Good sportsmanship displayed between West Seneca, Amherst Squirt Select teams

Sportsmanship lives in Western New York Youth hockey, and a great example of it this week occurred between the West Seneca and Amherst Squirt Select teams on Friday, March 9 and Sunday, March 11.

On Friday, these two teams met at the Nichols School (Dann Memorial Rink) and played a hard-fought game that stood 2-1 in favor of West Seneca.

With about seven minutes left in the third period, the crowd was silenced by a violent collision between two Amherst players that left one player lying motionless on the ice. As is customary, the players from both teams went to the benches while the Amherst coaches were helped by the West Seneca coaches in attending to the motionless player.

Squirt Major Select assistant coach John Tomczak said the coaches from West Seneca continued assisting with only one concern, the hurt player.

"Two spectators, a nurse and a paramedic, also came to our player's aid (they may have been West Seneca parents)," Tomczak said. "Again, there was no concern for resuming the game, only to make sure that the player was tended to properly."

Tomczak said the game ended as the hurt player was taken to Children's Hospital by an emergency crew that responded with remarkable speed. Tomczak said all X-rays and tests were negative, and the player is OK.

That night and the next day, Tomczak said the hurt player's family received many calls from teammates' families about the players' well-being.

"While this was terrific, it was not unexpected," said Tomczak. "These kids and their families have come to know each other throughout the season, as we spent many hours at the Amherst Pepsi Center and other rinks around Western New York."

Tomczak said what was unexpected (maybe it should not have been) were the calls from the West Seneca coaches and families that had gone out to our coaches and families to check on our player's well-being.

Tomczak said his team was further surprised and encouraged when, prior to the team's game on Sunday, one of the West Seneca coaches visited the Squirt Select locker room with a card for the hurt player signed by all the players on the West Seneca team wishing him well.

"While a small gesture, this was a wonderful surprise for the player who was the center of concern," Tomczak said.

Tomczak said select hockey can bring out some very competitive instincts in parents and players.

"This competition is a terrific experience in many ways for the kids, but it has some bad moments as well," said Tomczak. "This experience was an example of all that is good about youth hockey and youth sports. While these two teams competed vigorously during these two games, the competition did not overshadow the kids."

"Our players are 11 years old," he added. "At this age (and all ages), we need to keep them safe and teach them about fair play, safe play and sportsmanship above all things. This weekend, the West Seneca Squirt Select coaches (and families) showed a terrific example for the kids they coach and for all of us."