It was an ideal way for the Baldwinsville ice hockey team to start 2020, fully challenging itself at Skaneateles during the Duke Schneider Memorial Tournament.
In the opening round last Friday at Allyn Arena, the Bees faced Williamsville South, from Section VI, and was productive, but still fell short in a 5-3 defeat to the Billies.
B’ville was shut out in the first period, and even when it did get on the board, Williamsville South matched it and answered, sending five of its 22 shots past Brad O’Neill.
Three different players – Ryan Dickinson, Luke Hoskin and Alex Pompo – earned those three goals, with Pompo joining Braden Lynch and Brett Collier in the assist column.
Looking to recover Saturday in the consolation game against Pelham (who lost 8-1 to Skaneateles), the Bees instead took another setback with a 3-2 defeat.
Though B’ville kept Pelham off the board in the first period, it could not extend its lead beyond 1-0, and Pelham tied it in the second before scoring twice in the final period.
Pompo and Hoskin earned the Bees’ goals, with Brayden Penafeather-Stevenson adding an assist. Jon Schirmer, taking a turn in goal while O’Neill rested, earned 24 saves.
The Bees were 3-1-1 and no. 11 in the state Division I rankings going into its game Dec. 27 against Mohawk Valley at Lysander Arena, and finally started to see its offense click into form during a 6-1 win over the Raiders.
B’ville bolted out to a 3-0 advantage by the end of the first period, and kept going as six different Bees picked up goals by game’s end and Lynch helped all of them, earning three assists.
Pompo and Matt Speelman each had one goal and one assist, leading the attack, while Penafeather-Stevenson, Matt Cramer, Brett Collier, nd Connor Santay also converted.
Zach Cole, Tyler Derito, Mike Marsallo, Casey Scott and Garrett Sutton each gained assists, B’ville taking 55 shots while only allowing 14.
The two losses at Skaneateles left the Bees at 4-3-1 overall going into Tuesday’s game against CBA/Jamesville-DeWitt at Onondaga Nation Arena, with B’ville back home at Lysander on Friday to face Ontario Bay.
