SKANEATELES – Tradition is a big part of the Skaneateles boys ice hockey program, something that goes way beyond the wins and the championships piled up over the decades.

One of those cherished traditions is the Duke Schneider Memorial Tournament, which renewed itself again on the first weekend of 2025 at Allyn Arena with the annual clash between the Lakers and fellow Division II power Pelham.

Unlike some seasons past, Skaneateles would control matters start to finish this time around, scoring in every period and earning a 4-0 shutout over the Pelicans.

A 2-0 advantage gained in the first period ultimately doubled as Kaden Rutledge and Braedan Taggart each got one goal and one assist.

Tye Kennedy and Luke Bobbett had the other goals, Luke Mizro getting two assists as Luke Logan, Cole Palmer and Jack Bobbett added assists. Skaneateles’ defense limited Pelham to 19 shots, all stopped by Danny Angelina.

Williamsville East, no. 4 in the state Division II rankings, blasted Baldwinsville 8-0 in the other opening-round game to set up a final between the Lakers and Flames.

And though it didn’t start well, Skaneateles turned it around in a big way to beat Will East 4-1.

Kept off the board in the first period the Lakers trailed 1-0, but from that point forward the attack started to click and, by scoring twice in each of the last two periods, turned back the Flames.

Even more important was the way the Skaneateles defense, pushed hard by Will East, maintained the lead, Angelina earning a season-best 46 saves.

Luke Bobbett’s pair of goals keyed the rally. Taggart had one goal and one assist, with Sutton Paro also converting. Kennedy, Mizro and Logan had one assist apiece.

Skaneateles, who still found itself at no. 3 in last week’s state rankings, tuned up for the tournament with a New Year’s Eve game against Syracuse on home ice which featured the team’s best performance in weeks.

Perhaps refreshed from a 12-day break since it survived overtime with Whitesboro on Dec. 19, the Lakers steadily got away from the Cougars, scoring twice in each period and prevailing by a 6-1 margin.

Taggart and Palmer featured here, Taggart by earning a three-goal hat trick and Palmer scoring twice while constantly feeding it to Taggart earning three assists.

The other goal went to Deakin Redding, while Kennedy and Luke Bobbett had two assists apiece. Mizro, Logan, Rutledge and Nate Orsen added single assists as Danny Angelina had a sensational game in the net, recording 30 saves and blanking Syracuse after Nick Rayfield’s first-period goal.

Undefeated going into 2025, the Skaneateles girls ice hockey team stayed that way last Friday when it jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Ithaca through one period on the way to beating the Little Red 5-1.

Spreading things around, the Lakers had five different goal scorers – Grace Marquardt, Sophia Browning, Lily Kennedy, Liz Schneid and Geneveive Smart. Marquardt, Browning and Schneid all got assists, too, with Cora Major earning two assists. Kendra Garlock and Makayla Barron also had assists. Brooke Coffey stopped 19 of Ithaca’s 20 shots.