Still planted atop the state Division II rankings at the outset of 2020, the Skaneateles boys ice hockey team held its annual Duke Schneider Memorial Tournament on the first weekend of the new year.
And it proved to be another showcase for the Lakers, who by a combined margin of 16-3 brushed past Pelham and Williamsville South to move its overall record to 8-0-1.
Pelham went first in last Friday’s opening round, and it was settled in the first period as a trademark scoring burst propelled Skaneateles to an 8-1 win.
Instead of rust following a two-week layoff, the Lakers got a goal from Charlie Major 37 seconds into the game, added a goal by Charlie Russell and then scored twice in the last 1:02 of the period thanks to Major and Garrett Krieger.
It continued from there, Krieger finishing with three goals and two assists. Cole Heintz and Cam Lowe would add goals as Ben Clymer, Drew Henderson, Drew Jensen and Curran McGowan each got assists.
Now, in Saturday’s final, the Lakers faced Williamsville South, who had toppled Baldwinsville 5-3, but the Billies, like Pelham before them, could not keep up with Skaneateles, who roared to an 8-2 victory and the tournament title.
Here, the big outburst came in the second period. Already with a 2-0 lead, the Lakers got away from Williamsville South with five goals in that frame.
Russell and Heintz matched each other with hat tricks, each scoring three times and getting an assist, with Krieger piling up four assists.
Lowe had one goal and two assists. Major earned three assists and Brendan Powers had two assists. Pelham beat Baldwinsville 3-2 in the consolation game.
Back on Dec. 27 and 28, West Genesee, holding the no. 7 spot in the state Division I rankings, hosted its annual Wildcat Classic at Shove Park, conducting it later in December than in seasons past.
But the same high-quality field was on hand, starting with Massena, whom the Wildcats faced in the opening round and, helped by a mid-game scoring burst, defeated by a 6-2 margin.
WG clung to a 1-0 advantage on Massena when,in the second period, it scored four times, its most productive period so far this season.
Ultimately, six different players – Jake Kopek, Jeremy Keyes, Max Hahn, Ryan Kemp, Liam Sexton and Andrew Schneid – earned the Wildcats’ six goals.
Anthony Felix chimed in with a pair of assists, while Joe McLaughlin, Will Shields, Michael Bergan and Colton Rahner had one assist apiece.
This put WG in the final against Fairport, who entered the game 8-1 and no. 4 in the state Division I rankings. And the Red Raiders would back up that ranking by defeating the Wildcats 4-0.
It was a steady effort on Fairport’s part, finding the net at least once in each period to overcome the 24 saves from WG goaltender David Myers.
Playing again last Monday, the Wildcats hosted Pittsford, and like so many other times in December a lack of firepower hurt WG in a 3-1 loss to the Panthers.
Neither side got on the board until the second period, when the Wildcats had Fisher get a goal, assisted by Bergan and Patrick Quinn.
Even with that, the game was 1-1 going to the third period, where Pittsford twice converted against Myers, who totaled 26 saves.
