The Beast League U13 playoffs are approaching this upcoming weekend and there will be eight teams vying for the title, split into two divisions. The eight teams will each play three games. The three top teams in U13A and the top team in U13B will battle it out in the semifinals on Saturday. The two winners will then play for the Championship on Sunday November 10 at 11:30 am at Lovell Arena.

One team to keep your eye on in the playoffs is the Long Island Gulls, who have had a great season. Coach Dan Cassano is ready to watch his team compete in what should be a fun weekend.

“Our team needs to play the right way,” said Cassano, “ responsible and competing when they don't have the puck, making plays and attacking when they do. We are excited to chase a championship this weekend and feel that if we play for each other and compete, we have the chance to make a memory together."

Some key players to watch from Cassano’s team include defensemen Anthony Perdicaro and Ethan Nelsen as well as forwards Thomas McNelis, Ryan Reasoner and Jimmy Campobasso.

Here is the Beast U13 playoff schedule

Friday November 8:

13UA Games

-Long Island Gulls vs. EC Militia, 1:10pm (Lovell 1)

-Seacoast Performance Academy vs. Northern CT Nor’Easter, 2:40pm (Lovell 1)

-Long Island Gulls vs. Northern CT Nor’Easter, 7:20pm (Lovell 1)

-Seacoast Performance Academy vs. EC Militia, 8:00 pm (Lovell 2)

13UB Games

-Northeast Generals vs Red Bank Generals, 2:00pm (Lovell 3)

-Springfield Thunderbirds vs Yale Jr. Bulldogs, 2:50pm (Lovell 2)

-Northeast Generals vs Springfield Thunderbirds, 8:00pm (Lovell 3)

-Red Bank Generals vs Yale Jr. Bulldogs, 8:40pm (Lovell 1)

Saturday November 9

13UA Games

-Long Island Gulls vs SPA, 11:00am (Lovell 1)

- Northern CT Nor’Easter vs EC Militia, 11:00am (Lovell 3)

13UB Games:

-Red Bank Generals vs Springfield Thunderbirds, 11:10am (Lovell 2)

-Yale Jr. Bulldogs vs Northeast Generals, 12:30pm (Lovell 1)

13U Semifinals

13U A1 vs. 13U B1, 6:30 pm (Lovell 1)

13U A2 vs. 13U A3, 6:40pm (Lovell 2)

Sunday November 10

Championship Game: Semifinal winners, 11:30am (Lovell 2)

U14 PLAYOFFS

The Beast League 14U playoffs will feature 13 teams spread across three different divisions. There are the 14A and 14B divisions which have four teams each, fighting for one championship, and the 14U Gold where the other five teams reside and will play for another title.

One team to keep your eye on in the 14UA Division is the East Coast Militia coached by Anthony Chighisola.

“In order to be successful we need to get the puck out of our own end and let our forwards get to work,” said Chighisola. “We have some talented forwards who can really finish. Our defensemen need to keep everything simple and head north with the puck. If we play true to our game with hustle and effort, it could be a very good weekend for us. But, at the same time we are up against some very good teams so we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Some key players to watch on the Militia include AJ Ankstitus, John Brown, Cole Butler, Bruce Ghostlaw, Ronan Foley, James Johnson, Gavin Quinn and Theokritos Petropoulos.

“We have had the luxury of having two really good goalies this year and they both have the ability to steal us games in Ethan Lazdowsky and Jesse Bernardinelli,” said Chighisola.

Another team to watch this weekend will be the Long Island Gulls, coached by Dan Cassano. Cassano is excited to see what his team can do after all their growth over the course of the season.

“We feel like our team has been on the come-up for the last few weeks” said Cassano. “We preach a process with our group - that if we do the right things day-in and day-out, week after week, the outcome will take care of itself.  We are starting to see the rewards of our hard work and our process as we've been on a nice run the last few weeks.  The keys to success for us this weekend are to continue to play a relentless, detailed game away from the puck so that we can possess and get to our skills - the things we love to do.  We are excited to take our shot at winning a Beast championship.”

A few key players to be on the look-out for are forwards Maveric Thisdelle, Jake Conroy, Peter Phelan and defensemen Marco Cinque and Nicholas Dimarco.

Here is the playoff slate for the U14 group.

14UA

Friday November 8:

-Long Island Gulls vs. Woodbridge, 5:00pm (Lovell 3)

-River Rats vs. EC Militia, 5:40pm (Lovell 1)

Saturday November 9:

-Long Island Gulls vs. EC Militia, 9:30am (Lovell 1)

-River Rats vs. Woodbridge, 9:40am (Lovell 2)

-River Rats vs. Long Island Gulls, 5:00pm (Lovell 1)

-Woodbridge vs. EC Militia, 5:10pm (Lovell 2)

14UB:

Friday November 8:

-Dexter Shield vs. Red Bank Generals, 4:20pm (Lovell 2)

-Yale Jr. Bulldogs vs. Connecticut Jr. Rangers, 5:50pm (Lovell 2)

Saturday November 9:

-Dexter Shield vs. Connecticut Jr Rangers, 8:10am (Lovell 2)

-Yale Jr. Bulldogs vs. Red Bank Generals, 9:30am (Lovell 3)

-Shield vs. Yale Jr. Bulldogs, 3:30pm (Lovell 1)

-CJR vs. Red Bank Generals, 3:40pm (Lovell 2)

Sunday November 10:

-Semfinal: 14U A1 vs. 14U B1, 9:40am (Lovell 1)

-Semifinal: 14U A2 vs. 14U A3, 9:50am (Lovell 2)

-Championship Game: Semifinal Winners, 2:40 pm (Lovell 2)

14U GOLD

Friday November 8:

-Northeast Generals vs. EC Militia Nudge, 12:30pm (Lovell 3)

-NH Mountain Kings vs. Springfield Thunderbirds, 4:10pm (Lovell 1)

-Northeast Generals vs. NJ Titans, 6:30pm (Lovell 3)

Saturday November 9:

-Springfield Thunderbirds vs. NJ Titans, 8:00am (Lovell 1)

-NH Mountain Kings vs. EC Militia Nudge, 8:00am (Lovell 3)

-14U Gold 4th vs. 14U Gold 5th, 2:00pm (Lovell 1)

Sunday November 10:

-Semifinal: 14U Gold 1 vs. 14U Gold 4/5 Winner, 8:00am (Lovell 1)

-Semifinal 14U Gold 2 vs. 14U Gold 3, 8:10am (Lovell 2)

-Championship Game: Semifinal Winners, 1:10pm (Lovell 2)