Though heading toward the Section III Division II playoffs, the CBA/J-D ice hockey team wanted a chance to be at home for at least one round.
But that would only happen if the Brothers finished in the top two of Division II West — a prospect that dimmed in the wake of Monday night’s 2-1 loss to Solvay at State Fair Coliseum in Geddes.
CBA/J-D would have more shots that Solvay, but most of them ended up turned away or gloved by Bearcats goaltender Ryan Bonk, who finished with 26 saves.
Down 1-0 going into the third period, the Brothers finally put a shot past Bonk, as Harry Kalet scored off a feed from Nick Papayanakos. But Solvay scored, too, and hung on for the win as Tom Missert and Carmen Brienza earned their goals.
That defeat seemed to have a long-term effect on the Brothers — for when it met Corcoran Thursday night at Onondaga Nation Arena, it had all sorts of trouble in an 8-2 loss to the Cougars.
Papayanakos and Sean Lavin both scored in the first period, with Kalet, Brendan Flanagan, Taylor Furst and Josh Rathbun earning assists.
Still, Corcoran led, 4-2, after that period, then proceeded to dominate the rest of the game, keeping CBA/J-D off the board and adding to its margin by taking 42 shots. James Cathers (three goals, two assists), Edmund Cathers and Chris Domanski (two goals, two assists each) led the Cougars’ attack.
Meanwhile, Fayetteville-Manlius could not break the shutout streak being built by state no. 1-ranked West Genesee in a 6-0 loss to the Wildcats Tuesday night at Shove Park.
WG had not allowed a goal since Jan. 9, when it beat Oswego 5-2. Since then, it had blanked five consecutive opponents, and F-M would be the sixth.
Tyler Palmerton would be under fire much of the night, and though he finished with 35 saves, he allowed three first-period goals that allowed WG to take control. By contrast, the Hornets had just six shots all night. Ryan Michel and Nick Holzhauer led the Wildcat, each of them earning a goal and two assists.
Now came F-M’s rematch with Cicero-North Syracuse Thursday at the Twin Rinks — the same team it beat 4-2 in the Jan. 26 game made famous when Palmerton scored an empty-net goal in the final minute.
Remembering that, the Northstars would prevail in the sequel, 6-4, overcoming the Hornets’ 3-2 first-period lead. CNS tied it, then inched in front in the third period by finding the net three times, overcoming Palmerton’s 35 saves.
Trevor Chase, in defeat, scored twice, while Trevor Bellina and Alex Ferrara had the other goals. Tim Maalouf had two assists as Brendan Groth, John Bonsted and Sean Wildhack joined Bellina in the one-assist column. CNS saw Brian Hamilton and Eric Hamilton each put in two goals.
