On the night that the Skaneateles boys ice hockey team traveled to Whitesboro, the latest edition of the state Division II rankings was released.
As was the case all season, the Lakers were on top thanks to its 9-0-1 record, but Whitesboro wasn’t far behind, its 10-2 record worthy of a no. 4 ranking, two spots ahead of no. 6 Clinton.
So the implication was that Skaneateles, who won 2-0 at Clinton on Jan. 10, would have just as much of a challenge, if not more so, against that other high-quality group of Warriors.
It didn’t turn out that way.
Controlling matters from start to finish, the Lakers handled Whitesboro 5-0, assuming a two-goal margin before the first period was done and then adding to it.
Leading the way, Cole Heintz and Charlie Russell each scored twice, while Jack Henry earned a goal and two assists. Drew Henderson, Jacob French, Charlie Major, Garrett Krieger and Brendan Powers had one assist apiece.
And all of this was supported by a terrific Lakers defense that, just like it did against Clinton, smothered Whitesboro, holding it to 14 shots, all stopped by Chad Lowe.
Back home for a game at Allyn Arena for the first time in nearly two weeks, Skaneateles faced Oswego last Friday and earned its third consecutive shutout, blanking the Buccaneers 6-0.
Steadily producing throughout the night, the Lakers had Krieger and Henry each scored twice, Krieger adding two assists as Lowe earned three assists.
Major also earned two assists, with Ruseell and Heintz each netting single goals and Heintz adding an assist. Lowe only had to make 10 saves.
Meanwhile, in girls ice hockey, Skaneateles returned from a 1-1 road trip the previous weekend for its own game against Oswego last Tuesday night.
These Bucs edged the Lakers 4-3, the game scoreless until Oswego fought its way to a 2-1 second-period advantage and then matched what Skaneateles produced in the final period.
Oswego’s four goals came from four different players – Nealy Pippin, Jordan Caroccio, Ashley St. John and Katie Fierro. Pippin and Fierro both added assists as Bucs goalie Ashley Finch stopped 25 of the Lakers’ 28 shots.
Meeting Ithaca on Thursday, the Lakers honored its senior players and then got a much-needed 2-1 win over the Little Red, improving upon a 1-1 tie when those teams first met on Dec. 20.
They were scoreless until the second period, when the Lakers inched out in front 1-0, ultimately getting another goal in the third period to match Ithaca’s lone tally from Kayla Smartwood.
Grace Kush and Olivia Cox earned those goals, with Rebecca Cain picking up an assist. Tough all night in the net, Isabelle Wells stopped 23 of the Little Red’s 24 shots.
A night later, Skaneateles met Clinton with a chance to get back to the .500 mark, but was shut out 3-0 by a Warriors team that limited them to 11 shots which Hailey Millington stopped.
Evie Sheridan was back in the net for Skaneateles and gained 28 saves. Clinton’s three goals came from three different players – Ariel Williamson, Briana Rockwood and Hailey Kwiatkowski.
With its 11-0-1 record, the Skaneateles boys would visit Cortland-Homer on Tuesday and is home Thursday night to face Fayetteville-Manlius.
