North JV hockey season ends with playoff loss

The Williamsville North JV hockey team saw its season ended with a loss to Kenmore East. Members of the team, pictured from left, are: front row - Jerry Smith, Kim Sass; kneeling - Austin Heusner, Tony Goldin, Ian Moskal, Ben Katz, Jordan Fahnestock, Nick Girling, Eric Fabozzi; standing - Coach Eimer, coach Scott Jamieson, Brian Doherty, Tyler Hagan, Matt Bauman, Sean Nowak, Steve Larkin, Brian Jaszka, Jake Eldridge, Dan Irving, Anthony Filippi, Eric Evchich, Chris Marsack, Mike Austin, coach Pete Bullock, Brett Lanham, coach Steve Schreiner and Brian Ruszag; missing from photo - Colin Schreiner and Sean Durfee.

The Williamsville North JV hockey team's season ended with a 4-3 loss to Kenmore East on Feb. 28.

Kenmore East beat North threes time this season by getting off to a fast start and then playing a dump-and-chase game the rest of the way. This game was no different.

North's coaching staff of Rob Eimer, Steve Schreiner and Pete Bullock warned their young team about falling behind early, but that is exactly what happened. The Bulldogs scored three goals in the first four minutes and were leading 4-0 after the first period. At that point, Kenmore East mounted very little offense, sending one man in on the forecheck and keeping four players back.

North's line of Matt Bauman, Dan Irving and Ian Moskal started the comeback with goals from Bauman and Moskal but Kenmore East did a good job in keeping the other lines off the board.

Kim Sass, North's outstanding player of the year, made some good saves over the last two periods to keep the game close. With the third period winding down, Sean Nowak scored to make it 4-3. North kept the pressure up in the last minute, but Moskal's last second shot from the high slot was turned aside.

North had won the league championship the past four years.

Austin Heusner led the team in scoring with 15 goals. Brian Jaszka had 11 assists and Matt Bauman chipped in 17 points. The defense was led by Nick Girling, Jordan Fahnestock, Brian Doherty, Jake Eldridge, and Ben Katz. The rest of the team was comprised of Mike Austin, Colin Schreiner, Brian Rusgaj, Steve Larkin, Eric Fabozzi, Sean Durfee, Tyler Hagan, Tony Goldin, Chris Marsack, Brett Lanham, Eric Evchich, Anthony Filippi and Jerry Smith.