Bisons tie, capture playoff spot

The North Buffalo Bisons Pee Wee Major team came from behind to tie Batavia last Sunday, earning a point and a playoff spot in the Western New York Amateur Hockey League.

Three third period goals had the visiting Ramparts reeling, but two Buffalo goalpost clangers failed to go in as time expired. Scoring for Buffalo were Josh Little, Oscar Ostendorf and Kyle Moslow with three. Assists went to Dean Arthur (Amherst), and two to Marc Bezbatchenko of Amherst. Jimmy Basil (Amherst) and Andrew Werynski (Amherst) played solid in net.

On Saturday, the Bisons lost to Rochester Youth at the ESL Center 4-0, as the home team scored on its first shot on goal in each period.

North Buffalo won two of its three games in the Richmond Hill Tournament in Toronto two weeks ago, yet fell short of a playoff position by a hundredth of a percentage point. The Bisons defeated North Toronto, 2-0, North London Nationals, 7-4, sandwiched around a 5-1 loss to the Kingston 5-1 completed a successful weekend in Canada.

Two weeks ago the Bisons won two of three games in the Richmond Hill (Toronto) Tournament, but fell a few hundredths of a point shy of a playoff spot. Victories over North Toronto 2-0 and North London 7-4, sandwiched around a loss to Kingston 5-1 completed a successful weekend in Canada.

Coach Dwyer said the defense is playing better, which should be a key in the WNYAHL playoffs. Defensemen Alex Laversa, Sean Basil, Little, Max Capizza, Mason Evans, and Austin Kneer stabilized the blue line, as the offense of Ricky Wiorkowski, Bezbatchenko, Ostendorf, Andrew Rampado, Moslow, John Lenahan, Jordan Rusek, Arthur, JC Grabenstatter, and John Hettrick wore down the opponents with strong play line after line.

The WNYAHL playoff picture is not yet complete, and the Bisons will tune up at Niagara University Purple Eagles Tournament this weekend.