Even with an 18-0-1 record and a no. 1 state ranking it has held all season, the Skaneateles boys ice hockey team still had not locked up the Division II regular-season title and playoff top seed.
That still hinged on the Lakers defeating state no. 4-ranked Whitesboro in last Wednesday’s regular-season finale at Allyn Arena – and with a goal in the waning seconds of overtime, Skaneateles did pull it out, 3-2.
Whitesboro had gone 6-0-1 since the Lakers shut them out 5-0 back on Jan. 14 at Whitestown Community Center. They were originally supposed to have the rematch on Feb. 7, but it got snowed out.
Now, with the outright league title still undecided, the Lakers moved out in front in the first period when Thomas Coyne’s shot was not held on to by Warriors goalie Cameron Manley and Colin Weeks put in the rebound.
Whitesboro quickly answered, tying it on James Kraeger’s power-play goal, and though the Lakers dominated possession, Manley’s fine work in the net kept it 1-1 for a while.
And even when Jack Henry converted on the power play to put Skaneateles back in front, the Warriors didn’t flinch, picking up its own pressure early in the third period as the game stayed close.
With 4:25 left, the Lakers thought it had an insurance goal, but officials ruled that Garrett Krieger had guided the puck into the net with his glove, so it was disallowed.
Given a reprieve, Whitesboro attacked again and, with 2:20 to play in regulation, Troy Chamberlain ripped a one-timed shot past Adam Casper. Though the Warriors had only taken 11 shots to the Lakers’ 34, the game was 2-2 and going to OT.
Ultimately, Whitesboro paid for a pair of penalties called in the five-minute extra period. One was killed off, but with just 7.3 seconds to play Charlie Russell jammed the puck in front of Manley and, in the ensuing scramble, Cole Heintz converted the game-winner.
Now the Lakers await next Wednesday’s Section III semifinal against Cortland-Homer, which has more stakes besides just a trip to the March 2 sectional final at the War Memorial against Whitesboro or Clinton.
No matter who wins the sectional title game, both teams will have spots reserved in the state tournament since Section III gets an at-large bid, which in the past has produced state champions – including when Skaneateles pulled it off in 2015.
