Amherst Knights Squirt Minor 'AAA' lose close game with Burlington

The Amherst Knights Squirt Minor "AAA" hockey team lost 5-4 against a strong Burlington team in a closely contested game at the Amherst Pepsi Center on Sept. 9.

The Knights looked tentative in their first game of the season as Burlington applied some strong early pressure. Six minutes into the first period, a Burlington center found some open ice and let go a thunderous wrist shot on Knights' goalie Max Battistoni's glove side. Battistoni answered with a momentum changing lightning glove save.

With the momentum on their side, the Knights line of Owen Green, Danny Tyczynski, and Matt Ruggiero stormed the Burlington net until finally, Danny Tyczynski scored from close range.

Highlighting the second period was a strong right side rush by Alex Dimitroff, who fought off a defensemen and launched a shot the Burlington goalie could not control. Dylan Lock pounced on the rebound to give the Knights a two-goal lead.

Burlington scored at the end of the second and went top-shelf with a wrist shot to tie the game early in the third period.

The Knights began to show some early season fatigue until Danny Tyczynski made a great solo rush down the left side, got behind the defense, cut back across the crease and stuffed the Knights' third goal under the Burlington goaltender's glove.

Burlington never quit and tied the score again.

The Knights then won a key faceoff in the Burlington zone. Matthew Steffan moved in close from his defensive position at the point, picked up the puck and rifled a rocket at the Burlington goaltender. Bradley Truel went strong to the net and scored off the rebound. The Knights led 4-3.

Late in the game, the Knights took a couple of penalties and found themselves in a five on three situation.

Defensemen Mitchell Spring, Matthew Steffan and forward Owen Green, then defensemen Danny Brodzik, Luke Eberhard and forward Dante Todaro, all teamed up to keep the Burlington team from scoring.

The penalties took a lot out of the Knights and Burlington stormed back to finally win the game 5-4.

The Amherst Knights showed some strong play for their first game of the season and look forward to a late season rematch.