With its exciting victory in the Duke Schneider Memorial Tournament behind them, the Skaneateles boys ice hockey team turned its attention back to a tight Division II championship race, where by week’s end it would overtake Oswego and reclaim first place, at least for the moment.
Going to Fulton last Tuesday night, the Lakers were quiet for a long while before a late surge led to a 5-0 shutout over the Red Raiders.
Skaneateles controlled the puck most of the way, taking more than twice as many as shots (43) as Fulton (21), but it only led to one goal in each of the first two periods.
Only leading 2-0, the Lakers got away late, Matt Clymer and Taylor Haberstock both finishing with a pair of goals as Jake Cooney also found the net.
Owen Kuhns and Patrick Major set up those plays, each picking up three assists. Jake Cooney had the other goal, while Josh Kuhns and Tyler Strods managed one assist apiece.
Back at Allyn Arena on Friday night to face Whitesboro, the Lakers again were modest in production, but stingy in the back on the way to another shutout, this one a 4-0 decision.
Taking 39 shots overall, Skaneateles saw it pay off with a 2-0 margin by the end of the first period. From there, the Lakers stayed patient, not finding the net again until it got a pair of insurance tallies in the final period.
Those four goals came from four different players – Cooney, Major, Haberstock and Owen Kuhns. All of them, except Haberstock, also picked up assists, with Connor Hill, Mitchell Jones, Josh Kuhns and Tyler Stanton finding the assist column, too.
Again, Ethan Kupp turned back everything he faced, a total of 16 saves overall.
But it figures to get tougher Tuesday, when Skaneateles goes Onondaga Nation Arena to face a red-hot CBA/J-D side that has won seven in a row, including a 2-1 win at Oswego last Thursday that helped the Lakers back into the league lead.
