CAMILLUS – When two reigning state ice hockey champions got together Wednesday night at Shove Park, one of them made a very loud statement about its intentions for this winter.
All that Skaneateles did was come to Camillus and, in the opening round of the Ice Breaker Tournament, keep West Genesee off the board on the way to a 4-0 victory.
This was the season opener for the Wildcats, its first time on the ice in a real game since it claimed the state Division I title last March in Buffalo, its first since 2010.
But with the departure of a host of senior stars, WG had far more to replace than did Skaneateles, which was evident from the opening face-off as the Lakers quickly established a 2-0 advantage through one period.
More would follow, Skaneateles ultimately doubling the margin and, with its defense, ably protecting goaltender Danny Angelina, who still stopped all 16 shots he faced for the shutout.
Four different Lakers – Luke Bobbett, Cole Palmer, Trevor Jensen and Luke Mizro – earned the four goals, with Andrew Gaglione earning two assists. Single assists went to Bobbett, Andrew Falkenberg, Jack Torrey, Sutton Paro and Casey Morrissey.
All of this followed the other opening-round game where Syracuse, at 0-2 following a pair of defeats to Buffalo-area teams (Canisius and Williamsville North) by a combined 9-1 margin), fell 4-2 to Baldwinsville.
Nick Rayfield and Will Glass both had goals in the early going, but the Bees doubled that output with four different goal-scorers that overcame Conor Rose’s 20 saves. Ryan Thomson and Ryan Victoriano were credited with assists.
So it was Skaneateles against B’ville in Thursday night’s final and WG meeting Syracuse in the consolation game, and the Lakers would take the tournament title, having to go all the way to the end to beat back the Bees 3-2.
They were tied, 1-1, early in the second period, Mizro having already netted a goal, when he came back to convert another one and, along with a goal by Morrissey, produce a 3-1 advantage going to the third period.
B’ville would battle back within one, but not force overtime, turned back enough by Angelina, who finished with 19 saves. Gaglione was credited with two assists as single assists went to Falkenberg, Bobbett and Torrey.
Rebounding well from the day before, WG handled Syracuse 4-1 in the consolation game, the Wildcats breaking out in front after a scoreless first period and tacking on two more late goals to get away.
Jacob Pensabene, Jonah Vormwold, Jackson Pensabene and Nick Meluni earned the goals for WG, with assists credited to Evan Zoanetti, Angelo Caruso and Ryan Long. Rayfield netted the Cougars’ lone goal in the second period, assited by Alan Victoriano, while Conor Rose recorded 35 saves, 11 more than WG counterpart Luke Beck.
