Perseverance, agility pay off for 12-and-under hockey team

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, March 15, 2008

The Niagara Junior Purple Eagles girls 12 and under hockey team took third place at the state tournament on March 2. Front row: Rachael Farmer and Jillian Long. Second row: Madison Aken, Kaeli Mathias, Paloma D’Auria, Kati Marotta, Kyra Johansson, Alessandra SantaRosa and Lauren March. Third row: Alyse Borelli, Brianna Mathias, Cara Porto, Coach Paul Mathias, Rochelle Cataffo, Annemarie Catalano, Abigail Nashwinter, Coach Bob Schiffhauer, Marielle Buffamonte, Taylor Schiffhauer, Coach Anders Johansson and Taylor Scheuing.

The Niagara Junior Purple Eagles girls 12 and under hockey team rose to the challenge this year.

This “pioneer team” – the first girls team ever out of Niagara Junior Purple Eagles – started in the 2006-2007 season at Niagara University’s Dwyer Arena and competed in the Great Lakes Girls Hockey League. They qualified for the state tournament held in Syracuse from Feb. 29 to March 2 where they tied for third place. Coached by Bob Schiffhauer and Paul Mathias, team players include Alyse Borelli, Cara Porto, Kaeli and Brianna Mathias, Rochelle Cataffo, Annemarie Catalano, Abigail Nashwinter, Marielle Buffamonte, Taylor Schiffhauer, Taylor Scheuing, Lauren March, Madison Aiken, Paloma D’Auria, Kati Marotta, Kyra Johansson, Alessandra Santarosa, and goalies Jillian Long and Rachael Farmer.

The players live across Western New York, including Niagara Falls, Lewiston, Youngstown, Lockport, Grand Island, Tonawanda, North Tonawanda and Buffalo. Some of the girls have been playing hockey less than two years.

The Junior Purple Eagles team went into the tournament as the underdog of the eight teams in attendance and came out as the team to try and beat. The Mamaroneck Tigers team from the New York City area, having been together since most of their girls were 6 years of age, won all their preliminary round games in complete shut-outs until facing off with the Junior Purple Eagles in the semi-final. Two late goals in the third period gave Mamaroneck a 5-2 victory. Mamaroneck advanced to win the final game versus the Lake Placid Ice Storm..

Tryouts for the 2008-2009 season for the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles Girls 12 and under hockey Team and the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles Girls 14 and under team will be April 7 and 9. For more information, contact Bob at 207-7809.