Throughout the historic 2014-15 season that they shared, the ice hockey clashes between CBA/Jamesville-DeWitt and Skaneateles 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, CBA/J-D and Skaneateles clashed again Friday night at Allyn Arena, and it proved rough for the Brothers, who stayed within range most of the way, but never got on the board in a 4-0 defeat to the Lakers.
Going into the game with a 1-2 mark, the Brothers knew the challenge was immense, since Skaneateles, at 3-0, had shown it was fully capable of defending its crown, winning the Rochester McQuaid Tournament Dec. 4-5 and then edging Oswego 3-2 in its league opener earlier in the week.
By far, the game’s most important sequence took place in the second period. At that point, the Brothers trailed, 1-0, due to Reece Eddy’s power-play goal at the 8:46 mark of the opening period, but the flow of play was even, with CBA/J-D taking six shots to seven for Skaneateles.
Then the Lakers got caught with too many men on the ice 4:59 into the second period. Then 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.
Meanwhile, Fayetteville-Manlius, who started the week at 2-1, fell back to the .500 mark last Tuesday night at Cicero Twin Rinks, where it could not overcome a rough start against Rome Free Academy and lost, 5-3, to the Black Knights.
By the time the Hornets got on the board in the second period, it was already far behind. RFA had jumped out to a 3-0 first-period edge, eventually seeing five different players earn its five goals, with Derrick Miller (one goal, two assists) and Aaron Simmons (one goal, one assist) leading the way.
F-M didn’t quit, though, making the Black Knights work to the end. Trevor Pokines and Zack Wisby, with two assists apiece, led an attack where Tommy Ryu, Ben Hammond and Will Healy each found the net, and Garrett Zogby contributed an assist of his own.
Still, the defeat stung, and the Hornets were eager to bounce back Friday when Cazenovia, whose roster includes several members of the 2015 state Class B football champions, visited the Twin Rinks, and the game ended in a 1-1 tie.
Healy scored for the Hornets in the first period, assisted by Pokines, and that 1-0 lead held up for quite a while, the Lakers only staying in it because Cazenovia goalie Cameron Fry was sensational in the net, turning back a slew of F-M opportunities and earning 31 saves overall.
By contrast, the Lakers’ attack was more sporadic, but in the third period it broke through when Adam Race put home the tying goal, assisted by Jake Leis and R.J. Smith. Neither would convert again, in regulation or overtime, as F-M’s goalies, Brandon Heyman and Edward Moses, got 23 saves between them.
F-M would face the Syracuse Cougars at Meachem Rink Thursday before turning around 24 hours later to take on Cicero-North Syracuse at the Twin Rinks. CBA/J-D hosted Cortland-Homer on Tuesday to commenced a three-game homestand that includes Oswego on Friday and those same Syracuse Cougars on Dec. 22.
