CENTRAL NEW YORK – One thing the Cazenovia ice hockey team had to like about the way it worked through December was the way it responded to its first bit of adversity.
The Lakers had seen its four-game win streak halted with a 4-1 defeat to West Genesee at Shove Park on Dec. 15, but had little time to fret about it because it traveled to Clinton just two nights later – and won, 7-5, over the Warriors in the historic Clinton Arena.
A dominant first period saw Cazenovia net four unanswered goals. Logan Hull converted twice in the first three minutes to set the tone, with Jack Donlin and Tyson Frederiksen also converting.
Donlin tacked on another goal early in the second period before Clinton, trailing 5-0, finally got on the board, but the game really didn’t get interesting until the third period.
Clinton struck for four goals in that final frame, requiring the Lakers to turn to Donlin. Not only did Donlin score for a third time to complete his hat trick, he added a fourth goal for insurance as Tyler Nellis, making his first start in goal, stopped 27 of the Warriors’ 32 shots.
That same kind of production was present when Cazenovia took on Liverpool Wednesday at the Morrisville State IcePlex, but this time the Lakers kept the opposition off the board as it blanked the Warriors 7-0.
It was the first time Cazenovia had played a game at the IcePlex in 676 days – a span of more than 22 months. Perhaps fired up by this, it quickly went up 2-0 on Liverpool in the first period.
Four more goals followed in the second, Hull converting twice in that stretch to pace a balanced attack where he would also pick up a pair of assists.
Single goals went to Forrest Ives, Jake Owens, Andrew Murray, James LaFever and James Dapson, with Cazenovia’s defense holding the Warriors to just 11 shots, all stopped by Cy McCrink.
Now at 6-1 overall, the Lakers expected to play this week in Cortland-Homer’s holiday tournament before a New Year’s Eve game against Mohawk Valley at the IcePlex.
