It was cold and brisk but a beautiful Friday evening on Dec. 12, when the face-off at 7:30 p.m. was going to take place between the Mineola Blacks and the Blues of the 11-year-old division. With the bleaches filled with friends and families of these young titans, the puck was dropped to start the first period.

The Black team came out like thunder pushing the puck deep into the Blue zone with the help of wingers Michael Kopping, Patrick Manna and Vincent Loverde, and scoring a quick goal by Nicholas Ricciardi. Before the first period ended, Nick Ricciardi scored his second goal to give his Black team a 2-1 lead.

As both teams entered the rink to start the second period, Keith Williams took the center position and won the drop, serving the puck under his legs to defenseman Nicholas Lyktey who shot the puck deep into the Blues zone. While the defense was playing great for the Blacks with the likes of Dean Laino and Andrew Ines, it was hard to hold down Chris Ganss of the Blues who tied the game again. Just before the second period ended, Michael Wilson scored for the Blacks after picking up a rebound off a shot by teammate Joseph Calabro.

With the wind blowing harder than ever and the deep freeze setting in, the whistle sounded to start the last period. The Blues came out strong and tied the game for the third time. However, the Mineola Blacks weren't laying down now, when Joseph Tursi took a breakaway shot and scored the Blacks fourth goal. With the help of Daniel O'Leary on "D", goalie Paul Croce was able to fight off shot after lightning fast shot by the quick skating Blues. Big Paul Croce had over 30 saves in the game, and leading the Blacks to a 5-3 victory was all this drama and Ricciardi who completed a hattrick with the net empty in the final seconds of play.

With a 2-0 record going into this past weekend, the 11-year-old Blacks were looking good. On Friday night, Dec. 19, they were ready to take on the Yellow Team, which they did in high fashion. With goals from Joseph Calabro, Andrew Ines, Keith Williams, Nick Ricciardi and a hattrick by Michael Wilson, the Blacks were on fire. Add to that the great goal tending by Paul Croce and outstanding defense by Dean Laino, Dan O'Leary and Nick Lyktey, the flawless Blacks were unstoppable.

After one day's rest for the Dynamic Blacks, they made their way back to the rink on Sunday to take on the Mineola Red Team. Skating with high confidence, players like Patrick Manna, Michael Kopping, Nicholas Lyktey and Daniel O'Leary seemed to hold it down for their teammates Mike Wilson and Keith Williams who scored a couple of goals. Goalie Paul Croce would stop shot after shot for the Blacks and Joseph Tursi would score two more goals. In the middle of the third period Nick Ricciardi made a beautiful pass to center Joseph Calabro who took a lightning fast wrist shot that flew over the shoulder of the goalie and hit the cross bar for the Blacks fifth goal and fourth straight victory.

With a make-up game scheduled for Monday night, Dec. 22, with the Mineola Green Machine, the Dynamic Blacks seemed a little apprehensive knowing that the Greens were not going down easily. The Greens came out like lightning and scored the first goal of the game. This was the first time the Blacks were behind in any game. As the intensity slowly climbed, the Mineola Blacks quickly tied the game with a fantastic wrist shot by Michael Wilson and the help of Daniel O'Leary, Nicholas Lyktey, Dean Laino and Joseph Tursi on defense. The Blacks high powered offense was about to turn up the heat. Another quick goal by Nick Ricciardi and save after save by the Dynamics goalie Paul Croce brings us to the last period of play. The Black Team then scored two more goals, one by Ricciardi and another marvelous wrist shot by Joseph Calabro to give the undefeated dynamic Blacks the win securing this team sole possession of first place with a record of five wins and no losses.