ONONDAGA COUNTY – There was no gentle way for the Baldwinsville ice hockey team to move into the 2021-22 season.

Instead of games against overmatched opposition, the Bees instead met up with long-time rival West Genesee last Tuesday night at Shove Park in Camillus.

And while the effort never waned, B’ville was overwhelmed in a 7-2 defeat to the Wildcats that turned on events late in the first period.

B’ville enjoyed a 1-0 advantage thanks to Matt Carner’s goal when, with two minutes left in the period, Ryan Stratton tied it. Then, just 6.8 seconds before the intermission, Will Schneid put a shot past Jon Schirmer, giving the Wildcats the lead for good.

Not scoring again until the third period when Cole Schuyler converted, the Bees watched as WG built a 5-1 advantage in the second led by Schneid, who finished with a three-goal hat trick plus an assist.

Brayden Penafeather-Stevenson and Reese Gilmore each earned an assist for B’ville. Schirmer and Liam Hughes combined to make 19 saves as Wildcats goalie Luke Beck stopped 23 of the Bees’ 25 shots.

Back in Lysander last Friday, B’ville had its home opener against CBA/Jamesville-DeWitt, and with a solid all-around performance it broke into the win column, defeating the Brothers 5-2.

Over the course of the first two periods, the Bees kept CBA/J-D off the board, accumulating a 3-0 advantage that allowed it to withstand a late charge from the Brothers.

Carner scored twice, with Fernando Moreno stepping up to earn a goal and two assists. Penafeather-Stevenson also got two assists as Brody Clookey and Reese Gilmore had the other goals. Keegan Lynch and Sam Ciappa also picked up assists.

So began a five-game homestand for the Bees, who welcome Fayetteville-Manlius on Tuesday before Cortland-Homer visits on Friday.