Flames' hockey open with tie, win
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville East started its hockey season 1-0-1 after tying Saratoga Springs (Section II), 2-2, on Nov. 23 and beating Kenmore West, 3-1.

Both games were played at the Amherst Pepsi Center.

East coach Mike Torrillo was pleased with his team's performance against Kenmore West.

"It was a good way to start the season," said Torrillo. "A lot of kids got playing time. We rolled four lines, six defensemen, Matt (Bradley) made the saves he had to make and we took care of the puck in our defensive zone."

East opened the scoring at 1:06 of the second period on a hard-working goal by sophomore Joey Cantafio (Eric Esposito, Eric Bogart).

Kenmore West's Kyle Whipple (Joe Coyne, Pat Fisher) tied the game 21 seconds into the third period but the Flames answered a minute later on a power-play goal by Bogart (Colin Lucey) off a screen in front of the net by 6-foot-4, 304-pound Tyler Durinka.

Lucey (Max Kweller) scored an empty-net goal with 28 seconds left.

East outshot Kenmore West, 22-20.

"They outshot us 11-3 in the third period but the majority of their 11 shots were from long range," said Torrillo.

East outshot Saratoga, 42-10 and missed four breakaways. Bogart (Austin Barnett) and senior defender Peter Bouris (Kweller, Durinka) scored for the Flames.

East faces Amherst at 9 p.m. on Thursday at the Pepsi Center Feature Rink and Williamsville North at 5 p.m. on Saturday on the Olympic Rink.

Williamsville South

The Billies lost both of its games in the L&M Financial Services Comdac Tournament held Nov. 23-24 at the Amherst Pepsi Center, losing to Massena, 6-2, and Skaneateles, 3-0.

In league games, South lost to a debuting Clarence team, 2-1, last Thursday on the Pepsi Center Olympic Rink and dropped a 7-1 decision to Lancaster on Sunday at Buffalo State College.

Sophomore Leo Schultz (Darren Powers) put South ahead, 1-0, at 4:23 of the first period on the power play but Clarence got goals from senior Tim Seel and sophomore Derek Blanchard at 5:42 and 57 seconds, respectively, left in the second period, to clinch the win.

"I thought our work ethic was fantastic," said South coach Sean Green. "We had to overcome a little adversity with their second goal."

South had eight shots in the third period but could not get the tying goal.

South junior goalie Matt Green made 27 saves.

Lancaster used its size and skill to score three power-play goals. Six different Redskin players scored.

South finally got on the board in the third as Trevor Clarke (Powers, Dustin Ditallio) scored on the power play.

"As a coaching staff, we liked how the team battled," said coach Green. "This game will be a building block to learn from."

Schultz and Powers scored goals against Massena. Schultz was named to the all-tournament team.

South (0-4) begins its Federation small school league schedule this week, facing Niagara Falls at 9 p.m. on Friday at Niagara University's Dwyer Arena and Bishop Timon-St. Jude at 3 p.m. on Saturday on the Pepsi Center Feature Rink.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com