Having gone through one of the toughest schedules possible, the Skaneateles ice hockey team had to make sure it could handle the also-rans in Division II West before going after league leaders Corcoran and Solvay later this month.
That didn’t prove too easy for the Lakers, who traveled north Tuesday night to Ontario Bay and needed overtime to get past the Storm 5-4.
Through the first two periods, the two sides traded goals, but Ontario Bay was finding more success, inching into a 4-3 lead behind a balanced attack where John Cobb, Devin Coon, Jeremy Smith and Tyler Decker each scored, with Smith adding two assists.
Just in time, though, the Lakers’ defense found itself and blanked the Storm the rest of the way, getting 23 saves from Trevor Diamond.
Still, it remained 4-3 until the Lakers pulled Diamond and, in the last minute of regulation, got the tying goal. Charged up, Skaneateles kept up the attack in overtime and pushed home the game-winner.
Drake Hill and Kyle Christine led the comeback, as each of them scored twice on the night. Ryan Callahan also scored, with Lex Johnson adding two assists. Patrick Emmer and Jake Bird earned assists, too.
This leads the Lakers to its own tournament at Allyn Arena this weekend with three state-ranked opponents — Williamsville South, Canandaigua and Rochester McQuaid — all in the field.
