Amherst Mite Minor 'AAA' ties Oakville, 3-3

The Amherst Mite Minor "AAA" travel hockey team hosted Canada's Oakville Rangers on Saturday morning at the Amherst Pepsi Center. The Rangers are part of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association. The teams skated to a 3-3 tie.

In the first period, Amherst netminder Caleb Hannon stopped an Oakville attack with a remarkable glove save. With 4:26 remaining in the period, Jack Kelly assisted as Colton McKenna lifted the puck past the right side of Oakville's goalie to give Amherst a 1-0 lead.

Only 25 seconds into the second period, Oakville's Joshua Rettinger tied it up at 1-1. Halfway through the period, Nate Berke skated effortlessly through the Oakville defenders and capitalized on a breakaway shot to give Amherst a 2-1 lead. However, the period ended tied 2-2 after Oakville was able to score after a scrum in front of the Amherst net with 1:55 remaining.

Berke gave Amherst a 3-2 lead after he kept the pressure on Oakville and scored an impressive short-handed goal. Amherst's Matt Slick and Jordan Martin both played strong defensively as they were called upon to negate Oakville's power play advantages in the third period. Eventually Oakville benefited from its power play as Rettinger tied the game 3-3.

Amherst welcomed back forward Joey Marchese after an extensive layoff due to injury. Amherst had two players debut in new positions - Kelly at center and Ryan Sidorski on defense. Amherst backchecked well throughout the game.