept themselves above the fracas.

After a scoreless first period, Mansfield got the puck past starting goalie Teaghin Andre on a breakaway. Both teams were continuously shooting on net, and the Vikings tied the score when Vyper LaTulippe scored on a pass from Coleby Paling to Tyler Lovendale. Andre and his defense blocked 17 shots in the first half of the game. Key to the defense were Paling, Caleb Riggle, Jackson St Don and Bryan Gallagher.

The 1-1 tie was broken when Mansfield took advantage of relief goalie Steven Strachan as he came in cold to start his shift. Strachan recovered and stayed on his game, making 13 more saves through the third period. DoCanto helped the Vikings tie it up again as the third period started.

Mansfield pulled ahead near the end of the third, scoring on a power play. It seemed all was lost until the Vikings pulled their goalie for a six-man attempt, and Lovendale scored with 30 seconds left, assisted by Seth Tomasik and Paling. A 3-3 tie looked to send the game into overtime, but Mansfield scored on a breakaway with 15 seconds left. The Vikings took a time out, the goalie was pulled again, and the Vikings worked valiantly to tie it up, but it was not to be.