The key for newcomer Spencer Neu was a broken stick. The Williamsville East junior broke the stick he’d been using for years and was forced to use his backup for the Flames’ games Thursday night against Timon and Saturday afternoon against Hamburg. Neu scored in both games for his first two Fed goals, and he credited the new stick. “I …
‘It’s my life’: German exchange student achieves goal of playing hockey in America
In Germany, soccer is mandatory. But with a hockey rink next to his house and a few German NHL players from his hometown of Memmingen, which is near Munich and the Alps, Dominikus Milz has devoted his time and energy to hockey since he was 6 years old. “I never played soccer for a club, but in Germany it’s kind …
Metz scores OT winner as Flames down Bulldogs
Williamsville East wanted redemption for last year’s Section VI final loss to Kenmore East, and the Flames had their chance Thursday night. It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t pretty, but the Flames defeated the Bulldogs 6-5 in overtime for their second win of the season. Kenmore East led 2-0 and then 3-1 early in the second, but Williamsville East came …
Williamsville East ‘ready for anyone’
Williamsville East coach Mike Torrillo doesn’t want to talk about last season. “Last season is over,” Torrillo said. “That’s history. These guys are gonna take care of what they need to do. It becomes their legacy.” The Flames lost to rival Kenmore East in the small school finals after finishing as state runners-up the year before. Last season, Kenmore East …
Mike Steffan: ‘Passion for baseball’
Mike Steffan has made his decision. A year ago, at least publicly, the dual-sport athlete hadn’t yet decided whether to pursue a future in baseball or hockey. Even as a sophomore, he’d excelled in both. Steffan began playing both baseball and hockey around age 3, following in his father’s footsteps in both sports. His summers were spent on the baseball …
Pray leads way in redemptive section championship win; team game carries Kenmore East to states
“Clutch” might be the most appropriate word to describe Trevor Pray’s senior season at Kenmore East. It started with his timely return to the Bulldogs after spending his junior year playing for the Jr. Sabres. During the regular season, he scored the game-winning goal in an overtime win over Hamburg. And in a 4-3 overtime win over Williamsville South in …
‘Love covers’: Will East’s selfless play carries team to section finals
Williamsville East, last year’s Division 2 Section VI champion and state runner-up, is on its way back to First Niagara Center. The Flames played a tougher schedule this year against the league’s larger and deeper schools, but through it all, they held onto a love for each other. And when Matt Cohen recorded a hat trick in Thursday’s 6-4 semifinal …
Will East wins first playoff game over WSE
Williamsville East proved to be the stronger team through a physical matchup with West Seneca East in Sunday’s small school quarterfinals. The Flames didn’t allow a goal until the third period and came away with a 3-1 win over the Trojans. William Mann started off the scoring with 6:36 left in the first, and the Flames killed off three penalties …
‘If they don’t score, we can’t lose’: Williamsville East shuts out Hamburg
A win Saturday was the difference between a first-round bye and playing Amherst in the small school prequarterfinals the following Thursday. Williamsville East and Hamburg were aware of the implications of Saturday’s game, and both teams thought of it as a playoff game. Williamsville East coach Mike Torrillo’s mantra, “If they don’t score, we can’t lose,” rang true for the …
Williamsville East builds confidence, momentum with win over Timon
It all comes down to Saturday for Williamsville East. Regardless of what happened in Thursday’s game against Timon, Saturday’s game between Williamsville East would determine who gets the No. 2 seed for the small school playoffs and who gets the No. 5 seed and has to play the first round. But the Flames needed the win against Timon simply to …