Though it has gone through long, dry stretches this winter, the Cazenovia ice hockey team has maintained its spirit and energy, working toward a possible late-season turnaround..

That it could happen was evident in last Tuesday’s game against Liverpool at the Morrisville State IcePlex, where a big second period and a hat trick from J.D. Speer propelled the Lakers to a 4-2 victory over the Warriors.

The two sides exchanged first-period goals, but then Cazenovia broke out of that 1-1 tie by scoring twice in the second period, seizing the lead for good as Speer continued to convert against the Warriors’ defense.

Even when Liverpool got another goal in the third period, the Lakers answered it and prevailed, Speer having not just netted three goals, but also earning an assist on Cazenovia’s other tally by Dylan McCrink. James LeFever also had an assist.

Though Jack Irwin and Pat Langlois scored for the Warriors, Logan Palmer turned everything else away, superb in the net as the Lakers goaltender finished with 42 saves.

Now two games were set to follow between Cazenovia and Watertown IHC, but only one of them took place.

That was the game on Thursday night, where the Lakers, perhaps expecting another strong effort against the 3-8 Cavaliers, instead was shut down most of the way and took a 4-1 defeat

Bad weather in the north country kept the Cazenovia-IHC rematch from taking place Saturday. Instead, they’ll make it up Feb. 9, after this week’s action where the Lakers would go to Fulton Tuesday and return home Thursday to face Fayetteville-Manlius.