ONONDAGA COUNTY – As it sprinted out to a 10-0 start, the Skaneateles boys ice hockey team had not faced any kind of stress other than the 4-2 season opener with Cortland-Homer Feb. 10 where it had to score twice in the third period to break a 2-2 tie.
Or at least that was the case until this week, when twice the Lakers were pushed and on Friday, were at least caught by an opponent when Baldwinsville tied them 1-1 at Three Rivers Athletic Complex in Lysander.
This was the same Bees side Skaneateles had blanked 5-0 back on Feb. 18. Since then, B’ville had built a 6-4 mark against tough competition, but it stepped up, especially on defense, against a Lakers side going through a fourth game in five days.
Garrett Krieger netted a first-period goal, assisted by Charlie Major and Henry Major, Skaneateles little imagining that it would be the only time its potent attack would convert all night.
Though constantly in the Bees’ end, it met consistent resistance, whether it was blocked shots from defenders or big stops by goaltender Jon Schirmer.
And it continued after B’ville’s Brayden Penafeather-Stevenson tied it in the second period off a feed from Keegan Lynch.
Through the rest of regulation and overtime, the Lakers constantly had chances, and were constantly stymied, Schirmer finishing with 43 saves. Meanwhile, Skaneateles also held up on defense around Adam Casper, who stopped 20 of 21 shots.
Back in last Monday’s game at State Fair Coliseum, Christian Brothers Academy/Jamesville-DeWitt put the Lakers in a bind before it escaped with a tough 3-2 victory.
It wasn’t a complete surprise. After starting 0-3, CBA/J-D had won five in a row, and the Lakers’ 51-game unbeaten streak didn’t intimidate the Brothers, for over the course of the first two periods it limited Skaneateles to single tallies in each frame.
Not until the third period did the Lakers get in front for good, overcoming 39 saves from Joe Salvador as Krieger netted two goals and Luke Renaud got two assists.
Drew Jensen had the other goal, while Charlie Major and Henry Major had single assists. Each of the 20 saves put up by Casper proved important.
Two nights later, Skaneateles traveled to the Twin Rinks to face Cicero-North Syracuse, and returned to its usual form against the winless Northstars, breezing to an 8-0 victory.
Though Krieger and Charlie Major both finished with two goals and two assists, Skaneateles did a better job getting more players involved in its attack over the course of the game.
Curran McGowan and Jack Weeks, in particular, stepped up, each with one goal and one assist. Henry Major and Ben Clymer also scored, with Renaud getting two assists. Single assists went to Jensen, Mike Blowers and Jack Buff.
Now back home on Thursday night, Skaneateles faced Cazenovia, who had only begun its season two nights earlier, having practiced in December and January outdoors because its home venue, Morrisville State IcePlex, was closed.
At 1-1 following a loss to Cortland-Homer and a win over Liverpool, those other Lakers were able to get on the board with Jacob Grevelding’s goal, though Skaneateles still breezed to an 11-1 victory.
With four goals and two assists, Krieger ran his Section III-best point total to 54, with Drew Henderson stepping up as he scored twice and got three assists.
Charlie Major earned a goal and three assists, with Renaud and Henry Major both getting one goal and one assist. Jack Torrey and Cole Kennedy contributed goals as Aidan McGowan had two assists and Sean Kerwick contributed an assist.
The tie with Baldwinsville maintained the unbeaten streak at 55, but added intrigue to the last week of the season that included the Route 20 rivalry with Auburn and back-to-back games against West Genesee Wednesday at Shove Park and Friday at Allyn Arena.
