After six days of camp, it was Team Teal and William Borgen claiming victory at the 3-on-3 French Connection Tournament to wrap up Sabres Development Camp on Tuesday.
Borgen, who scored the game-winning goal in a shootout, knocked off Alex Nylander and Team Gold in the title game.
The 8th overall pick, who admitted he was frustrated early in the tournament after Team Gold dropped their first two games, helped rally the squad to the championship.
"After that we just got together and just played really well I think," he said.
Hudson Fasching, who played for Team Gray, filled in for Victor Olofsson in the final game. The winger suffered a "charley horse" after taking a hit from Fasching earlier in the tournament.
"We picked up Fasching on the trade deadline there, so that was pretty big for us. I thought we were going to play four guys," teammate William Carrier joked after the tournament. "We didn't sign him for a lot of money, maybe a PTO so he wanted to come here."
Carrier and the Teal squad had a good amount of chances against netminder Steve Racine, but the Williamsville native was a brick wall in the crease, keeping both teams off the board to force a shootout.
Nylander, who has dazzled throughout camp, lost control as he brought the puck up the ice and did not register a shot.
After all five skaters failed to score on their first run through, Borgen beat Racine on the stick side to give the Team Teal a 1-0 lead.
Ryan Mantha failed to score on the ensuing chance for Team Gold, securing the win for Teal.
"I ended up having to go twice and shot the puck because I didn't see anything," the defenseman said. "I got lucky. It just went in."
Next up for the squad? Continue to grind in the offseason in the hopes of earning a spot in the fall at training camp.
"Do everything it takes to make that team, of course coming into September," Nylander said. "I'm going to do everything it takes in the summer to get ready for it."
"If you asked me, could I see him going back to junior? I guess there's a scenario," General Manager Tim Murray said. "If you ask me could I see him playing wing with Jack and Sam, I think there is a scenario. Could be in the Ameri-- there's all kind of scenarios and he can fit into anyone of them. He's just high in talent, high in skill and he's going to be a very good NHL player, it's just a matter of time."
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