Amherst Knights' 'AAA' Mite Minor crowned champs in Erie

The Amherst Knights' "AAA" Mite Minor team recently won the Hunter Faulkner Fall Face-Off Tournament in Erie, Pa. Members of the team, pictured from left, are: first row - Anthony Trigilio, Eli Utz, C.J. Goss, Pat Gilbert, Calogeno Santora, Jonathan Kubiak, Spencer Frome, Jacob Wehr, Ben Weppner; second row - Eric Metz, Sean MacLeay (hidden), Andrew Bravo, Tyler Rossi, Zachary Rehbaum, Griffin Green, Matthew Barbolini, Kellen Pulera, Lorenzo Zendano; third row - Bob Rossi (assistant coach), Chris Rehbaum (coach) and Dennis Gilbert (assistant coach).

The Amherst Knights' "AAA" Mite Minor team recently won the Hunter Faulkner Fall Face-Off Tournament in Erie, Pa.

The Knights tied West Seneca, 4-4, in the opening game. Andrew Barbolini scored an unassisted goal for Amherst followed by two goals from Kellen Pulera, both assisted by Barbolini. Zach Rehbaum scored the final goal to tie the game up. Goalie Ben Weppner made some great saves.

Amherst came out strong in the second game, beating Erie, 17-0. Rehbaum started the scoring, assisted by Patrick Gilbert. Barbolini scored three times and Lorenzo Zendano, from Sean MacLeay and Andrew Bruno, added a goal. Bruno had six goals, some assisted by Anthony Trigilio, Pulera and Calongeno Santora. Pulera scored twice, once assisted by Barbolini. Gilbert, from Spencer Frome, added a goal and MacLeay scored twice, assisted by Bruno and Zendano. Goalie Jon Kubiak recorded the shutout.

Amherst then beat the Columbus Blue Jackets, 10-6.

Pulera had three goals, two assisted by Barbolini and C.J. Goss. Barbolini tallied twice, both assisted by Pulera. Frome had a nice goal assisted by Griffin Green. Bruno scored twice, assisted by MacLeay and Frome. Rehbaum scored once on a nice feed from Trigilio. Defensemen Eric Metz and Jake Wehr played great. Weppner was tough in goal, keeping the Blue Jackets in line.

The Knights beat the Blue Jackets, 8-1, for the championship.

The Knights' started scoring early with Rehbaum tallying off a nice feed from Gilbert. Barbolini scored the second goal, assisted by Pulera and Trigilio. Rehbaum had two more goals, one assisted by Gilbert and Frome. Eli Utz had a nice goal, assisted by Trigilio. Pulera (Frome) and Frome (unassisted) rounded out the scoring. Kubiak was tough in net.