TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Former Erie Otters Shawn Szydlowski and Phil Varone had an assist apiece in the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 win against the New York Rangers in the championship game of the NHL Prospects Tournament at Center Ice Arena on Wednesday.

Varone finished the four-game tournament tied for second on the team with four points (two goals, two assists). Szydlowski had a goal and two points overall.

The Sabres haven’t announced their training camp roster. Former Otters forward Andrew Yogan, who appeared to be injured earlier in the tournament, didn’t play for the second straight game.

Otters overage defenseman David Shields has been invited to camp with the St. Louis Blues, which begins Friday in St. Louis Mills, Mo. Shields had no points and a minus-2 rating in the Blues’ 4-3 OT win against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the third-place game. He finished the tournament with no points and a minus-1 rating.

Otters OA goaltender Ramis Sadikov was the backup in the Detroit Red Wings’ 4-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes in the seventh-place game. He had an 0-1-0 record, 4.00 goals-against average and .846 save percentage in one game. The Red Wings haven’t announced their camp roster.

Former Mercyhurst College standout forward Scott Pitt had no points and a minus-2 rating against the Red Wings. He finished tied for the team lead with two points (one goal, one assist), but didn’t receive an invitation to main camp.

Greg McKegg (Contributed/Toronto Maple Leafs)

OSHAWA, Ontario – Erie Otters forwards Greg McKegg and Sondre Olden scored a goal apiece in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on the final day of the 2011 Rookie Tournament at General Motors Centre.

Then according to mapleleafs.nhl.com, they joined former Otters winger David Broll in earning invitations to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ main camp, which begins Friday in Toronto and is headlined by the preseason opener Sept. 19 against the Senators.

McKegg finished the tournament tied for the team lead with four points (two goals, two assists).

At Traverse City, Mich., former Otters center Phil Varone scored his second goal in the NHL Prospects Tournament in the Buffalo Sabres’ 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday at Center Ice Arena. Former Otters teammate Shawn Szydlowski had no points for the Sabres.

Otters goaltender Ramis Sadikov didn’t play for the Red Wings. The Sabres face the New York Rangers today at 7 p.m. in the championship game. The game can be seen on NHL Network and Madison Square Garden Network.

But Varone and Szydlowski might not face former Otters teammate Andrew Yogan, who didn’t play in a 4-3 double-overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. While I watched the broadcast of the Rangers’ win Sunday against the Dallas Stars, it appeared Yogan was injured while crashing into the boards.

Meanwhile, former Mercyhurst College standout Scott Pitt had a goal, assist and a plus-2 rating for the Hurricanes against the Rangers on Tuesday. Otters defenseman David Shields, who’s expected to begin his professional career this season, had no points and a plus-1 rating in the St. Louis Blues’ 6-1 win against the Stars.

- Victor Fernandes

Greg McKegg (Contributed/Toronto Maple Leafs)

OSHAWA, Ontario – Erie Otters captain Greg McKegg had a goal and two assists to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2011 Rookie Tournament at General Motors Centre on Sunday.

Otters teammate Sondre Olden didn’t record a point for the Leafs. Former Otters winger David Broll was injured in the game, according to the team’s website. The Leafs face the Ottawa Senators on Monday at 7 p.m.

At Traverse City, Mich., Otters goaltender Ramis Sadikov allowed four goals on 26 shots in the Detroit Red Wings’ 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild in the NHL Prospects Tournament at Center Ice Arena.

Former Otters Shawn Szydlowski (goal) and Phil Varone (assist) led the Buffalo Sabres to a 6-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Former Otter Andrew Yogan scored a goal in the New York Rangers’ 6-2 win against the Dallas Stars.

Overage defenseman David Shields, who’s expected to begin his pro career this season, had no points in the St. Louis Blues’ 2-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes. Former Mercyhurst College standout Scott Pitt had no points and a minus-2 rating for the Hurricanes.

Tuesday’s schedule is N.Y. Rangers vs. Carolina at 3 p.m.; St. Louis vs. Dallas at 3:30 p.m.; Minnesota vs. Columbus, 6:30 p.m.; and Buffalo vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Former Erie Otters center Phil Varone scored in the Buffalo Sabres’ 6-3 win against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday at the NHL Prospects Tournament. Former teammate Shawn Szydlowski had no points and four shots on goal for the Sabres.

In other tournament action, David Shields, an overage defenseman with the Otters who’s expected to start his professional career this season, had no points and a plus-1 rating in the St. Louis Blues’ 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers. Former Otters forward Andrew Yogan, who was traded to Peterborough last month, had no points and a minus-1 rating for the Rangers.

Otters overage goaltender Ramis Sadikov didn’t play for the Detroit Red Wings in a 7-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Former Mercyhurst College standout Sc0tt Pitt had a minus-2 rating and one shot on goal in the Carolina Hurricanes’ 8-2 loss to the Dallas Stars.

