CAMILLUS – Jonah Vormwold made sure that, if the Skaneateles boys ice hockey makes a third consecutive run to a state championship, it still won’t have local bragging rights over West Genesee.
Vormwold’s hat trick keyed the Wildcats’ 4-2 victory over the Lakers in Tuesday night’s opening round of the Ice Breaker Tournament at Shove Park, one where Syracuse would also attempt to announce its presence as a contender again.
But the featured attraction was the clash of the area’s two defending Section III champions. When this happened in 2023,WG won it 2-0, and Skaneateles was determined to avenge it.
At the very least, the Lakers prevented a shutout by grabbing a 1-0 lead just 4:27 into the game, converting an otherwise ineffective power play when Tye Kennedy scored off Luke Logan’s feed.
Still, much of the first period belonged to the Wildcats, who applied heavy pressure and took 12 shots to Skaneateles’ five, tying it when Vormwold, point-blank, converted off a great feed from Nick Meluni in back of the net.
It was still 1-1 when, just as the Lakers were finishing a power play near the midway point of the second period, Vormwold intercepted a pass at the blue line, streaked in solo and faked a move right before pushing it past Danny Angelina on the left side.
Barely 90 seconds later it was 3-1, Parker Berg pushing in a rebound of Riley McAloon’s shot, and it was all Skaneateles could do to hang on and keep the game from getting away.
Gradually, Skaneateles built up pressure in the third period and moved within one on Luke Mizro’s goal with 8:22 left. However, Luke Beck turned back everything else and, with 1:30 to play and the Lakers’ net empty, Meluni’s long pass set up a solo break for Vormwold to net his third goal and clinch it.
Before all this, Syracuse got into the win column for the first time this season edging Fayetteville-Manlius 3-2.
The two sides traded goals in the first two periods before the Cougars broke the 2-2 tie by converting in the third, hanging on from there thanks to Conor Rose working his total to 25 saves.
Drew Schneider and Nick Rayfield both had a goal and assist, with Will Scanlon also finding the net. Jason Borte and Grady Etoll also picked up assists.
So it was Syracuse against WG in the tournament final Wednesday night – and it was all Wildcats, who prevailed 6-0 scoring all of its goals in the first two periods.
Vormwold was the only WG player to score twice. Carson Berg got a goal and two assists, with Parker Berg, Greg Wood and Michael Vetter also converting. Jacob Pensabene, Ryan Long, Riley McAloon and Matt Schneid also earned assists.
Even more stunning was the consolation game where Skaneateles lost again, this time a 5-2 decision to F-M who got two goals from Jack Lalik and a goal and two assists from Tyler Mayne.
Mizro and Braydan Taggart found the net for Skaneateles. Luke Bobbett assisted on both goals with assists also going to Jack Bobbett and Reece Benda, who started in goal and recorded 16 saves.
