Something has changed in the Cazenovia ice hockey team, who have transformed itself from an easy mark to a far more formidable opponent.
Long recovered from its 0-7 start, the Lakers won two in a row and nearly got a third win before squandering a three-goal lead in a 6-5 overtime defeat to Cicero-North Syracuse on Jan. 17.
Then, in its next outing against 8-3-1 Rome Free Academy last Tuesday at the Morrisville State IcePlex, Cazenovia made a rally of its own to earn a 3-3 tie with the Black Knights.
RFA had built a 3-1 advantage by the early part of the third period, with goals from Jake Hall, Griffin Eychner and Kyle Lubey to counteract a second-period tally by James Dapson.
However, the Lakers charged late, Forrest Ives scoring to make it 3-2 and then seeing his shot rebounded home by James LaFever to pull Cazenovia even.
Neither team scored in the OT period as Cy McCrink made 30 saves and RFA counterpart Isaiah Nebush had 32 saves. George Labinski earned two assists for the Lakers as Jack Donlin, Gage Marshall and Gavin Winn also had assists.
Heading north on Thursday night, Cazenovia faced Ontario Bay and once again found the win column, doing just enough to take down the Storm 3-2.
Goals by Josh Whaley, Connor Grzeszczuk (his first of the season) and Andrew Parkhurst got the Lakers in front, with Donlin and Gavin Winn getting assists. Nick Korosec stopped 21 on Ontario Bay’s 23 shots.
Then it was back to the IcePlex Saturday to face Mohawk Valley, where the Lakers’ surge continued as it handled the Raiders 8-3 to win for the fourth time in six games.
It was Parkhurst at the forefront, earning a three-goal hat trick as Donlin notched four assists. Support came from the likes of Riley Newcomb,who had his first career assist, and Ethan Isbell, who got his first goal of the season.
Now at 4-8-1 overall but tied for seventh in the Division I standings, Cazenovia would challenge two traditional powerhouses, West Genesee and Baldwinsville, this week before facing New Hartford on Saturday.
