Gladiators Outlast Defending Champs in Instant Classic, Win Minor Mid-Atlantic Title in Double OT

The Marple SK Labeda Gladiators are headed back to the PIHA Minor Finals, and they’re doing it after dethroning the defending champions in what may go down as the signature series of the weekend.

Marple took Game 1, 6–3, dropped a nail-biter in Game 2, 2–1, then survived nearly four full periods of back-and-forth hockey to win Game 3, 4–3 in double overtime—a dramatic finish punctuated by a late special-teams execution that finally solved the league’s most intimidating last line of defense, goaltender Sean Connolly.

Game 1: Gladiators 6, Legends 3 — Second-Period Surge Flips the Series Early

Empire State struck first and carried a 2–1 lead into the break, with Matt Russo scoring on the power play late in the first.

Then the Gladiators hit the accelerator. Marple piled up five goals in the second period, turning a one-goal deficit into a runaway. Rocco Colucci (#91) led the charge with a hat trick (including an empty-netter), while Michael Marconi (#22) added two of his own as the Gladiators seized control of the series.

Game 2: Legends 2, Gladiators 1 — Connolly Steals One to Force a Decider

If Game 1 was Marple’s offense, Game 2 was Connolly’s response.

Despite being outshot 22–13, Empire State stayed composed and got a massive performance in goal—Connolly stopped 21 of 22 to keep the Legends alive.

Empire State got goals from Bryan Rosen (#4) early and Matt Russo (#2) in the second, while Marple’s lone answer came from Michael Quaile (#19). The 2–1 result pushed the series to a winner-take-all Game 3.

Game 3: Gladiators 4, Legends 3 (2OT) — Phelan Delivers the Power-Play Dagger

Game 3 was pure playoff theater.

Marple came out firing and built a 3–1 first-period lead behind Jack Phelan (#98), who scored twice in the opening frame. Empire State refused to fade—answering with two second-period goals to tie the game 3–3, setting the stage for overtime.

That’s where the series became the war-of-attrition everyone in the rink felt. Connolly was brilliant again, finishing with 35 saves on 39 shots across 30:56 of work, while Marple’s Millard Worszlo (#1) matched the moment with 22 saves on 25.

Finally, in double overtime, Marple’s late power play became the turning point. After a timeout to reset and load up their top unit, the Gladiators executed quickly—Phelan buried the power-play winner at 5:04 of OT1 (his third of the game), sending Marple back to the Finals and ending Empire State’s title defense in heartbreaking fashion.

What It Means

Marple emerges as the only returning Minor team from last year’s Finals field so far, still chasing that elusive first championship—but now doing it with the kind of signature win that can define a postseason run.

And for Empire State, this one will sting: the defending champs got a masterpiece from Connolly all weekend, but the Gladiators’ depth, pressure, and late-game execution proved just enough when the stakes were highest.