Throughout the historic 2014-15 season that they shared, the ice hockey clashes between Skaneateles and CBA/Jamesville-DeWitt carried an epic quality, and included a twist that left both sides wanting something more.
The first prize went to the Brothers, who beat the Lakers for the Section III Division II title. But the bigger prize went to the Lakers, who as an at-large entry into the state tournament avenged that sectional final defeat in the state semifinals and, one round later, won it all.
Now, under far different circumstances, Skaneateles and CBA/J-D met again Friday night at Allyn Arena, which served as the Lakers’ home opener following wins in each of its first three games against Greece Odyssey, Rochester McQuaid and Oswego.
Here, the evidence of where the two teams stood was quite clear. Skaneateles didn’t dominate the game, but played well at key moments to ultimately break CBA/J-D’s spirit on the way to a 4-0 shutout.
By far, the game’s most important sequence took place in the second period. At that point, the Lakers led, 1-0, on Reece Eddy’s power-play goal at the 8:46 mark of the opening period, but the flow of play was even, with Skaneateles taking seven shots in that first period to CBA/J-D’s six.
Then the Lakers got caught with too many men on the ice 4:59 into the second period. Worse yet, it got whistled for another penalty 30 seconds later, meaning that, for 59 seconds, the Brothers would have a five-on-three advantage, a great chance to at least tie the game, or go in front.
But it did neither, Skaneateles playing superb defense in front of goaltender Kyle Oschner and killing off both penalties to make it back to even strength. Fired up by that sequence, the Lakers increased its attack and, with 4:31 left in the second period, Raymond Falso skated around two CBA/J-D defenders and sent a close-up wrist shot past goalie Peyton Bowler to make it 2-0.
It stayed that way until the third period, when with 8:31 left Eddy found Dimitris Christou for another goal. Reggie Buell’s tally with 2:38 to play clinched it as Eddy, Christou, Buell and Devin Callahan all got credit for assists and Oschner recorded 15 saves for the shutout.
Having swept the McQuaid Tournament and beat the reigning state Division I champions 5-2 on Dec. 5, Skaneateles went north last Tuesday, to Crisafulli Rink (better known as “The Fort”), to take on Oswego. Here, it jumped all over the Buccaneers early, but had to hang on to preserve a 3-2 victory.
During the first period, Skaneateles camped out in Oswego’s end, and it paid off. Falso, MVP of the McQuaid Tournament, scored twice, while Matt Benson earned the other goal. Buell, Jacob Patalino and Adam Lupo each got one assist.
This left the Lakers with a 3-0 lead, but it would not score the rest of the night, constantly thwarted by a Bucs defense that blocked all kinds of shots and protected goaltender Jarrett Dudley, who finished with 19 saves.
Meanwhile, Oswego inched closer with single tallies in the second and third periods, Ryan Gunther assisting on each of the goals from Noah Lee and Kyle Decker, but it could not quite force overtime as the Lakers’ defense turned away most of the Bucs’ chances, Bennett Morse only having to make nine saves.
The win over CBA/J-D sets up a key early-season contest on Tuesday night, with Skaneateles visiting Clinton Arena to take on the Clinton Warriors, who has started 3-0 in Division II American Conference play. Then the Lakers return home next Friday to face Cortland-Homer before a 12-day holiday break.