While the Fayetteville-Manlius ice hockey team expected to begin 2013 with a victory, perhaps CBA/J-D did not.
The fact that the Brothers did prevail, blanking Auburn 4-0 last Friday at Onondaga Nation Arena as part of a sweep of two weekend opponents, made it a happy opening week of the new year for all local hockey fans, regardless of team affiliation.
Auburn came to Nedrow fresh off a hard-earned 2-2 tie at Skaneateles and was looking to move up the Division II standings to challenge first-place Oswego.
CBA/J-D, who had not played in two weeks since a Dec. 21 5-0 shutout of Clinton, again leaned on its defense in the early going, turning back every Maroons charge as the game went into the second period still 0-0. Tim Decker made key early stops and would finish with 21 saves for the night.
The Brothers broke through with a second-period tally and took over in the final period, pulling away with three more goals. Sam Mueller led that late charge, scoring twice and finishing with an assist.
Ryan Durkin was right behind, with one goal and one assist. Connor Flanagan also found the net as Lucas Relkin and Peter Dziergas each earned one assist.
Without any rest, CBA/J-D returned to action Saturday afternoon and jumped all over Ontario Bay in a 7-2 romp. Unlike with Auburn, the Brothers started with a rush, scoring five times in the first period alone and cruising the rest of the way.
It was also quite balanced, as seven different players – Relkin, Durkin, Stewart Harley, Braeden Doust, Ryan McGuire, Drew Brooks and Ryan McKee – earned the seven goals. McGuire also had two assists, as did Jed Raby, with Relkin, Brooks and Scott Firman getting one assist apiece.
F-M, meanwhile, returned from its third-place finish in the Cortland-Homer Tournament on Dec. 28-29 and overwhelmed Ontario Bay in a 10-2 romp at Cicero Twin Rinks.
It was already 4-0 by the end of the first period, but the Hornets did even better in the second period, doubling the margin to 9-1 before it rested its main players late.
Anthony Angello still had enough time to earn three goals and three assists. Trevor Chase had his own hat trick, scoring three times and adding a pair of assists, while Mateo Capriotti also got three assists to go with his pair of tallies.
Garrett DuMond stepped up, with a goal and three assists, as Tom Doucet got the other goal. Ryan Daly, Jack Harlander and Matt McDonough earned assists, too.
With that win, F-M improved to 6-2-1 as it would pay a visit to Ithaca on Monday and play Cazenovia Thursday night at the Morrisville State IcePlex.
Meanwhile, a big week looms for CBA/J-D, for after hosting Cazenovia on Tuesday, it goes to “The Fort” for a shot at Division II leader Oswego.
