CENTRAL NEW YORK – Playing three times in a span of less than 72 hours, the Cicero-North Syracuse ice hockey team nearly won all of those games to propel itself to a short list of top Division I title contenders.
Having already handled Clinton 6-3 on Nov. 29, the Northstars traveled north for two games on the first two days of December, starting out with a 5-1 victory over St. Lawrence.
Never trailing, C-NS saw Andrew Davis anchor the attack with three assists, while getting two goals and one assist from Hayden Scott.Tyler Milewski had a goal and assist. Jase Knopp and Cole Prevost also converted as Drew Matyasik also had an assist.
Against Canton a day later, the Northstars nearly rallied from a 2-0 deficit through two periods, a game only made close by great work in goal by Leyton Sullivan, who stopped 38 of the 41 shots he faced.
Prevost, Nate Bustin, David Cooley and Tyler Milewski all got points in the third, but Canton did just enough to prevail 3-2, handing C-NS its first defeat of the season.
Rebounding from this, the Northstars went to Casey Park Wednesday and handled Auburn 7-0, jumping out to a 4-0 advantage before the first period was over.
Ultimately, six different C-NS players scored goals, with only Hayden Scott converting twice as Prevost and Chase Mearon each got one goal and one assist. Milewski, Knopp and Jake Dubois also found the net, with Bustin, Andrew Davis and Rob Warner also earning assists.
As for the newly-formed CNY Fusion team combining Liverpool and Fulton, it met Mohawk Valley Tuesday at Utica’s Nexus Center and moved to 2-0 on the season, defeating the Jugglers 4-2.
Trevor Smith stopped 30 of Mohawk Valley’s 32 shots, giving the attack a chance to go in front – which it did, led by Andrew Gabor, who finished with a pair of goals.
Dan Devendorf had a goal and assist, with Gavin Rodman getting two assists. John LaPlante had the other goal as Alex Kirkby, Evan Haskins and Cuyler Penrod also got assists.
Fusion looks to continue this great work next Tuesday against Syracuse at Meachem Rink and Thursday against Rome Free Academy at Kennedy Arena.
Meanwhile, a big stretch awaits C-NS, starting next Monday against RFA and concluding Friday against reigning state Division I champion West Genesee at Shove Park, with a visit from Watertown IHC in between.
