Perched once more atop the state Division II rankings after its blazing 6-0 start, the Skaneateles boys ice hockey team proved in the week before Christmas that it could absorb a setback and recover with a fine performance.
Even with most of the puck possession in its Dec. 17 game against Route 20 rival Auburn at Allyn Arena, the Lakers could only manage a 1-1 tie with the Maroons.
This was the backdrop as Sknaeateles went east to face state Division I no. 2-ranked Victor last Friday night. Among the Blue Devils’ five straight wins to open the season was handling West Genesee 4-1 the week before.
Here, though, the Lakers put on a fine all-around performance to defeat Victor 3-1, starting with a defense that, after allowing a first-period goal, kept the Blue Devils quiet the rest of the way.
Victor only took 18 shots, 17 of which Adam Casper stopped, and while not always able to convert, Skaneateles did get single tallies in the second and third period to move out in front for good.
Charlie Major had a part in all the goals, scoring twice and assisting when Charlie Russell found the net, while Jack Henry assisted on all three goals. Garrett Krieger also had an assist.
Now the Lakers entered a two-week break before its Duke Schneider Memorial Tournament, where it would face Pelham in Friday’s opening round, then Baldwinsville or Williamsville South in the other game.
As Skaneateles played Victor, the Syracuse Cougars were honoring its 2018-19 state Division I champions as most of them were back in town for a ceremony at Meachem Rink prior to its game against Mamaroneck, from Section I.
But the Tigers spoiled the occasion by defeating the Cougars in another 3-1 decision, the lone Syracuse goal coming from Kaleb Benedict in the first period as Stephen Matro assisted.
Goalie Evan Carter made 22 saves, but Mamaroneck broke out of a 1-1 tie as it got goals from Jack Delaet, Max Nodiff and Michael Torre, plus a tremendous effort in the net from Jack Fried, who stopped 29 of 30 shots.
West Genesee, who had seen its Dec. 18 game with Cicero-North Syracuse snowed out (it will get made up Jan. 13), returned to the ice Monday at Oswego.
And though it took a while to get going, the state Division I no. 7-ranked Wildcats beat the Buccaneers 4-1, not getting on the board until the second period and then only clinging to a 1-0 edge before scoring three times in the final period.
WG’s four goals came from four different players – Billy Fisher, Joe McLaughlin, Jack Mellen and Liam Sexton. James Schneid got two assists as Jeremy Keyes and Anthony Felix had one assist apiece. David Myers stopped 25 of the 26 shots he faced.
Syracuse had its own road game at Watertown IHC, and did enough to defeat the Cavaliers 4-3 to improve its Divison I record to 3-0 (4-4-1) overall as it then took a two-week break, resuming Jan. 7 against Fulton.
But while the Cougars rest, WG hosts its annual Wildcat Classic at Shove Park, facing Massena in Friday’s first round and then the championship and consolation games a day later.
In girls ice hockey, Skaneateles had its Dec. 18 game with Clinton snowed out, but would be back in action last Friday against Ithaca, with whom it had developed quite a rivalry in recent years.
Here, the two sides delivered another classic, tying at 1-1. And this was an instance where it was the Lakers on its heels for long stretches of the game, only to have Evie Sheridan record 41 saves.
The Lakers didn’t attack as much, but converted once thanks to Campbell Torrey, who netted a goal assisted by Adriana Barbuto. Skaneateles now stood at 3-3-1 on the season, which resumes next Monday against Alexandria Bay.
