CENTRAL NEW YORK – It wouldn’t take too long for the Cicero-North Syracuse ice hockey team to figure out just what kind of work it would have to do to join the short list of Division I contenders.
Right after a sesason-opening win at Clinton Dec. 6 the Northstars returned home to the Twin Rinks and were humbled 4-1 by Watertown IHC a night later, shut out until Cam Walker’s third-period goal assisted by David Cooley.
C-NS took 34 shots, but 32 of them were turned away by IHC goalie Brodie MacGregor as Mavryck Lloyd, Jaired Bach, Nate Taylor and Aidan Trimper got the Cavaliers’ goals.
Even more ominous was the visit last Tuesday from Rome Free Academy, who had started 2-0 and was quite motivated this winter after a narrow and controversial defeat to West Genesee in last winter’s sectional final.
To its credit, the Northstars would play the Black Knights tough, getting goals from Nate Bustin and David Ling along with assists from Alex Kirkby and Andrew Gabor to lead 2-1 through two periods.
Despite this, and despite 28 saves from Trevor Smith, RFA rallied to tie it and then went ahead in the third period, the Black Knights ultimately prevailing 3-2 as Jacob Bruno scored twice and Landon Sulley had the other goal.
Heavy snow kept C-NS from traveling north for a rematch with IHC on Thursday, meaning it would have a week before it played again Tuesday agaisnt Cazenovia ahead of a Thursday showdown with West Genesee at Shove Park.
CNY Fusion had opened its season Dec. 7 against another combined team, the Capital District Jets, and played it to a 2-2 tie, scoring in the second period to overcome an early 1-0 deficit and then trading third-period goals.
Keegan Bertrand was superb in goal, turning back 34 of the Jets’ 36 shots, while in front of him Blake Swick and Casimir Smolnik scored and Blake Bednarz earned an assist.
Two more home games at Fulton Ice Arena followed, Fusion meeting Mohawk Valley last Tuesday and reaching the win column for the first time this winter defeating the Raiders 4-3.
Each side scored a goal in each period, with the difference coming when Fusion converted twice in the second and then held on despite a decided Mohawk Valley shot advantage.
Connor Bertrand’s 33 saves were nearly double that of Raiders goalies Evan Buckingham and Ayden Masters, while four different players – Swick, Tyler Bertrand, Jack Hayes and Kaden McQuagge – got the four goals, assists credited to Hayes, Dan Devendorf, John Eichenhofer and John Casey.
Then, against Syracuse two nights later, Fusion was overpowered by the Cougars in a 9-1 defeat, the only goal coming from Devendorf in the third period assisted by Casey and Tyler Bertrand. Syracuse took 59 shots as Liam Callahan and Connor Bertrand combined for 50 saves.
Fusion has games scheduled for this week against Baldwinsville, Fayetteville-Manlius and Geneseo.
