The Shamrock Pee Wee Minors came from behind in both of their playoff games this past weekend to take the Mass Selects 99/00 Championship. Facing the New England Bulldogs in the semi-finals, the Shamrocks were able to jump out to an early lead when John Keaney banged home a goal after a perfect feed from left winger Bryan Govostes. The Bulldogs would get the next two goals, one later in the first, and their second in the middle period. Netminder Ryan Vogel kept the Bulldogs from doing further damage with some timely and acrobatic saves. Shamrock defensemen Timmy Bridges, Dante Centrella, Sean Loescher, Jake Pineau, and Anthony Nasta continued their fine play.  Despite the best efforts of the Shamrocks forwards, they entered the final period trailing 2-1.

With Alec DeGregorio in net for the second half of the game, and Shamrocks forwards Nick Bisconti, Sean Casey, Sky Cummings, Jason Haggerty, and Max Doucette applying intense pressure in the offensive end, the tide soon turned in favor of the Shamrocks. Govostes struck for a goal with a little over 10 minutes to play on an assist from Keaney.  DeGregorio made some highlight saves as the period continued.  After going on the power play, Dom Murray sniped a backhand into the net from the slot with helpers from Cummings and Casey.  Not content to rest on their lead, the Shamrocks continued to play aggressive and Dan McNamara snuck one by the Bulldogs goalie on an unassisted wraparound with 2:49 to play in the game. The Bulldogs pulled their goalie and continued to press but the shamrocks hung on for the 4-2 victory.

On Sunday, the Shamrocks took on the Manchester Flames for the 99/00 Championship. It was the Flames that had the better start, grabbing the game's first two goals, both in the first period.  Vogel again made numerous stellar saves to keep the score close, and the defense of Ryan Chambers, Bridges, and Centrella was able to hold off the hard-charging Flames to end the first period with the Shamrocks down 2-0.

The Shamrocks regrouped in between periods and Vogel led by example, shutting down the Flames for the remainder of his time in the net. With a little under 8 minutes to play in the game, the Flames made a errant breakout pass that an alert Nasta pounced on just inside the blue line. He evaded two Flames forwards, marched into the high slot, and snapped a backhander high glove side past the Flames goalie to give the shamrocks their first tally. The team fed off this great play and two minutes later Casey grabbed another goal off of a helper from Pineau. The second period would end with the score knotted at 2-2.

Shamrocks’ goalie DeGregorio took the load for the second half of the game.  Smart defensive play from Loescher and the other defensemen kept the Flames pinned for long stretches in their own end. The Shamrocks didn't wait long to jump in front.  Bisconti carried the puck wide into the Flames end and made a perfect feed to McNamara who buried his shot early in the third period and the Shamrocks finally led the game for the first time. The Flames upped their own intensity but the Shamrocks were prepared.

With an assist from Casey, Haggerty banged home the Shamrocks final goal with 5 minutes to play. Protecting a 4-2 lead, the entire team did an excellent job of continually thwarting the Flames players and driving them back into their own end. When the final buzzer sounded the team had the Championship and enjoyed an on ice celebration that included the presentation of the Championship plaque and their gold medals.