AMHERST – The Amherst Regional High School Vikings hockey team lost their first game of the 2012 season Sunday at Amherst Stadium, losing 6-4 to the North Nova Gryphons during Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation action.
The Gryphons scored the only goal of the first period but the Vikings came out in the second and went up 2-1 off two quick goals.
Alex VanSnick scored at 2:15 into the second off assists from Michael Patterson and Joel Boyle, and Stephen Belyea scored off an assist from Matt Beal.
North Nova scored two goals at the end of the second period and the teams went into the dressing room with the Gryphons up 3-2.
North Nova went up 6-2 in the third before the Vikings scored two quick late goals and the game ended 6-4 for the Gryphons.
Scoring the goals for the Vikings was Mitchell Speight and Belyea. Boyle and Corey Hunter assisted on the Speight goal, and Beal assisted on the Belyea goal.
The Vikings beat the Tantramar Titans 1-0 during exhibition action Friday night in Sackville.
Andrew Skinner scored unassisted with just over a minute left in the 3rd period to break a scoreless tie. Evan MacKenzie earned the shutout by stopping all 19 shots fired his way.
The Vikings are at the 4-Plex in Moncton Monday night where they play an exhibition game against Harrison-Trimble High School.
