Squirt Minor 'AAA' comes back, ties 5-5

The Amherst Knights Squirt Minor "AAA" team played their second game of the week last Thursday night at the Depew Ice Rink. The Knights gained a 5-5 tie with the Depew Saints after coming back from a three-goal deficit.

The Knights struggled early, falling behind 2-0 in the first period as Elliott Crimmen and Patrick Stenzel scored for the Saints. The Knights could have fallen farther behind if not for a huge diving block by Knights defenseman Bradley Truel that broke up a Saints 2 on 1, as well as two solid saves, both stick side, by goaltender Mark O'Malley.

Midway through the second period, the Saints struck again when Crimmen scored his second goal to give the Saints a 3-0 lead. Thirty seconds later, Danny Tyczynski got the Knights on the board with a hard-working wrap-around goal he engineered from directly behind the Saints net. With seven minutes left in the second period, John Hazelet made a great rush up the right side boards through the neutral zone and forced the play into the Saints' zone. Knight MJ Bronsky set himself up slightly to the right of the Saints net, wound up and scorched the ice with a wrist shot sizzler that beat the Saints goaltender low to the stick side. The Knights comeback bid began to take form as the score now read 3-2.

Midway through the third period, Tyczynski kept up his torrid scoring pace by producing his second wrap-around goal of the game that brought the Knights all the way back and into a 3-3 tie. Just a few minutes later, Matthew Ruggiero worked himself to the front of the Saints' net, took a feed from Bronsky and beat the Saints goalie to give his team their first lead of the game at 4-3. However, the Saints struck right back as both Jake Kaempf and Zachary Burdzy scored to give the Saints the lead once again, at 5-4.

With just two minutes left in the game, the Knights comeback seemed as though it may have been for nothing until Dante Todaro stepped onto the ice and had the look of a hockey player who was going to make sure this game did not end up in the loss column. Teaming with linemate Tyczynski, Todaro shattered his way through a congested Saints slot like a brick through glass, took a pass from Tyczynski, and in one motion, roofed the game-tying goal.

Amherst Squirt Minor 'AAA'

defeats Bisons, 4-3

The Amherst Knights Squirt Minor "AAA" hockey team defeated the North Buffalo Bisons, 4-3, last Wednesday evening at the Amherst Pepsi Center. Despite out-shooting the Bisons 12-2, the Knights found themselves down 1-0 at the end of the first period.

Bison Johnny Liberti found Steven Dhillon in front of the Knights' net and Dhillon punched it in to give the Bisons the early lead.

The Bisons proved to be a very tenacious team and started to take the play to the Knights in the second period. Strong board battles in the neutral zone kept the swift Knight forwards tied up, until finally, David Grabenstatter found a small crease in front of the Knights' net and scored to give the Bisons a 2-0 lead. David Pfalzgraf and Nick Passifiume assisted on the goal.

As the game neared its mid-point, the Knights needed more than just a goal. They needed a play that made a team statement. Defenseman Danny Brodzik along with forwards Owen Green and Danny Tyczynski gave them that play. The slick three-man passing play started when the smooth-skating Brodzik saw an opening and swiftly moved the puck up ice to a goal-hungry Green. Green accelerated up the left boards and broke toward the Bisons' net. Tyczynski engaged and stormed down the right side. With the entire arena preparing for a rocket wrist shot, Green fooled everyone when he blistered the ice with a selfless pinpoint pass that found the tape of Tyczynski's stick. Tyczynski scored to get the Knights on the board.

Green followed up that play with a nice goal from the high-slot that tied the game at 2-2. Ellie Smith produced this play with some great blue line work. Smith's skating was strong throughout the game and her quickness at the blue line frustrated some of the Bison forwards as she was able to keep the puck active in the Bisons' zone and get the assist on Green's goal.

Not to be outdone, the Bisons' Grabenstatter remained unfazed by the latest developments and made his own statement. Grabenstatter parked himself in front of the Knights' goal and with a quick pass from Peter McGennis, pounded in his second goal of the game. The Bisons led 3-2.

The Knights' Brodzik, determined to get that one back, was looking to start another impact play. However, instead of starting it, Brodzik finished it. Matthew Steffan started the play with a nice pass to Mitchell Spring. Spring made a nice move in the left faceoff circle and moved right in on goal. Brodzik, demonstrating great hockey instinct, had already started anticipating the play and quickly moved in from his point position. Brodzik snagged Springs' rebound and rifled in the game-tying goal.

With the game tied at 3-3 and time running down in the third period, the Knights took their play to the next level and put some good shots on the Bison goaltender. Defenseman Luke Eberhard, Chris Winiecki, Bradley Truel, John Hazelet and Smith kept the Knights team focused and composed with some solid third period play. Finally, the Knights' Steffan drove hard to the right boards in a great effort to start an offensive forecheck. Steffan scored the game-winning goal with a smart quick shot from a tough angle that surprised the Bison goaltender.