Amherst Mite Minor ‘AAA’ hosts Quebec’s Gatineau Chevaliers, wins games

Amherst’s Mite Minor “AAA” travel hockey team hosted the Chevaliers Novice “A” team in an extraordinary weekend of international friendship and hockey.

The Chevaliers traveled five hours by car from Gatineau, Quebec, for the opportunity to compete against Amherst and meet Gatineau’s hockey prodigy, Buffalo Sabres co-captain Daniel Briere.

Amherst 6, Gatineau 3

On Friday, Amherst and Gatineau had the honor of playing at HSBC arena.

The Chevaliers, comprising players born in 1997, 1998 and 1999, took an early lead with a breakaway goal 1:30 in.

Amherst had several scoring chances in the period, including a post-dinger by Adam Batz and a high shot by Nate Berke that dinged the helmet of Gatineau goalie Maxime Lacasso. With only 34.4 seconds remaining in the first period, Nate Berke lifted a shot over Lacasso’s right side to tie the game at 1-1.

Gatineau’s Lacasso made several great saves throughout the period, including shots by Colton McKenna and Camden Lock. Halfway

through the second period, Berke won the faceoff and sent the puck to Lock, who scored on a quick shot. With 1:48 remaining, Carson Briere scored on a wraparound shot that stuck just inside the post to give Amherst a 3-1 lead.

The Chevaliers’ Alexis Filiou scored on a wide shot to the front of the net to earn Gatineau’s second goal of the game. Amherst’s Blake Flanders claimed the puck at the next faceoff and took a shot on net that fell just short of the goal line; however, linemate Briere was positioned to earn the rebound goal.

Gatineau’s Owen Frenette assisted on a goal by Jonathan Viau that bounced over the pads of Amherst goalie Caleb Hannon. Hannon was sharp in net throughout the game as he used stick and glove to hold off Gatineau’s sharpshooters.

Batz caught a pass from defenseman Mark Gilbert and maneuvered around the Gatineau defenders to earn a short-handed goal from the stick side. With only 24.9 seconds remaining, McKenna earned another short-handed goal for Amherst. McKenna picked up the rebound of Jordan Martin and lifted a backhand shot over the goalie’s shoulder to give Amherst a 6-3 victory.

Following the game, Amherst hosted a reception for the Gatineau players and their families. During the reception, the Chevaliers presented Amherst with a plaque in appreciation for the Mite Minor “AAA” team’s efforts in making the trip a reality.

In a heartwarming moment, Gatineau Coach Bob Frenette, a long-time friend and former Pee Wee coach of Daniel Briere, presented him with a plaque in appreciation of his efforts to bring the team to Buffalo and for always keeping his Gatineau roots close to his heart.

Amherst 3, Gatineau 1

On Saturday morning, Amherst fans packed the Amherst Pepsi Center to witness the battle between the Chevaliers and the talented Mite Minor “AAA” team. The teams drew cheers in two languages.

Halfway through the first period, Amherst’s Blake Flanders capitalized on a sharp pass from Carson Briere and earned the first goal of the game on a low shot on the far side of the Gatineau net. One minute later, the duo was at

it again as Flanders made a nice pass to Briere, who stickhandled through traffic to score and give Amherst a 2-0 lead

Amherst’s defensive pairings of Devin Kasperek-Mark Gilbert, Matt Slick-Jordan Martin, and Ryan Sidorski-Patrick Mangan showcased their talents and were extremely effective in minimizing Gatineau’s scoring opportunities.

Early in the second period, Gatineau’s Maxime Lacasse made a nice glove save on an attack by the line of Jack Kelly, Frankie Sciolino and Joey Marchese. Undeterred, the relentless Kelly skated through traffic to take a wrist shot from the high slot to earn Amherst’s third tally. Lacasse’s strong goaltending continued as he stonewalled a shot by Nate Berke and made another glove save on a shot by Devin Kasperek.

Amherst goalie Caleb Hannon played well throughout the game but was denied a shutout after Gatineau’s Jacob Darcy ripped a high shot over Hannon’s left side midway through the third period. Amherst claimed a 3-1 victory as a result of overall exceptional team play.