Strong play evokes old cliché for Squirt Minor 'AAA'

The Amherst Knights Squirt Minor "AAA" hockey team played strong for all but two minutes in a tough 6-4 loss to the Depew Saints last Wednesday evening at the Amherst Pepsi Center.

The Knights acquainted themselves with an old sports cliché that says a hockey team must play a full 60 minutes to defeat a high quality opponent. The Knights had a decidedly clear advantage in play with the exception of a volcanic two-minute span in the second period where the Saints erupted for four goals.

The Knights' transition game was sharp early on as the defensive pairing of Ellis Smith and Bradley Truel used some smart crisp passing to turn up ice quickly. A final deft pass found the stick of Mitchell Spring, who broke down the middle of the ice a step ahead of a back-checking Saint.

Spring used his left leg to ward off the opposing player's stick and unleashed a Mitchell missile that sailed over the Saints' goaltender's right shoulder to give the Knights the early lead.

Getting up ice quickly was a trend that carried on throughout the game.

Defensemen Luke Eberhard's smooth skating and strong pivot ability frustrated many of the Saints faster forwards. On one play, Eberhard had to pivot front to back twice in open ice to stay with one of the best skating forwards the Saints had to offer. Eberhard kept the opposition's speed to the outside, ending their scoring opportunity in the corner boards. This allowed a back-checking winger to pick up the puck and execute a quick transition pass.

Late in the first period, the Owen Green-Danny Tyczynski-Dante Todaro line took advantage of getting up ice quickly.

On a three on two break, Todaro made a great outside move that allowed him to get the puck to the net and generate a number of scoring opportunities. Finally, Owen Green's quick shot and rebound ended with Danny Tycznski jamming the puck into the corner of the net. At the end of the first period, the Knights led 2-0.

Early in the second period, the Knights let their guard down and the Saints pounced on the opportunity. For a two-minute span, the Saints stormed the Knights' net. Jimmy Szefler, Garrett Meegan, Elliott Crimmen and Ryan Wheeler all scored to put the Saints up 4-2.

After a late second period goal by the Saints' Zachary Burdzy, the Knights finally woke up and started to play their game. The Mitchell Spring-Matt Stephan-Alex Dimitroff line came back in the third period to score two more goals. Spring notched his second of the game with a twisting low wrister.

After a quick goal by the Saints, Spring found Dimitroff to the left of the Saints net. Dimitroff let a wrist shot go as soon as the pass hit his stick.

A sneaky Matt Steffan, in perfect position on the open right side, drilled the rebound home to give the Saints a 6-4 lead.

Throughout the third period, a number of Knights players made their presence felt in a ferocious team effort to get back in the game. Defensemen Danny Brodzik picked up the puck inside his blue line and took it the length of the ice, challenging the opposition's defense and creating a great scoring chance.

Chris Winiecki worked hard forcing the play inside the opposition's blue line, keeping pressure on their defense and wingers. Winiecki made good decisions and forced the play up ice with some smart short rushes and forward passes.

Dylan Lock's speed kept the Saints defense honest and on one right side rush had the Saints' defense backing in and smothering their goaltender.

Matt Ruggiero used his strength to gather in the puck and made a strong inside move at the left faceoff circle that created havoc in front of the Saints' net.

In one fury of scoring chances, MJ Bronsky picked up a loose puck and almost scored on a wrap-around by powering his way around the net.

In frustration, the Saints took a number of penalties. The Knights have been practicing their puck movement and it was evident when they had the man advantage.

From the right boards, Green took command of the power play using crisp passes with his point men to get good shots on goal. The pressure on the Saints' goalie was intense but he held firm as the Knights tried desperately to even the game.