One big motivating factor for the Cazenovia ice hockey team, entering the regular-season homestretch, is the chance to finish in the top two of the Division II National Conference and, as a result, secure a first-round Section III playoff home game at the Morrisville State IcePlex.
As shown again in last Tuesday night’s game against Cortland-Homer, the Lakers play quite well at the IcePlex, in this case keeping the Golden Eagles off the board in a 4-0 shutout.
Prior to that, Cazenovia hadn’t won in two weeks, since topping Whitesboro 4-2 on Jan. 6. The ensuing 0-2-1 stretch, which included losses to state-ranked Skaneateles and Auburn, plus a 4-4 tie with Colonie-Shaker, had left the Lakers in a shaky situation.
So it was just the right time to face someone like Cortland-Homer, who was 0-5-1 in league play going into the game, but beat Cazenovia 5-2 in the Golden Eagles’ holiday tournament on Dec. 26.
Looking for payback, the Lakers started to get it when Brendan Whalen, on an end-to-end rush, scored in the first period, which turned out to be all that Cazenovia would need.
Still, Collin McGaugh added a goal before the first period was done, making it 2-0, and the defense took over for most of the second period until, seven seconds before intermission, Matt McGaugh found the net, making it 3-0.
Fired up by that late tally, the Lakers saw Jake Stowell score early in the third period. Whalen, Collin McGaugh and Nate Wendel all got credit for assists, and unlike Cortland-Homer counterpart Tyler Wallac, who had 20 saves, Ryan McCann played a superb game in the net, stopping all 25 shots he faced.
More chances for success came Thursday night, at 0-12 Ontario Bay, and the Lakers enjoyed the trip – though it proved nervous for a long time before Cazenovia was able to calm the Storm and win a 5-4 decision.
They traded goals early, Jake Lewis putting the Lakers on the board, Ontario Bay answering before Lewis scored again later in the first period and the Storm again countered, leaving it 2-2 going to the intermission.
It was quieter in the second period, the only goal coming from Adam Race, thanks to a nice feed from Stowell, but the exchange resumed in the final period as Race found the net, but Ontario Bay caught up once more, R.J. Smith’s goal forging a 4-4 tie.
Then McGaugh, who already had two assists on the night, scored right after Smith’s tally, and that proved the game-winner as Stowell collected three assists and Lewis one assist. Cazenovia overcame 23 saves by Storm goalie Ed Sheats.
This moved Cazenovia back to the .500 mark at 7-7-1. Now it gets to rest for nine days, and would need it since, on Jan. 31, it will host Division II National Conference leader New Hartford at the IcePlex, with faceoff at 1 p.m.
