If it continued to hold serve on its home ice last week, the Skaneateles boys ice hockey team would leave little question as to which side was the strongest in Central New York – or even the entire state, for that matter.
The Lakers, already in possession of impressive late-November wins over CBA/Jamesville-DeWitt and Cortland-Homer, now went after its two high-profile Division I neighbors in a 48-hour span.
First was the clash of both of 2019’s state champions, Skaneateles against the Syracuse Cougars last Tuesday night, and it was the Lakers’ defense that was the biggest factor in subduing the Cougars 2-0.
Having split two games in a Nov. 29-30 trip to the Buffalo area, Syracuse quickly found itself in a defensive mode in the early stages, yet kept the game scoreless for much of the first period.
That changed when Jack Henry, who had hit the post on an earlier shot, converted on a power play, assisted by Garrett Krieger and Charlie Major.
The only reason it wasn’t more than 1-0 was the 12 saves from Cougars goalie Evan Carter, who robbed Garrett Krieger on a late breakaway, but Henry returned early in the second period and, short-handed, scored off feeds from Krieger and Charlie Russell.
For the rest of the game, Carter kept the Lakers off the board, eventually running his total to 30 saves. Yet Syracuse did not generate enough of its own chances, held to 13 shots, all stopped by Adam Casper.
Now the Lakers would turn around and, on Thursday night, welcome West Genesee, who starts this season bent on dethroning Syracuse after the Cougars toppled them in overtime in last year’s sectional Division I final.
This turned into a tense, close affair where it almost went to overtime without a goal on either side before a late tally allowed the Lakers to pull through and edge the Wildcats 1-0.
Neither team dominated the first period, though WG killed off two Skaneateles power plays. Then, on another Lakers man advantage in the second period, Billy Fisher broke in alone short-handed, but Casper, who finished with 20 saves, denied him a go-ahead goal.
That, along with Russell’s shot off the post early in that second period, were the best chances for either team, and deep into the third period it remained 0-0, with various Lakers surges turned back as Wildcats goalie David Myers recorded 27 saves.
But with 3:27 left in regulation, a pass from Luke Renaud sent Drew Henderson to the net, and Henderson delivered a terrific pass behind him to Major, who from the right circle drilled a wrist shot past Myers for the game-winner.
WG arrived at Allyn Arena off Tuesday night’s season-opening 6-1 win over Ithaca at Shove Park, deciding matters by racing out to a 5-0 lead on the Little Red through the first two periods.
Fisher, scoring twice, led a well-balanced Wildcats attack. Jeremy Keyes, Jake Kopek and Patrick Quinn each had two assists as Keyes, Ryan Considine, Jack Mellen and James Schneid got single goals, Schneid and Joe McLaughlin adding assists.
Syracuse went from its defeat to Skaneateles to playing in the Bobby Conklin Memorial Tournament at Baldwinsville, taking on Liverpool in Friday’s opening round.
The Cougars proved quite lucky against the Warriors, trailing through most of the second and third period before pounding in a tying goal in the last seconds of regulation, then prevailing in a shootout.
Tommy Rioux, Zach Delaney and Nelson Jones earned Syracuse’s goals, with assists credited to Ryan Durand and Zach Benedict, overcoming 42 saves by Liverpool goalie James Welch.
Less than 24 hours later, the Cougars were in the final against host Baldwinsville, who had far less drama blanking Fulton 3-0. And the Bees would also defeat Syracuse 3-2 for the title.
Led by Braden Lynch’s two goals and one assist, B’ville built a 3-0 margin through two periods. The Cougars almost caught up in the final period as Benedict and Jones scored, but Brad O’Neil’s 27 saves helped the Bees hang on.
