When the Skaneateles girls ice hockey team got a big 3-2 win over defending state champion Beekmantown on Dec. 21, the last thing it really wanted was to stop playing.
Yet the holiday schedule, and the wild winter weather, forced a long respite for the Lakers, who would go a full three weeks without game action.
Much of that time was set within the schedule, but then the Lakers’ original return to action, a first-place Section III division showdown at Oswego set for last Monday night, got scrapped, too.
In short, Skaneateles had little idea what to expect as it headed out on the road last weekend for a pair of games in the Adriondack region where a pair of Winter Olympics were held, in 1932 and 1980.
At last, the 21-day respite ended with last Friday’s game against Lake Placid, and showing little signs of rust, the Lakers, superb on the defensive end, shut out the Blue Bombers 3-0.
All of the necessary offense was attained in the first two periods. Madison Singler, Sophie Kush and Paige Postalwait each took turns finding the net as the Lakers established its three-goal margin, with Abbie Kuhns getting credit for an assist.
Then the matter was turned over to the Lakers’ defense, who kept Lake Placid frustrated all night, largely through blocked shots, though Amanda Lupo did record 16 saves. Blue Bombers goalie Tanner Stanton had 25 saves.
Less than 24 hours later, Skaneateles took on Saranac Lake, and this turned out to be far more lopsided as the Lakers did most of its damage in the first two periods of an 8-0 romp.
A three-goal opening period set the tone, but four more goals in the second period led Skaneateles to its largest offensive output of the season, and seven different players scored goals against Saranac Lake, with 12 of them earning points.
Sarah Sauda led the way, scoring twice and adding an assist. Kush had a goal and two assists, with Singler and Grace Schnorr each adding one goal and one assist. Kuhns, Claire Michel and Lynn Copeland also found the net, with Postalwait, Allison Weiss, Meredith Frank, Riley Donahue, Makie Kerr and Maria Christou all gaining assists.
At 6-2-2 on the season, Skaneateles gets to play on both of its home rinks this week, taking on Alexandria Bay Tuesday at Allyn Arena and then returning to Austin Ice Pavilion for Thursday’s big game against Oswego.