Here is Sunday’s tournament schedule:

Columbus vs. Buffalo, 2:30 p.m.

Carolina vs. St. Louis, 3 p.m.

Dallas vs. N.Y. Rangers, 6 p.m. (Live on NHL Network, replay on NHL Network at 9 p.m.)

Detroit vs. Minnesota, 6:30 p.m.

Here’s the rest of the tournament schedule:

Tuesday

Dallas vs. St. Louis, 3 p.m.

N.Y. Rangers vs. Carolina, 3:30 p.m. (Live on NHL Network, replay on NHL Network at 7 p.m.)

Columbus vs. Minnesota, 6:30 p.m.

Detroit vs. Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Wednesday

7th-place game, 3 p.m.

5th-place game, 3:30 p.m.

3rd-place game, 6:30 p.m.

Championship game, 7 p.m.

Four seniors from the Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team have signed ECHL contracts.

Forward Ryan Raven signed with the Cincinnati Cyclones on Thursday. He made his debut in a 3-1 win against Greenville on Saturday. Forward Scott Pitt has a point in three games with the Florida Everblades. Forward Mike Gurtler signed with the Bakersfield Condors on Saturday. Defenseman Jeff Terminesi signed with the Victoria Salmon Kings on Friday. He has no points in two games.

Meghan Agosta (Contributed/Mercyhurst College)

Senior forward Meghan Agosta was the Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team’s only player on the Reebok Hockey/ACHA All-America Team. The honorees were announced at the NCAA Women’s Division I Frozen Four’s Welcome Banquet on Thursday at Ambassador Banquet & Conference Center.

Agosta, who leads the nation in scoring with 86 points, earned the honor for the fourth straight year.

She was joined on the first team by four players participating in this weekend’s NCAA Women’s Division I Frozen Four – senior goaltender Molly Schaus (Boston College), sophomore defenseman Laura Fortino (Cornell) and senior forward Meghan Duggan and junior forward Hilary Knight of Wisconsin. Senior defenseman Jocelyne Larocque (Minnesota Duluth) also was named to the first team.

The second team included sophomore goaltender Noora Raty (Minnesota), senior defenseman Catherine Ward (Boston University), sophomore forward Brianna Decker (Wisconsin), senior forward Kelli Stack (BC) and sophomore defenseman Lauriane Rougeau and junior forward Rebecca Johnston from Cornell.

In other news, Mercyhurst freshmen forward Taylor Holstrom was named Atlantic Hockey Association’s rookie of the year. Holstrom, who had nine goals and 33 points in 36 games this season, also was named to the all-rookie team. Senior goaltender Ryan Zapolski, an Erie native, earned a spot on the second team. Seniors Jeff Terminesi, a defenseman, and Scott Pitt, a forward, were on the third team.

Mercyhurst College senior forward Scott Pitt reportedly has signed with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades.

Find out more by clicking the link.

STORRS, Conn. – The Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team’s season ended in overtime again.

Tom Janosz scored 11 minutes, 41 seconds into overtime, handed the Lakers a 4-3 loss to Connecticut in Game 2 of their Atlantic Hockey Association series at Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum on Saturday night.

Janosz’s first goal of the season ended the Lakers’ season a year after a double-overtime goal eliminated the Lakers in Game 2 of a quarterfinal series against Canisius.

On this night, the Lakers (15-18-4) answered UConn’s three-goal second period, which broke open a scoreless tie, with three goals in a 6-minute span of the third period. Nate Jensen’s second goal of the season, scored on the power play sparked the comeback  6:09 into the period.

Scott Pitt moved the Lakers within a goal 18 seconds later. Then Mike Gurtler’s power-play goal completed the comeback with 7:49 left in regulation. Along the way, backup goaltender Max Strang stopped the first 11 shots he faced in relief of Erie native Ryan Zapolski.

Zapolski was pulled after allowing three goals in a 3-minute span late in the second. But Strang couldn’t stop Janosz on the game’s final shot. Mercyhurst outshot UConn 56-32 in the game. But Huskies goaltender Garrett Bartus made 53 saves.

Pitt had a goal and assist for the Lakers. Steve Bergin, Cole Schneider and Billy Latta each scored for the Huskies (15-17-4), which advance to the semifinals on Friday at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y.

- Victor Fernandes

Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament schedule

Quarterfinals (best-of-three series)

Game 2 – Saturday

No. 4 Connecticut 4, No. 5 Mercyhurst 3, OT (UConn wins series 2-0)

No. 6 Canisius 3, No. 3 Holy Cross 2, OT (Series tied 1-1)

No. 1 Rochester Institute of Technology 5, No. 8 American International 1 (RIT wins series 2-0)

No. 2 Air Force 4, No. 7 Sacred Heart 0 (Air Force wins series 2-0)

Note: Game 3 of each series, if necessary, is set for Sunday (same start times)

Game 3 – Sunday

Canisius (13-18-6) at Holy Cross (16-15-5), 7:05 p.m.

