Knights Squirt Major '98 Selects take runner-up honors at 2007 Pepsi Invitational

The Amherst Knights Squirt Major Selects recently participated in the 2007 Pepsi Invitational at Holiday Twin Rinks and, despite outscoring their opponents 18-3 during the play-in games, lost to the Tonawanda Lightning, 3-2, in the championship.

In claiming second place honors, the Knights treated their spectators to an amazing display of teamwork. Every player on the squad earned a place on the score sheets with either a goal or an assist. Amherst travels to West Seneca this weekend to participate in the Western New York Select Tournament to be held in West Seneca.

Knights 3, Tonawanda 2

The championship game would find to familiar opponents battling once again in a one goal game. Despite a flurry at the end, Tonawanda held onto to win the game 3-2 in a fantastic effort by two teams who represented the tournament well in the championship bout.

Tonawanda scored twice in the first period to take the early lead. Despite many scoring chances by the Knights, the Lightning goaltender turned away shot after shot to close out the first stanza 2-0.

But the Knights offense refused to quit and knew they would eventually find holes in their opponent's defense. James Bassett scored the Knights first goal on an unassisted play to cut the lead down to one. The Knights defense of Greg Sibick, Stephen Zaprowski, Colin Lawrence, Marc Giangreco, Tom Roesch and goalie Jeremy Schwab kept the Lightning attack scoreless going into the final period.

In the third, Amherst tied the game when Tom Roesch hit Adam Tucker at center ice with a pass on the tape. Tucker skated past the defenders and scored to knot the game at 2-2. With six minutes left in the contest, Dan Fleming scored the game winner for Tonawanda. Amherst spent the last 1:30 of the game in the Lightning zone with the extra attacker on the ice but was unable to find the back of the net. James Bassett collected game MVP honors for the Knights while the rest of the team proudly accepted their runner up medals.

Knights 7, Caledon, Ont. 0

The Knights headed into the final game on Sunday needing to beat the Caledon, Ontario Lightning to earn their place in the finals. In a game anticipated to be an even match up, Amherst once again demonstrated skill and teamwork to shut out the Toronto based team, 7-0.

Gregory Sibick opened the scoring less than a minute into the game with the assist coming from Adam Tucker. Later in the period, Anthony Carbone scored from the front of the opponent's net. Carbone went top shelf after receiving a nice centering pass from Jon Utech.

Leading 2-0 going into the second period, the Knights would score twice more and notch their place in the finals. Adam Herr scored his first of the game on a pass feathered to his stick by Marc Giangreco. Minutes later, James Bassett scored unassisted as he evaded several defenders in a goal that started at one end of the ice and ended in the opponent's net.

In the final period, Amherst ran away with the game. Utech scored on a play started by defensemen Brett Baker. The gritty defender passed the puck to Michael Geiger who fed Utech for the score. Next, Gabe Jewula punched in a goal from the front of the net assisted by Utech. Amherst's final goal came from Carbone. Winger Trevor Shaw battled in the corner to gain control of the puck and sent a laser pass to Carbone, who jammed the goal home.

In a superior performance between the pipes, goalie Ryan Ruggerio earned the shut out victory for his team. Solid defensive performances were also shown by Baker, Giangreco and Colin Lawrence, who thoroughly controlled the Knights zone and the opponents blue line.

Knights 9, Jamestown 1

On Saturday, the Knights faced off against the Jamestown Lakers. Amherst dominated the entire game buzzer to buzzer and finished the game with a 9-1 win.

James Kirkpatrick opened the scoring for Amherst in the first. After the puck was dumped deep in the corner, James Bassett passed to Anthony Carbone who set up Kirkpatrick in front of the net. Kirkpatrick registered his second goal of the game six minutes later when defensemen Stephen Zaprowski sent him into the open ice with a crisp pass. Kirkpatrick beat the defenders and the goalie for the 2-0 lead. Michael Geiger rounded out the scoring in the first period with a breakaway goal assisted by Greg Sibick.

In the second period, the Amherst squad continued to show their passing skills as three more goals were tallied on the scoreboard. Adam Herr took a breakout pass from Colin Lawrence and skated up the ice, ending the play with a hard wrist shot in the back of the net. Adam Tucker scored the same way minutes later on a pass from Tom Roesch.

The final goal of the stanza was claimed by John Tomczak. With the puck deep in the zone, Gabe Jewula passed the puck behind the net to Tucker who centered the pass in front to Tomczak who was waiting to ram it home.

In the third, the scoring began on an unassisted goal by Sibick who sped up the ice and lifted a high backhand above the goalie's shoulder. Tucker earned his second of the game in a play started by the defensive passing of Zaprowski and Sibick. The final goal of the game came once again off the stick of Tomczak's on a play assisted by Zaprowski.

The stingy Knight defense and goaltending foiled many scoring chances the Lakers put together. Goaltender Jeremy Schwab allowed only one goal in a solid performance between the goalposts.

Knights 3, West Seneca 2

The tournament opened for the Knights on Friday night against a tough West Seneca team. Throughout the season, the two teams have traded victories and defeats in very close games. However, this would be the time for the Knights to claim victory as they won a tight 3-2 game.

The scoring started quickly for the Knights. With less than a minute expired, centerman Adam Tucker picked up the puck in the neutral zone and headed for the West Seneca net. After beating the defensemen, Tucker lifted the hard wrist shot past the goalie to take the 1-0 lead. The rest of the first period would remain scoreless as the defenses kept the shooters at bay. The resilient Knight defense was led by Greg Sibick, Colin Lawrence, Tom Roesch and Stephen Zaprowsi.

The second period would see both teams light the goal lamp. The Knights struck again when Matt Lesinski put a shot on the West Seneca goaltender. Tucker was in front of the net to jam in the rebound and put the team up 2-0. Two minutes later, Amherst would score the third and deciding goal. While short-handed, James Kirkpatrick fed a nice pass to Michael Geiger who was blitzing along the boards. Geiger beat the goalie stick side in a great individual effort.

Although West Seneca made some noise at the end, the superior goaltending of Jeremy Schwab played behind a strong defensive unit captured the Knights their first win and built momentum going into the weekend.