CENTRAL NEW YORK – When it raced out to a 4-1 start this winter, the Cicero-North Syracuse ice hockey team had started to think that it could make a push toward the top of the Division I standings.
But back-to-back defeats slowed up that momentum. First the Northstars fell to Cazenovia on Dec. 14 and, three nights later at Kennedy Arena, a brutal start made the difference in a 5-2 loss to Rome Free Academy.
Much of the game was closely fought, but that only followed a first period where the Black Knights’ attack swarmed on C-NS, netting all five of its goals.
Tyler Lokker, Jake Premo and John Sharrino each had a goal and two assists in that stretch, with Carmen Orton and Logan Waterman also finding the net.
C-NS would fare better from there, Kli Van Iuven and Ethan McKenzie combining for 26 saves as Devin Kellogg and Emmit Porter netted goals. Nate Bustin, Tanner Long and Andrew Davis had one assist apiece.
And now first-place West Genesee was set tovisit the Twin Rinks last Tuesday night, but a COVID-19 outbreak in the Wildcats program caused a postponement of that game.
Liverpool was 1-1-2 going into its game against Auburn Dec. 17 at State Fair Coliseum, and it proved a close one, though the Warriors lost 4-3 to the Maroons.
Though scoring in each of the first two periods, Liverpool still fell behind 4-2 as Jack Pineau, Jack Chapman, Matt Donovan and Trey Masters each netted goals for Auburn.
The Warriors closed within one in the third period, but could not force overtime. Still, Matt Markusz had one goal and one assist, with Cole Broughton and Xavier Springer also converting as Kyle Kirkby got an assist. Trevor Smith played in goal and recorded 34 saves.
Facing Cazenovia last Tuesday night, the Warriors found itself unable to generate much of an attack in a 7-0 defeat to the Lakers, held to just 12 shots all nights.
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, Logan Hull converting twice in that stretch to pace a balanced attack where he would also pick up a pair of assists.
