CICERO – It took nine tries this winter, but the Cicero-North Syracuse ice hockey team finally found its way to the win column.
When the Northstars faced Ontario Bay on March 5 at the Twin Rinks, a second-period outburst, led by Braylen Tuff, brought an end to an eight-game skid as C-NS defeated the Storm 6-2.
They were 0-0 through one period, but in the second Tuff went to the forefront of a Northstars attack that blitzed Ontario Bay by scoring five times, building what turned out to be an insurmountable advantage.
All told, Tuff had four goals, plus an assist, while Tucker Knapp picked up a goal and two assists. Braden Porter also scored as Tyler Murray got a pair of assists and single assists went to Kyle Debejian, Tanner Long and Emmit Porter. Goaltender Jordan Miller finished with 19 saves.
A wild game with Fulton followed last Tuesday night where the Northstars put together another scoring blitz, but it proved too late in an 8-5 loss to the Red Raiders.
C-NS proved close to unstoppable in the third period, but only did so after Fulton built a 4-0 advantage in the first two frames, led by Derek Schumaker, who scored four times and added an assist.
Now the Northstars could turn its attention to getting the best of rival Liverpool in their lone 2021 encounter last Wednesday night – and did so, C-NS prevailing by a score of 3-1.
Steadily, the Northstars kept challenging the Warriors’ defense, and broke through for three unanswered goals in those first two periods, with Murray, Debejian and Porter getting those goals and Porter adding an assist.
Liverpool did get on the board in the third period with Anthony Bentley, Kyle Kirkby and Liam Smith combining on the goal, but it did not prove enough. Ethan Mackenzie stopped 17 of the Warriors’ 18 shots as James Welch, under constant fire, made 53 saves.
Prior to this, Liverpool lost last Monday to Christan Brothers Academy/Jamesville-DeWitt in a 9-1 decision.
Cole Broughton’s second-period goal prevented another shutout as Welch recorded 45 saves. But the Brothers steadily gained control as Seamus Nicholson, John Sheridan and Alex Binsack each scored twice and Seamus McIntyre recorded three assists.
