CENTRAL NEW YORK – Over the course of two months, the Baldwinsville ice hockey team has firmly established its place as a championship contender, and will get tested plenty in the regular-season homestretch.
The first big showdown was its Jan. 22 trip to Morrisville State IcePlex where, against 11-1, state Division I no. 7-ranked Cazenovia, the Bees were solid in all phases of the game to defeat the Lakers 4-1.
Twice in the opening period, the Bees converted, and even when Cazenovia got on the board in the second with Forrest Ives’ goal, B’ville answered it, ultimately tacking on another insurance goal in the final period to run its unbeaten streak to 12.
Cole Schuyler, who had recently emerged as B’ville’s top scoring threat, found the net twice and added an assist to pace the attack, while Sam Ciappa had one goal and one assist.
Matt Carner netted the other goal as single assists went to Matt Fawwaz, Trevor Sutton and Garrett Church. Again, the Bees’ defense was impressive as Patrick Morgan, getting his turn in goal, turned away 26 of 27 shots.
A night earlier, when B’ville defeated Cicero-North Syracuse 6-4 at Three Rivers Athletic Complex, Schuyler led the way, putting together a three-goal hat trick as Carner picked up three assists.
Ciappa had a goal and two assists, with Fawwaz and Brayden Penafeather-Stevenson each earning one goal and one assist. Keegan Lynch and Reese Gilmore had two assists apiece as Jon Schirmer, in goal, earned 21 saves.
And there was no letdown after the Cazenovia win, either, as state no. 5-ranked B’ville went to State Fair Coliseum last Tuesday and, against Liverpool, patiently worked its way to a 5-1 victory over the Warriors.
The second period was decisive this time around. Only up 1-0 after a steady stream of early stops by Liverpool goalie James Welch, B’ville struck four times in this frame.
Somehow, Welch stopped everything else on his way to an astonishing total of 72 saves, but the Bees still won as Fawwaz led the way, scoring twice and adding an assist.
Reese Gilmore had one goal and one assist, with Schuyler and Ciappa each getting two assists. Lynch and Carner earned the other goals as Penafeather-Stevenson and Sutton also found the assist column.
Saturday’s scheduled game against Fairport was postponed, so B’ville was set to resume action Tuesday against Mohawk Valley at Rome’s Kennedy Arena before another trip east on Friday to face Whitesboro.