Semifinals – March 18

at Blue Cross Arena – Rochester, N.Y.

No. 1 RIT (18-10-8) vs. lowest remaining seed, 4:05 p.m.

No. 2 Air Force (18-11-6) vs. highest remaining seed, 60 minutes after completion of Game 1

Championship game – March 19

at Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, N.Y.

Semifinal winners, 7:05 p.m.

SUMMARY

Connecticut 4, Mercyhurst 3 (OT)

Mercyhurst  0  0  3  0  —  3

Connecticut  0  3  0  1  —  4

1^st Period — None. Penalties — Sims (C) boarding, :30; Pitt (M) interference, 13:58; Krispel (C) slashing, 19:02.

2^nd Period — 1. Connecticut, Steve Bergin 3 (Krispel, Ambrosie), 12:30. 2. Connecticut, Cole Schneider 12 (Ranallo), 13:39. 3. Connecticut, Billy Latta 11 (Cooper, Winter), 15:34. Penalties — Raven (M) roughing, 1:55; Schneider (C) cross checking, 6:32; Terminesi (M) roughing, 11:38; Harris (C) roughing, 11:38; Blakey (M) 5-min. major, 16:47; Ranallo (C) high sticking, 17:50; Cooper (C) high sticking, 18:54.

3^rd Period — 4. Mercyhurst, Nate Jensen 2 (Chiasson, Pitt), 6:09 (pp). 5. Mercyhurst, Scott Pitt 19 (Goebel, Holstrom), 6:27. 6. Mercyhurst, Mike Gurtler 10 (Blakey), 12:11. Penalties — Carkin (M) cross checking, 2:02; O’Donoghue (M) hitting after whistle, 2:02; Olson (C) hitting after whistle, 2:02; Janosz (C) holding, 6:01; Sapieha (C) tripping, 10:33.

Overtime — 7. Connecticut, Tom Janosz 1 (Ambrosie), 11:41. Penalties — None.

Shots on goal — Mercyhurst, 14-16-19-7—56; Connecticut, 9-11-4-8—32.

Goaltenders — Mercyhurst, Ryan Zapolski (20 shots, 17 saves), Max Strang 2-1-0 (12 shots, 11 saves); Connecticut, Garrett Bartus 14-14-4 (56 shots, 53 saves).

Power plays — Mercyhurst (2-6), Connecticut (0-4).

Referees — James Troup, Shayne Ferrier. Linesmen — Brendan Blanchard, Bryan Goodwin.

Attendance — 157.

Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament – quarterfinals (best-of-three)

What: No. 5 Mercyhurst College (15-16-4) at No. 4 Connecticut (13-17-4)

When: Friday through Sunday, 7:05 p.m.*

Where: Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum – Storrs, Conn.

On the air: www.uconnhuskies (Internet video, live stats)

Players to watch

Mercyhurst – Sr. G Ryan Zapolski (13-13-3 record, 2.76 goals-against average, .923 save percentage, 2 shutouts), Sr. F Scott Pitt (18-21-39), So. F Paul Chiasson (17-19-36), Fr. F Taylor Holstrom (9-23-32), Sr. F Mike Gurtler (9-17-26)

Connecticut – Fr. F Cole Schneider (11-17-28), So. F Sean Ambrosie (10-17-27), Fr. F Billy Latta (10-14-24), Sr. F Andrew Olson (14-8-22), So. G Garrett Bartus (12-14-4, 3.46, .905)

Fast facts

Mercyhurst – The Lakers began the Atlantic Hockey Association playoffs with a 5-1 first-round win at Robert Morris last Saturday. … The Lakers split their only two meetings – a 3-1 loss and 9-4 win – at Connecticut Jan. 7-8. … With a series win, the Lakers would reach the conference’s Final Four at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y., for the third time in four seasons. … Pitt and Chiasson have six-game point streaks. … Gurtler needs seven points to become the 15^th player in the program’s NCAA Division I history to reach 100 career points and the third this season (Pitt and senior F Steve Cameron). … Cameron remains out with a potentially season-ending, lower-body injury.

Connecticut – The Huskies followed an eight-game winless streak, which began with the 9-4 loss to Mercyhurst Jan. 8, with six wins in their last eight games. … Bartus has earned 12 of the team’s 13 wins. … Schneider, the team’s leading scorer, is a native of Williamsville, N.Y., a Buffalo suburb.

* Sunday’s game (if necessary)

– Victor Fernandes

Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament schedule

Quarterfinals (best-of-three series)

Today-Sunday*

No. 8 American International (8-22-1) at No. 1 Rochester Institute of Technology (16-10-8), 7:05 p.m.

