On Friday June 13th, 2008 the Garden City Recreation Department Roller Hockey League held its annual Championship Games for the spring 2008 season. It was a picture perfect day which began with the Junior Division which is ages 9 & 10 and the match-up featured The Sabres coached by James Crafa up against the Senators coached by Brian Johnston. The two teams battled from start to finish as this was a very close game throughout. Owen Lucano netted two goals for the Sabres off great passes from Matthew Lobasso and Alex Hristakis. Daniel LaRose was solid all game long in net for the Sabres while Brian McKenne, Thomas Hegeman, Patrick Plunkett, and Liam Gribbin played solid defense in front of him making it difficult for the Senators to get on a roll. For the Senators they received goals from Anthony Sikorski and Thomas Crafa while Elias Karikas, Aidan Ryan, Mark Downey, Tim Collins, Bret Bello, and Jake Quattlander all played a solid game for the Senators and after three periods of play we were all tied up heading to sudden death overtime in the championship game. It would be the Senators who would win it all as Grant Henneberger skated in and netted the game winner and made them the Stanley Cup Champions for the Junior Division. Owen and Nolan Prendergast from the Sabres and Max Zebrowski of the Senators were unable to attend the Championship Game, however their efforts for their teams all season long were a big reason why their teams made it all the way to the Championship Game. The Final Score was Senators 3/Sabres 2 (OT FINAL). After the game the presentation of the Conn Symthe Award (which goes to the most valuable player in the playoffs and Championship Game) was presented to Senators goaltender Luciano Migliore.

The Mites Division Championship Game also featured Coach Crafa's Sabres against Coach Johnston's Senators. It was the Senators who got off to a fast start as they netted two first period goals from Lucas Franco and Patrick Murtagh to take an early 2-0 lead. The Senators showed some great defensive play in the first period from Sean Rode, Matthew Carroll, Daniel Leary, and Thomas Plunkett while Calum Gribbin and Colin Crean made some great passes to set up their team mates for goals. However in the 2nd period, the Sabres got on the board when Kenny McCadden blasted a slap shot off a great pass from Steven Spirakis that beat Senators goaltender Robery Lucano. Lucano was on as he made many key saves and after two periods of play the Senators held a 2-1 lead. However in the third the Sabres tied the game when Liam Curtin netted his first goal of the game off a great pass from Matthew Savino. As we reached the final minute of the game, it appeared for the second game of the night we were headed to sudden death overtime. However with 17 seconds to play Sabres Christopher Michel scored what proved to be the game winning goal off yet another great pass from Timothy Herlihy and captured the Stanley Cup for the Mites Division Sabres. Zachary Debler and Owen Wieland were unable to attend the Championship Game for the Sabres. Zachary Debler and Owen Wieland were unable to attnd the Championship Game for the Sabres but their efforts all season wre a big reason why the Sabres made it all the way to the Championship Game. The final score was Sabres 3/ Senators 2. After the game the presentation of the Conn Symthe Award was presented to Sabres Christopher Michel.

The third and final game of the evening featured the Senior Division Islanders coached by Dan Hickcox against James Crafa's Sabres. In net for the Sabres was Zachary Bostrom while manning the net for the Islanders was Joseph Eigl. In the first period the Sabres grabbed an early lead when Kenny Boudreau put the Sabres up 1-0 off a great pass from Scott LaRose only to see the Islanders come back and score two goals one by Kenny Nygaard and the other by Matt Trabold. Throughout the first period of play we saw some great defensive play from the Sabres Jack Murtagh, Frank Sikorski, William Herlihy Conor Sproat and Henry Wykowski while for the Islanders Anthony Velez and Andrew Abballe and Brendan Polke were rock solid on defense. Heading into the second period it would be the Sabres turn to score as Kenny Boudreau added his 2nd and 3rd goals of the game off great passes from Andrew Lobasso and James Polka to give the Sabres the 3-2 lead. However the Islanders kept on battling and before the 2nd period was over Daniel Combatti added the 3rd goal of the game off a great pass from Thomas Rocco and after two periods we were all tied up at 3. Heading into the third period the Sabres got two early goals one by Boudreau his 4th of the game and the other from Billy Allen who took a one timer shot off a pass from Tyler Nolan to take a 5-3 lead. The Islanders never quit and made it interesting as Rob Tomao would score off a great pass from Derek Attardi to make the game a one goal game once again at 5-4. The Islanders had a ton of quality chances but Sabres net minder Zach Bostrom shut the door and the Sabres held on to win the Stanley Cup. Connor McGarry and Thomas Martis were unable to attend the Championship Game but their efforts all season long were a big reason why the Islanders made it all the way to the Championship Game. The final score Sabres 5/Islanders 4. After the game the presentation of the Conn Symthe Award was presented to the Sabres Kenny Boudreau.

On Monday June 16th, it was time for our annual End of the Season Pizza Party whih saw all the kids receive trophies, Special awards were also given out and the kids all had a great time. The Recreation Department Hockey Staff would like to thank everyone for another great season. We look forward to seeing you all in the fall.