Just like all of the other Division I high school hockey teams in Central New York, the Syracuse Cougars are chasing West Genesee, but might have the goods to catch them.
A season ago, the Cougars fell in the sectional Division I semifinal to Rome Free Academy. Then it spent much of the off-season worrying about where it would play home games as concerns over the finances, plus needed upgrades, at Meachem Rink closed the facility for nearly six months before it reopened in October.
Glad to be back on the refurbished Meachem ice, Syracuse, whose team is comprised of players from several different schools (including Westhill and Solvay), began its 2014-15 campaign with a superb effort against Watertown IHC last Monday night, smashing past the Cavaliers 9-2.
The getaway began in the second period when the Cougars, already in front 2-1, tacked on two more goals and kept IHC off the board. Then it erupted for five goals in the final 15 minutes.
Sean Eccles led the way, getting the hat trick as he scored three times and added an assist. Nick Matro and Colby Skrupa each gained two goals and one assist, while Bryan O’Mara and Collin Thompson had one goal apiece. Mark Purcell and Conrad Skrupa each got two assists as Liam Barry and Ryan Evanchek added single assists.
From there, it was on to Lysander Arena for last weekend’s Bobby Conklin Memorial Tournament, which started Friday night with the Cougars facing Ontario Bay and rolling to an 11-0 shutout over the Storm.
Not content with a 2-0 first-period advantage, Syracuse scored five times in the second period and four times in the third period, with Matro and Skrupa leading the way as they each earned three assists and Matro contributed a pair of goals.
Thompson stepped up with two goals and two assists, while O’Mara also found the net twice. Sean Eccles had a goal and two assists as Barry and Matt Frye each got one goal and one assist. Rogers and Dan Hodgens notched the other goals, with Matt Eccles, Mike Wood and Mark Purcell adding assists.
Baldwinsville, the host team, had a similar 11-1 rout over Fulton in the other half of the opening round, setting up a big showdown between the Bees and Cougars in Saturday afternoon’s championship game.
Many favored Syracuse to win this game – but B’ville, who had won two straight since an overtime defeat to Cicero-North Syracuse at the Carrier Dome on Nov. 21, maintained its recent hot play, shutting down the Cougars and claiming a 4-2 decision.
Following 20 goals in its first two games, Syracuse got held scoreless in a 0-0 first period. That alone seemed to fire up B’ville, who proceeded to take a 2-1 in the second period and pulled away late behind the work of Matt Abbott, who earned a three-goal hat trick.
Thompson and Sean Eccles did score for Syracuse, with Matro contributing an assist. But Bees goalie Matt Sabourin stopped 28 of the 30 Cougars shots he faced, while Sam Walsh finished with 22 saves.
Now the Cougars got a full week to rest and recuperate before resuming play next Monday against Fayetteville-Manlius at Cicero Twin Rinks, followed by a Dec. 18 trip to Fulton.