No. 7 Sacred Heart (6-23-6) at No. 2 Air Force (16-11-6), 9:05 p.m.

No. 6 Canisius (12-17-6) at No. 3 Holy Cross (15-14-5), 7:05 p.m.

No. 5 Mercyhurst (15-16-4) at No. 4 Connecticut (13-17-4), 7:05 p.m.

* Sunday games if necessary; start times apply to all three games

Semifinals – March 18

at Blue Cross Arena – Rochester, N.Y.

No. 1 – Quarterfinal winners, 4:05 p.m.

No. 2 – Quarterfinal winners, 60 minutes after completion of Game 1

Championship game – March 19

at Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, N.Y.

Semifinal winners, 7:05 p.m.

PITTSBURGH – Mercyhurst College remains alive in the Atlantic Hockey Association playoffs.

The Lakers advanced to next weekend’s quarterfinals with a 5-1 win against Robert Morris in front of 1,202 at RMU Island Sports Center on Saturday night. Scott Pitt led the way with two goals and an assist.

Taylor Holstrom (goal, assist), Derek Elliott (two assists) and Paul Chiasson (two assists) had two points apiece for the Lakers (15-16-4), the fifth seed in the conference’s West Scheduling Region.

Jesse Echternach and Mike Gurtler also scored goals and Erie native Ryan Zapolski made 30 saves for the Lakers, which handed the Colonials their only two losses on home ice this season.

Pitt’s two goals sparked the Lakers’ run to a 3-0 second-period lead. Trevor Lewis scored short-handed 1 minute, 59 seconds into the third to move the Colonials (18-12-5), the West’s fourth seed, within 3-1.

But Holstrom and Gurtler scored late in the game to seal the victory.

The Lakers will play at Connecticut (13-17-4), which had a first-round bye as the East’s No. 2 seed, in a best-of-three quarterfinal series starting with Game 1 on Friday. Game 2 is Saturday, followed by Game 3 (if necessary) on Sunday. All three games begin at 7:05 p.m.

The other quarterfinal series include American International at defending champion Rochester Institute of Technology, Sacred Heart at Air Force and Canisius at Holy Cross.

- Victor Fernandes

Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament

First round – Saturday

East Scheduling Region

No. 6 American International 6, No. 3 Army 3

No. 5 Sacred Heart 6, No. 4 Bentley 3

West Scheduling Region

No. 6 Canisius 6, No. 3 Niagara 3

No. 5 Mercyhurst 5, No. 4 Robert Morris 1

Quarterfinals (best-of-three series)

Friday-next Sunday

No. 8 American International (8-22-1) at No. 1 Rochester Institute of Technology (16-10-8), 7:05 p.m.

No. 7 Sacred Heart (6-23-6) at No. 2 Air Force (16-11-6), 9:05 p.m.

No. 6 Canisius (12-17-6) at No. 3 Holy Cross (15-14-5), 7:05 p.m.

No. 5 Mercyhurst (15-16-4) at No. 4 Connecticut (13-17-4), 7:05 p.m.

Note: Teams re-seeded based on overall regular-season standings; times apply to all three games.

SUMMARY

Mercyhurst 5, Robert Morris 1

Mercyhurst  1  2  2  —  5

Robert Morris  0  0  1  —  1

1^st Period — 1. Mercyhurst, Scott Pitt 17 (Holstrom), 7:02. Penalties — Brooks (R) hooking, 2:31; Pitt (M) slashing, 15:34.

2^nd Period — 2. Mercyhurst, Pitt 18 (Chiasson, Jensen), 8:36. 3. Mercyhurst, Jesse Echternach 2 (Elliott), 12:43. Penalties — Pitt (M) tripping, 3:06; Hervato (R) elbowing, 4:16; Jones (M) slashing, 5:32.

3^rd Period — 4. RMU, Trevor Lewis 10 (Urban), 1:59 (sh). 5. Mercyhurst, Taylor Holstrom 9 (Chiasson, Pitt), 16:35. 6. Mercyhurst, Mike Gurtler 9 (Elliott, Noble), 17:59 (en). Penalties — Kushneriuk (R) high sticking, :48; C. South (R) tripping, 7:09; Jones (M) hooking, 7:35.

Shots on goal — Mercyhurst, 6-15-13—34; RMU, 5-15-11—31.

Goaltenders — Mercyhurst, Ryan Zapolski 13-13-3 (31 shots, 30 saves); RMU, Brooks Ostergard 14-9-2 (28 shots, 24 saves), Eric Ferber (5 shots, 5 saves).

Power plays — Mercyhurst (0-4), RMU (0-4).

Referees — Jim Visconte, Chris Foote. Linesmen — Zach Roberts, Josh Deleman.

Attendance — 1,202.