At times during the off-season, there was some concern over whether the Solvay ice hockey program would continue for the 2011-12 season. Among many other issues, the Bearcats, who feature players from many different schools (including Marcellus, Jordan-Elbridge, Westhill and Bishop Ludden) lost its long-time home at State Fair Coliseum due to the Midstate Youth Hockey Association ending its association with the venue. It was finally determined that Solvay would now play its home games to the west, at Allyn Arena inside the Skaneateles Community Center. That means a longer commute for players and parents, but at least the season could continue. Then there was the hockey product itself. After statewide realignment forced a a move from Division II to Division I, head coach John Campbell’s Bearcats went 9-7-4 a season ago, reaching the Section III playoffs, but falling to Rome Free Academy 5-2 in the quarterfinals. For this winter, another realignment takes place, this time within Division I. Solvay joins the West division, along with West Genesee, Liverpool, Baldwinsville, Corcoran, Cortland-Homer and Fayetteville-Manlius, while the other seven league teams go into the East division. One of those East teams, Watertown IHC, served as Solvay’s opening-night opponent Monday at Watertown Fairgrounds Arena, where a big second period pushed the Bearcats to a 6-2 victory over the Cavaliers. Already up 1-0 through one period, Solvay sparkled in those second 15 minutes, getting four unanswered goals to all but put the game away. Six different players – David Graf, Peter Lynch, Cameron Bennett, Nate Carr, Ben Carrock and Forrest Gilbert – had the six Bearcat goals. Will Downs had two assists as Bennett, Carr, Carrock, Graf, David Lilly, Travis Hyde and Ben Walsh had one assist apiece. The first of those “home” games in Skaneateles would take place Saturday, against Ontario Bay – but it would be at the older Austin Park facility, a mile or so from the Community Center.