At least in the early stages of this season, there’s a profound difference in the CBA/J-D ice hockey team between its home and road performances – though the gap is starting to shrink a bit.
Winless away from Onondaga Nation Arena early in the season, the Brothers play at a higher level at its Nedrow base, as discovered again in last Tuesday night’s 2-2 tie with Skaneateles.
With its 3-0-1 start, Skaneateles had made itself an early favorite in the Division II race, and attacked early in an attempt to blow past CBA/J-D, too.
However, the Brothers kept it 0-0 through one period, and in the second period Scott Firman twice put shots past Laker goalie Trevor Diamond. Nick Papayanakos assisted on both scoring plays, with Sean Lavin also earning an assist.
Skaneateles led, 2-1, going into the third period. Skaneateles tied it, though, and went all-out in trying to move ahead through the rest of regulation and overtime.
CBA/J-D’s defense would turn back all those chances, and freshman goalie Tim Decker had another superb outing as he recorded 38 saves, twice Diamond’s total.
On Saturday, the Brothers again looked for its first road win at New Hartford, and finally got it, though it needed overtime to battle past the Spartans 5-4.
This one would go back and forth all afternoon. CBA/J-D led 2-1 through one period, only to see New Hartford tie it, 3-3, by the end of the second period. They would exchange goals in the final period before the Brothers got the OT game-winner.
Firman had a role in everything, backing up his single goal with four assists. Flanagan scored twice, adding an assist, while Papayanakos had one goal and two assists. Deke Burns had the other goal as Hunter Anderson, taking his turn in goal, finished with 27 saves.
Fayetteville-Manlius took its first loss of the season on Wednesday night at the Cicero Twin Rinks, falling 6-4 to the Solvay Bearcats.
Early on, it looked good for the Hornets, as it led 2-1 after one period. Even after Solvay rallied in the middle stages, it was still tied, 4-4, before a third period where the Hornets got shut out and the Bearcats moved in front.
Anthony Angello, with two goals and one assist, led the F-M attack. Kevin O’Neill and Trevor Chase picked up the other goals, while Dante Capriotti managed a pair of assists. Matt McDonough and Cooper Hollick had one assist apiece as Ben Napierala and Erik Badger split time in goal, making 21 saves between them.
In Friday’s game against Liverpool at the Warriors’ new home rink in Lysander, the Hornets’ special teams were quite special in a 4-0 shutout of the Warriors where Napierala stopped all 31 shots he faced.
F-M managed short-handed goals in each of the first two periods, plus two other tallies as Hollick, with two goals and one assist, led the way. Chase and Alex Ferrara also converted, with McDonough, Tom Doucet, Donte Capriotti, Mateo Capriotti and Boe Heintz joining Chase in the assist column.
On Wednesday night, the Hornets meet 5-0 Corcoran at the Twin Rinks before a Saturday visit to Ithaca, while CBA/J-D is home this week for games against Auburn and Fulton.
