A great opportunity had presented itself to the Cazenovia ice hockey team late in the second period of Wednesday night’s Section III Division II semifinal at New Hartford.
The Lakers trailed, 1-0, but the Spartans had just committed a four-minute major penalty. Now, for the rest of the period, Cazenovia would have a power play where it could accumulate as many goals as possible, perhaps launching itself toward Sunday’s sectional final.
But just like the rest of the night, the Lakers were denied, time and again, by the work of New Hartford goaltender Tyler Hansen, and sparked by killing off that entire four-minute major, the Spartans pulled away in the third period and beat Cazenovia 4-0, earning a spot at Utica Memorial Auditorium in the title game against defending state champion Skaneateles.
Their head-to-head meetings in the regular season were the main reason why New Hartford was hosting this game, since the two sides finished four points apart in the Division II National Conference standings. The Spartans rolled, 7-0, at home on Dec. 15, and while it was closer at Morrisville State IcePlex on Feb. 6, Cazenovia lost again, 4-3.
Now the Lakers, coming off a 3-1 first-round playoff win over CBA/Jamesville-DeWitt where Colin McGaugh netted a hat trick and Cameron Fry stopped 32 of the 33 shots he faced, returned to New Hartford Recreation Center and took a third shot at the Spartans, who blanked Cortland-Homer 2-0 in its sectional quarterfinal.
Immediately, the Spartans moved in front thanks to Jack Burns’ goal early in the first period. Yet that was all either team could produce throughout the first two periods, despite a wide variety of opportunities.
Cazenovia had its share of rushes, only to see Hansen stop them. At the same time, though, the Spartans met with frustration thanks to Fry, whose great post-season work continued on a night where he would finish with 32 saves.
Then, having taken 24 shots without any success, the Lakers got that four-minute power play. Even limiting Cazenovia to one goal would have proved successful, but with Hansen red-hot between the pipes, the shutout was maintained.
Without question, this sequence turned the momentum. Once New Hartford got back to even strength early in the third period, it made a harder push, and Zach Cole’s goal with 11 minutes left expanded the Spartans’ lead to 2-0.
Frustrated, the Lakers started committing penalties, and New Hartford capitalized midway through the third period with Evan Strassberger tipping in a shot past Fry. One more goal followed by Garrett Mahoney, and Hansen completed his gem, finishing with 40 saves as Burns and Alec Bard earned two assists apiece.
Cazenovia finished its season with a 14-6-2 record, having pulled off memorable comebacks along the way, especially the Dec. 18 rally at Auburn, while reclaiming a place among the top local Division II sides.
Now it will see 12 seniors, including Fry, McGaugh, Jake Stowell, Adam Race, Brenden Whalen, Cole Willard, Graham Demo and Jake Lewis, depart, which will make things more difficult in 2016-17.
