CENTRAL NEW YORK – Five consecutive victories to close the regular season helped the Cicero-North Syracuse ice hockey team rise to fifth place in the final Division I standings.
Not only did this secure a winning record of 10-8-1, it left the Northstars thinking that it could make serious noise as the Section III playoffs get underway.
C-NS made it four in a row last Tuesday night when it went north to Haldane and, against sixth-place Ontario Bay, rolled to a 7-3 victory over the Storm.
Braden Porter produced a hat trick, scoring three times as Northstars teammate Hayden Scott had a big night, too, earning two goals and two assists.
Emmit Porter had one goal and one assist, the other goal going to Andrew Davis. Tanner Long and Tyler Milewski had two assists apiece as Kyle Debejian and Noah Degan earned single assists.
Expected to romp again Friday against Mohawk Valley at the Twin Rinks, C-NS did so, scoring twice in each of the first two periods and then doubling that total in the final period for an 8-0 victory.
Earning the hat trick, Emmit Porter netted three goals, with Debejian scoring twice. Braden Porter picked up a goal and two assists as Scott finished with three assists.
Devin Kellogg earned one goal and one assist. Nick Tangretti also converted as Degan got two assists and single assists went to Sam Richardson, Drew Matyasik, Devin Freeman and Rob Warner.
Liverpool had seen some recent success, only to struggle in last Tuesday’s game against Fulton at State Fair Coliseum, which resulted in a 5-1 loss.
Brayden Cheevers’ first-period goal, assisted by Matt Markusz and Brad Cole, was countered by the Red Raiders converting twice. And it stayed 2-1 until the third period, when Fulton got away with a trio of goals.
James Welch again was busy, recording 43 saves. Fulton was led by Dan Devendorf, who got two goals and one assist.
Struggling again on offense Thursday night against Fayeteville-Manlius, the Warriors did not get on the board here, taking a 4-0 defeat to the Hornets.
Trevor Smith took his turn in goal and recorded 31 saves. Yet F-M scored twice in each of the first two periods as Colden Ives, Jack Lalik, Will Sanzone and Jonas Oesterle earned those goals.
