Having spent more than a quarter-century coaching the Baldwinsville ice hockey team, head coach Mark Lloyd always deferred credit to others for the Bees’ success.
However, Lloyd could not avoid a small moment in the spotlight Friday as, with a 3-0 shutout of Cortland-Homer at Greater B’ville Ice Arena in Lysander, B’ville gave Lloyd his 300th coaching win.
In all, Lloyd has coached the Bees for 27 years, the resume including six league titles and two trips to the state final four in Utica, including a finals appearance in 2005.
What was far more important to Lloyd, and all of the B’ville followers, was the fact that B’ville needed a win. It had gone 0-2 the weekend before at the Bobby Conklin Memorial Tournament, and tough road trips to West Genesee and Rome Free Academy in the week before Christmas.
Against Cortland-Homer, the Bees would sparkle on the defensive side. Instead of the nine combined goals it allowed to Corcoran and Solvay in the Conklin tournament, it kept the Golden Eagles off the board, anchored by goaltender Josh Pinard recording 23 saves.
No big production was needed, but the Bees took a 1-0 lead on Mike Schneid’s first-period goal. James Wadsworth found the net in the second period and Shane O’Brien gained an insurance goal in the final period.
Justin Newman anchored the Bees’ attack, earning two assists. Parker Ferrigan, Ronnie Bertrand, Matt Zandri and Mike McElwain each added one assist.
Indeed, the Bees travel to Shove Park Tuesday to clash with West Genesee, the four-time defending Section III Division I champions who have shut out five of its first six opponents this winter. Then it goes to Kennedy Arena Friday to face RFA, who leads Division I East.
