March "Comes in like a Lion" as NY Lions take Division 6 Championship

New York, March 10, 2003 -- The NY Lions are the champions of Sky Rink's Division Six Adult Hockey League. This season, the Lions finished in first place (as they did in the Spring 2002 Season). They faced the Marlins and Dewey Ballantine in the first and second round of the playoffs, beating both teams to advance to the finals.

On Friday, February 28, the NY Lions faced their old nemesis, the Blast, who ended their season in second place, just behind the Lions. The finals would be played in a best of three series. Over the past five hockey seasons, the Lions and the Blast have faced each other seven times, and the Lions have never beaten them. This playoff series was going to be difficult.

In Game 1, the score was 4-4 in the middle of the third period. Captain Vinny Cericola scored the game winning goal for the Lions, assisted by defenseman Dave Simpson, ending the game with a score of 5-4.

Game 2 was played on Sunday, March 2. The Blast came out strong, scoring the first two goals of the game. The Lions quickly came back with two amazing goals by Lions defenseman Charlie Mulkeen. Lions Assistant Captain, Jason Fabreaux, scored the tying goal late in the third period, making the score 3-3, with three minutes remaining on the clock. Captain Vinny Cericola scored the game winner with 1:29 remaining in the game. The Lions were able to hold off the Blast as the clock ran out.

One of the more gratifying rewards of winning the Championship is that the NY Lions is the only gay team in Division Six at Sky Rink. The Lions beat eleven other "straight" teams to make it to the top. They achieved one of the goals of the NYCGHA, which is to diminish stereotypes by showing that gays and lesbians can compete successfully in team sports. This was a great example of teamwork among the NY Lions, which is made up of gay and straight (gay-friendly) players.