Semi-Pro Quarterfinals Recap: Assault Storm Back, Gladiators Advance to Snipers Showdown

by Anthony Flynn

Saturday’s Semi-Pro quarterfinals at the PIHA Finals flipped the tournament from round-robin pacing to pure survival hockey. Two single-elimination games decided the semifinal field: New Jersey erased a three-goal deficit to stun Mile High, and Marple outgunned Arvada to keep its title hopes alive.

Quarterfinal 1 — New Jersey Assault 4, Mile High Blizzard 3

Mile High looked in complete control early, striking three times in the first period—including a power-play goal—to build a 3–0 cushion.

Then the game turned on its head.

New Jersey scored four unanswered goals in the second period to complete the comeback and steal the win:

  • Tom Russo (#22) started it at 10:41 (assist Anthony Gallicchio #9)
  • Matt Morelli (#91) pulled them closer at 6:33 (assist Russo #22)
  • Gallicchio (#9) tied it at 2:53
  • Chris Connor (#88) finished the rally with the winner at 0:23 (assist Scott Huber #96)

New Jersey also won the shot battle 32–21, and goaltender Jordan Hampleton (#33) faced 32 shots in the loss for Mile High.

Result: Assault advance to face the Raleigh Mops in the semifinals—an immediate rematch of their round-robin meeting.

Game sheet: http://stats-ro.api.digitalshift.ca/gamesheet/DfPDTC

Quarterfinal 2 — Marple Gladiators 6, Arvada Fire 4

The Gladiators punched their ticket to the semifinals with a 6–4 win over Arvada, earning a crack at the tournament’s only unbeaten team.

Result: Marple advances to face the Long Island Empire Snipers, who finished 3–0 in round robin and are chasing another Finals appearance—their third in the last five seasons, by your note.

Game link: https://thepiha.hockeyshift.com/stats#/1259/game/1206211

What’s Next: Semifinal Matchups

  • New Jersey Assault vs Raleigh Mops — round-robin rematch with a Finals berth at stake
  • Marple Gladiators vs Long Island Empire Snipers — Marple’s momentum vs Long Island’s 3–0 confidence

From here on out, there’s no margin: one game decides who plays Sunday for the Semi-Pro championship.