Could it have been just 11 months since the Cazenovia ice hockey team saw the Section III Division II championship snatched by New Hartford?
A whole lot has changed since that point. The Spartans are reeling, and the Lakers are soaring, still undefeated and still atop the state Division I rankings.
That chasm between the two sides revealed itself Tuesday night at the Morrisville State IcePlex, where Cazenovia took New Hartford apart in an 11-0 shutout.
Moving to 17-0 on the season, the Lakers took 70 shots, an average of more than a shot and a half per minute, and frequently converted.
Brian Gara helmed the effort, scoring four times and adding an assist. Sam Lewis (two goals, two assists) and Connor Cannizzaro (one goal, three assists) each managed four points.
John Greacen and Lucas Catania each scored twice, with Kyle Murray, Sean Cannizzaro and Todd Christensen each landing assists.
That proved quite a contrast to events at Colgate’s Starr Rink, where Division I contenders Hamilton and Rome Free Academy battled into overtime before the Emerald Knights lost, 7-6, to the Black Knights.
Getting the quick start, Hamilton led 3-1 after one period, only to see RFA explode for four goals in the second period to seize a 5-4 lead.
Then it was Hamilton’s turn to charge, pulling back even 6-6 before regulation was done. However, just 39 seconds into overtime, RFA notched the game-winning goal past Brady Carroll, who had made 37 saves on the night.
Alex Foster led the hosts, scoring twice and adding three assists, while Alex Brink earned two goals and two assists. Kinnon Nolan-Finkel and Ryan MacDowell each finished with one goal and one assist. For the Black Knights, T.J. Reilley proved unstoppable, with three goals and three assists, as Garret Reilley contributed three goals and two assists of his own.
Hamilton charged into February having won five games in a row, the last of them a 7-1 romp over Liverpool on Saturday at Starr Rink.
This got decided early, as the Emerald Knights reeled off three unanswered goals in the first period, then did the same in the second period to assume a 6-0 lead.
Brink, who leads Division I in goal scoring, and Foster continued to torment opposing defense, both of them finishing with three goals and one assist. Patrick Spellicy earned the other goal, with Nick Koen providing three assists. Nolan-Finkel and Marc Donahue earned single assists.
