With a mid-January surge, the Baldwinsville ice hockey team now finds itself sitting in second place in Division I West, only behind state no. 1-ranked West Genesee.
The Bees, overall, have won three in a row, none more important than Wednesday night’s 6-5 victory over Corcoran at Meachem Rink, fueled by Steve Schneid’s three-goal, one-assist effort.
This was a rematch of the Dec. 9 opening round of the Bobby Conklin Memorial Tournament, won by Corcoran 5-4 on a Steve Young goal late in regulation. The rematch would prove just as exciting, but turn in the other side’s favor.
Twice in the first period, the Cougars went out in front on goals from Young. Both times, Schneid answered, hitting on a shot from the right point at the 9:45 mark of the first period and tying it again, 2-2, on a breakway goal 2:04 into the second period.
Sparked by this, B’ville went in front 4-2 in that frame as Steve Schneid fed Parker Ferrigan for the go-ahead goal and Mike Schneid tacked on another goal less than three minutes later.
Then came a wild sequence late in that second period that proved pivotal. Corcoran got goals from Will Downs and Evan Evans 40 seconds apart, tying it 4-4, only to see Ferrigan respond with his second tally of the night 24 seconds before intermission, which put the Bees ahead for good.
Still, Steve Schneid had to return and complete his hat trick with 8:50 to play, offering an insurance goal that proved even more necessary when Downs moved the Cougars back within one with 4:50 left.
Despite the Cougars’ all-out assault in the waning minutes, B’ville goaltender Josh Pinard turned shots away, finishing with 41 saves on the night.
This was part of the Bees’ busiest stretch of the season, with four games in six days. It started Monday against Liverpool at Greater B’ville Ice Arena, where the Bees again pushed the Warriors around, not stopping until it had roared to a 5-1 victory.
Since their Dec. 6 encounter (won by B’ville 7-1), the Warriors saw head coach Mark Benedetto step down, replaced by assistants Chris Mathes and Mike Tamalia for the rest of the season.
However, that change on the bench did little to help Liverpool get even against the Bees. Tied 1-1 after one period, B’ville got away with two goals in each of the remaining two periods, watching as Nick Harper, starting in the net, turned away 23 of 24 shots overall.
B’ville goes from the Corcoran win to back-to-back weekend games, meeting Rochester McQuaid Friday on Senior Night at Lysander before visiting Cicero Twin Rinks Saturday to play Central Square.
