All American's Southside Snipers win Pro, Minor Pro, and AAA Divisions
St. Louis, MO - May 12th, 2008 -
This past weekend saw the crowning of champions in the PIHA Gateway Division. Three heavily touted match-ups took place for pride, honor, and the PIHA Gateway Championship Cup. The AAA and Minor Pro teams faced off in front of a standing-room-only crowd at All American this past Friday while the Pros competed at a packed house for Mother's Day Madness at Midwest Sport Hockey.
The cups were on hand and the stories unfolded with all the drama of a Hollywood blockbuster. Of the three best-of-three series', two went into a nailbiting game three. There was not an empty seat at All American or Midwest Sport Hockey and fans were treated to some of the most exciting championship action in inline hockey history.
By some unbelievable twist of fate and a testament to a quality organization, the Southside Snipers shocked the inline hockey world by SWEEPING all three titles. The Minor Pro Snipers were the only team that entered the playoffs as the favorite (#1 seed) and defeated the Chicago Untouchable 4-0 and 2-0 to earn their second championship in two years (see recap below).
The AAA and Pro Divisions saw some real playoff magic. Coach Don Middendorf's AAA Snipers had a season of hard knocks and close losses. They entered the playoffs as the fourth and final seed and were expected to be the recipients of an early exit; however, the AAA team came together and defeated the #1 seeded River City Whalers and then the Midwest Tornados in three games to win the first ever AAA Championship (see more below).
The Pro Division provided one of the most intense playoff series to memory. The Midwest Tornados came in as heavy favorites and the number one ranked PIHA team in the United States with a record of 30 wins and 2 losses. Many people believed the Tornados would coast through the PIHA Gateway Playoffs and head to California for the Western Conference Championships at the end of the month; however, it was the Snipers who came in with the hot hand after taking out the higher seeded Chicago Untouchables. With all kinds of heroics (see below) the Southside Snipers defeated the windy juggernaut in three games to become Back-to-Back PIHA Champions. The Snipers now have the trophy, pride, $1,000, and head to San Jose California to take on the Colorado Spring Thunder in the first round of the Western Conference Championship (If the Snipers defeat the Thunder, they will face the winner of the Phoenix Dragons and Northern California Mustangs).
Thank you to everyone who has made the PIHA Gateway season and playoffs a very special year including all staff, referees, owners, general managers, coaches, sponsors, fans, and everyone else! Also thank you to Mr. Quinlivan for the great skateboard donations for the PIHA Gateway Finals! Congratulations to all champions and runner-ups for a great season.
Make sure to log onto www.pihagatewayhockey.com for playoff recaps, photos, and follow the Snipers all the way to San Jose. Thank you to John and Susan Lawing for taking awesome photos during the events that will be up soon. Also, thank you to the Professor James Lambert who taped all three PIHA Pro Championship games and we will have them up on the website soon for everyone to enjoy.
This past weekend saw the crowning of champions in the PIHA Gateway Division. Three heavily touted match-ups took place for pride, honor, and the PIHA Gateway Championship Cup. The AAA and Minor Pro teams faced off in front of a standing-room-only crowd at All American this past Friday while the Pros competed at a packed house for Mother's Day Madness at Midwest Sport Hockey.
The cups were on hand and the stories unfolded with all the drama of a Hollywood blockbuster. Of the three best-of-three series', two went into a nailbiting game three. There was not an empty seat at All American or Midwest Sport Hockey and fans were treated to some of the most exciting championship action in inline hockey history.
By some unbelievable twist of fate and a testament to a quality organization, the Southside Snipers shocked the inline hockey world by SWEEPING all three titles. The Minor Pro Snipers were the only team that entered the playoffs as the favorite (#1 seed) and defeated the Chicago Untouchable 4-0 and 2-0 to earn their second championship in two years (see recap below).
The AAA and Pro Divisions saw some real playoff magic. Coach Don Middendorf's AAA Snipers had a season of hard knocks and close losses. They entered the playoffs as the fourth and final seed and were expected to be the recipients of an early exit; however, the AAA team came together and defeated the #1 seeded River City Whalers and then the Midwest Tornados in three games to win the first ever AAA Championship (see more below).
The Pro Division provided one of the most intense playoff series to memory. The Midwest Tornados came in as heavy favorites and the number one ranked PIHA team in the United States with a record of 30 wins and 2 losses. Many people believed the Tornados would coast through the PIHA Gateway Playoffs and head to California for the Western Conference Championships at the end of the month; however, it was the Snipers who came in with the hot hand after taking out the higher seeded Chicago Untouchables. With all kinds of heroics (see below) the Southside Snipers defeated the windy juggernaut in three games to become Back-to-Back PIHA Champions. The Snipers now have the trophy, pride, $1,000, and head to San Jose California to take on the Colorado Spring Thunder in the first round of the Western Conference Championship (If the Snipers defeat the Thunder, they will face the winner of the Phoenix Dragons and Northern California Mustangs).
Thank you to everyone who has made the PIHA Gateway season and playoffs a very special year including all staff, referees, owners, general managers, coaches, sponsors, fans, and everyone else! Also thank you to Mr. Quinlivan for the great skateboard donations for the PIHA Gateway Finals! Congratulations to all champions and runner-ups for a great season.
Make sure to log onto www.pihagatewayhockey.com for playoff recaps, photos, and follow the Snipers all the way to San Jose. Thank you to John and Susan Lawing for taking awesome photos during the events that will be up soon. Also, thank you to the Professor James Lambert who taped all three PIHA Pro Championship games and we will have them up on the website soon for everyone to enjoy.
