Perhaps all of the struggles and lopsided defeats the Cazenovia ice hockey team took in the first month of the season have started to dissipate.
The Lakers broke its seven-game skid on Dec. 14 at the Morrisville State IcePlex when it defeated Fulton 3-1. Then it welcomed Ontario Bay Wednesday night and, led by a career effort from J.D. Speer, silenced the Storm 8-0.
Most of the damage was done in the first two periods, Cazenovia sprinting out to a 7-0 advantage as Speer kept getting open and kept finding the net.
By the time the night was done, Speer had six goals, with plenty of help from linemates Dominic Paglia and Dan Scholl as Paglia produced five assists and Scholl gained four assists.
Also, Scholl had one of the other two Cazenovia goals, the other going to Andrew Parkhurst as he joined James LeFever and Forrest Ives in getting single assists. Logan Palmer stopped all 12 Ontario Bay shots he faced.
So the Lakers would go to next week’s Cortland-Homer Tournament riding a two-game win streak. The Lakers face Ballston Spa (Section II) in the opening round at Dec. 28 7:30, with the consolation and championship games set for Dec. 29.
