By the time it emerged from its own Bobby Conklin Memorial Tournament, the Baldwinsville ice hockey team knew that, as much as it may have improved over last season, a lot of steps remain before it can threaten the top of the ranks.

That much became apparent in last Friday night’s opening round against Corcoran. Three different one-goal leads slipped away in what turned out to be a 5-4 loss to the Cougars.

Prior to the game, ceremonies honored Conklin, the B’ville hockey captain who, in his senior year at Baker High School, passed away in an automobile accident in November 2005 while on his way to practice.

Head coach Mark Lloyd spoke to the crowd about Conklin’s leadership abilities, and his parents were on hand to drop the ceremonial first puck. Conklin’s number 11 hangs in the rafters at Greater B’ville Ice Arena.

With the ceremonies over, B’ville struck with a goal six seconds into the game, Steve Schneid converting off Justin Newman’s feed. But it didn’t get on the board the rest of the period and Corcoran tied it, 1-1, on Andrew Jackson’s power-play tally.

They continued to go back and forth in the second period, as Ronnie May and Newman converted for the Bees and, in between, Jackson and Steve Young got goals for the Cougars, leaving it 3-3.

With 9:03 left, Brian Burlingame’s wraparound goal pushed B’ville back in front 4-3, only to have Young tie it again less than five minutes later. And with 2:05 left in regulation, Collin Thompson’s slap shot got past Chris Johns for what proved to be the game-winner.

Despite an all-out attack in the final minute, Corcoran held on, buoyed by the work of eighth-grade goalie Liam Moore, who recorded 33 saves. Johns finished with 20 saves.

Relegated to Saturday’s consolation game against Solvay (who lost 3-1 to Ithaca in the other half of the opening round), the Bees would find more disappointment there as another late lead got away in a 4-2 loss to the Bearcats.

Parker Ferrigan had notched one goal and assisted on the other, by Shane O’Brien, as May and Newman also got assists and B’ville led 2-1 through two periods.

However, led by David Graf’s two goals and one assist, Solvay tied it at 2-2 and then moved out in front in the third period with two more tallies. B’ville was left with a fourth-place finish as Corcoran won the title, blanking Ithaca 4-0 for first place.

None of this was anticipated earlier in the week. What made the Bees’ 7-1 romp over Liverpool last Tuesday night a unique event was the fact that, this season, the Warriors are using the ‘purple’ Lysander rink as a home venue after leaving its long-time base at State Fair Coliseum.

Though an improved team from last year’s 3-17-1 entry, Liverpool could not take advantage of B’ville’s early inconsistency and still trailed, 3-1, through two periods.

Then, led by Ferrigan, B’ville pulled away in the late going. Ferrigan had a three-goal hat trick, while May, Matt Colclough, Steve Schneid and Morgan Baumler earned one goal apiece. Mike Schneid, Burlingame, Mike McElwain, Ron Bertrand, Matt Herman and Matt Abbott picked up assists.

Now, with the two defeats at the Conklin tournament, it was imperative for the Bees to bounce back Monday at Fulton before returning home to Lysander Thursday night to face Cortland-Homer.