Knights Squirt Select win Pepsi Tournament

The Amherst Knights Squirt Select team ended its season by winning the Pepsi Tournament at Holiday Twin Rinks on April 6.

Amherst easily cruised through the preliminary rounds, going 3-0 over teams from Erie, Pa. and Ontario, Canada.

The Knights won a hard fought game over the Georgetown Raiders, 3-0, to win an appearance against Kiwanis, Ont. in the finals.

In the championship game, Kiwanis jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the first period and continued its dominance throughout the first and into the second by going up 2-0 midway through the period.

With the team on its heels, Amherst goalie Jordan Scinta took the reins and stopped the Kiwanis' onslaught until forward Tom Heyden put the team on the board. Heyden's goal, assisted by Nick Peters and Frank Bodami, sparked a sluggish Amherst team that needed a jump start to get back into the contest.

The third period began with Kiwanis pressuring Amherst, as it had the entire game, until Connor Lalime tied the score at the seven-minute mark with assists from Tim Kreuz and Rick Bruno.

The game ended in a tie and the eight-minute overtime was no different with each team playing wide open hockey.

To finally determine a winner, both teams headed to the shootout where Scinta held the first Kiwanis shooter scoreless. Amherst's Connor Lalime responded with a quick score. Kiwanis scored on its next two attempts and Amherst responded with goals from Rick Bruno and Tim Kreuz.