On the way to the most anticipated home game of the regular season, the West Genesee ice hockey team had another reason to celebrate in the early days of 2018.
When the undefeated, state Division I no. 2-ranked Wildcats romped past Fulton 12-1 last Wednesday at Shove Park, it gave long-time Wildcats head coach Frank Colabufo his 400th career victory.
In 22 seasons as the head coach at the high school where he graduated in 1984, Colabufo’s teams have won 11 Section III titles, including nine in the last 10 years, and claimed state championships in 2001 and 2010.
The 400th win didn’t have much suspense. Refreshed after a 10-day holiday break, WG broke out for eight goals in the second period, the most in any single period this season.
Dan Holzhauer recorded his first varsity hat trick, scoring three times. Dan Colabufo and Ryan Washo had two goals and two assists, with Timmy Winn getting a goal and three assists as Joe McLaughlin found the net twice.
Ryan Smith notched the other goal as Patrick McDonald finished with four assists, with John Bergan adding three assists. Single assists went to Colton Rahner, Jacob Farrell, Andrew Schneid and Jimmy Bergan.
After last Friday’s game with Liverpool was snowed out, WG prepared for this Friday’s rematch of the 2017 sectional Division I final against the Syracuse Cougars, who remained outside the state rankings despite its 6-1-1 start.
The Cougars beat Ithaca 7-1 last Wednesday at Meachem Rink, though that score was a bit deceptive as the Little Red tied Syracuse 1-1 in the first period and only trailed by a goal, 2-1, with one period left.
However, the Cougars took over in the third period, blitzing Ithaca with five unanswered goals as Bryan O’Mara led the way, scoring three times for a hat trick.
Skariwate Papineau, Ryan Durand, Kyle Lamson and Ryan Evanchak had one goal apiece, with Ryan Eccles getting three assists. Philip Zollo had a pair of assists as Andrew Corning, Hugh White, Mack Etoll and Jack Grooms joined Papineau with single assists.
A far tougher game was expected on Friday as Syracuse was set to face Section I power Mamaroneck, who beat West Genesee 1-0 in the 2016 state final in Buffalo and, at 8-1-3, was no. 7 in the state Division I rankings – but that got snowed out, too.
Syracuse will play Wednesday at Meachem against Cicero-North Syracuse, who at 6-2-2 was an opponent the Cougars could not overlook with the trip to Shove Park looming.
