The transition from 2017 to 2018 was not a smooth one for the Cazenovia ice hockey team, in part because it had to play three times in four days against tough competition in the waning days of the old year.

Having lost at Auburn Dec. 27, the Lakers had to turn around and face state-ranked Cortland-Homer two nights later in the opening round of the Golden Eagles’ annual holiday tournament.

Cortland-Homer topped Cazenovia by the same 4-1 margin that Auburn did, but this game was close for a while, Trey Schug’s goal, assisted by J.D. Speer, helped the Lakers forge a 1-1 tie during the first period.

They stayed that way until the third period, Logan Palmer making 29 saves in the Lakers’ net. But the Golden Eagles broke through for three goals in that last frame as Trevor Jubran, with a goal and two assists, led Cortland-Homer.

This put Cazenovia into the consolation game Dec. 30 against Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (Section II), and this didn’t prove as close as the Lakers took a 6-1 defeat to the Spartans.

Burnt Hills built a 5-0 lead through two periods. The Lakers then broke up the shutout in the third period as Max Michaels scored, assisted by Jack Bookbinder and Jacob Kumiega. Splitting time in the net, Palmer and Owen Bailey made 34 saves between them.

Snow kept Ontario Bay from making the trip to the Morrisville State IcePlex to face the Lakers last Tuesday, and another storm postponed Friday’s game against New Hartford until Jan. 25.