Hamilton — For nearly a week, the Cazenovia ice hockey team practiced, waited and stewed over the struggles it had in its first game of 2016, a 5-1 defeat to defending state Division II champion Skaneateles on Jan. 2.
Finally back on the ice, the Lakers commenced the second half of its regular-season slate by hosting Thousand Islands last Friday at Colgate University’s Starr Rink and controlling matters from start to finish in an 8-0 shutout.
In order to earn its most lopsided victory of the season, Cazenovia had to produce from the outset – which it did as Adam Race scored early in the first period to set the night’s tone.
It remained that way until Race, assisted by Graham Demo, found the net a second time with 11 seconds left in the first period, Fired up by that late tally, the Lakers carried that energy over to the second period, where it would score five times.
Colin McGaugh converted at the 4:17 mark and Race fed Cole Willard for another goal less than 90 seconds later. Steve LaFever got a goal to make it 5-0, assisted by Jack Marshall and Geoff Christensen, Then McGaugh scored a second time and, right before the period ended, Jake Stowell’s slap shot found the net.
Everyone on the Lakers’ roster saw some ice time in the third period, and Nate Morgan tacked on one more goal, with R.J. Smith and Trey Schug assisting.
The win moved Cazenovia to 7-3-1, and it goes to Oswego Tuesday before a key home game against defending Section III Division II champion CBA/Jamesville-DeWitt next Saturday at the Morrisville State IcePlex.
