While on its way to a first-place finish in the Dec. 6-7 Bobby Conklin Memorial Tournament, the Baldwinsville ice hockey team had plenty of time to watch Liverpool in the same tournament.
Twice, the Warriors played, each time going through overtime and ending in a shoot-out, Liverpool falling to Syracuse in the first round, but recovering to edge Fulton for third place.
Now B’ville would get its own head-to-head battle with the Warriors last Tuesday night, and fine all-around play resulted in a 4-1 win.
Much of the game was played in Liverpool’s end, and the Bees stayed patient even though Liverpool goaltender James Welch kept turning shots back – 37, in all.
Still, the Bees went up 1-0 after one period, absorbed Marco Palumbo’s second-period tally by scoring twice itself and pulled further away in the latter stages.
Matt Speelman led the way, earning two goals and one assist. Alex Pompo and Luke Hoskin each got a goal and two assists as Braeden Lynch piled up three assists. Brad O’Neill turned back 21 of Liverpool’s 22 shots.
B’ville then took on Whitesboro Friday night. Those other Warriors were off to a 3-1 start and were emerging as the main threat to reigning state champion Skaneateles in Division II.
And Whitesboro proved its worth by topping B’ville 3-1, its defense stingy as 20 of the Bees’ 21 shots were grabbed by Warriors goalie Cameron Manley.
Meanwhile, all the Bees could get on the attack was Ryan Dickinson’ s goal, assisted by Nick Purdy and Garrett Sutton. Troy Chamberlain led Whitesboro, scoring once and assisting on tallies by Frank Centro and Noah Scranton.
B’ville knew that a more important game would take place Wednesday, a rematch with Syracuse, but this time at Meachem Rink before it traveled Friday to Casey Park to face Auburn.
