CENTRAL NEW YORK – If there was even the slightest concern about vulnerability for the West Genesee ice hockey team, what it accomplished during the Dec. 27-28 Wildcat Classic at Shove Park should have erased them.

In particular the championship game was a big statement for the Wildcats, who jumped all over reigning state Division I champion Suffern in the first period and went on to beat the Mounties 4-1.

Suffern arrived at this game still parked atop the state Division I rankings, with WG in the no. 3 spot. But the Mounties had played half the number of games as the Wildcats, and that seasoning would prove important.

Motivated and confident, WG took charge from the opening face-off, and didn’t let up much on Suffern until the opening frame had ended and the hosts had a 3-0 lead.

The Mounties never recovered, turned back by Luke Beck’s 21 saves and only scoring once in the final period.

Even more impressive was that WG did this without a point from Jonah Vormwold. With Suffern’s defensive attention on him Nick Meluni, Matt Schneid and Evan Zoanetti each got a goal and assist, with Ryan Long also converting. Assists also went to Carson Berg, Christian Ball and Mike Vetter.

A day earlier, WG had flattened Shenendehowa 7-1 in the opening round, with Shen having no answer for Vormwold’s speed and skill.

All through the first two periods WG attacked hard and gradually worked its way to a 6-0 advantage, and by then Vormwold already had a hat trick on his way to four goals overall.

Berg, Luke Alfieri and Jackson Pensabene scored, too, with Jacob Pensabene earning a pair of assists. Meluni, Ball, Zoanetti and Harrison Walker joined Alfieri with single assists.

By winning this tournament and handling Suffern, WG climbed to the top of the state Division I rankings which were released on New Year’s Eve, the Mounties falling to the no. 3 spot and Orchard Park between them.

While all this was going on Syracuse took its no. 11 state ranking to the Cortland-Homer Tournament and, in the Dec. 26 opening round, lost 3-2 to Cazenovia.

Steady, balanced offense helped the Lakers build a 3-1 lead through two periods. Finn Hagan’s goal and assist led the way as Henry Miller and Tucker Ives also scored, and only the great work of Conor Rose, who finished with 35 saves, kept things close.

Nick Rayfield, whose second-period goal got Syracuse on the board, converted again in the third, but Cazenovia held on. Gaho Shenandoah and Isaiah Polhamus each picked up an assist.

Against Cortland-Homer in the Dec. 27 consolation game the Cougars fell behind again, but was able to come back late and edge the Golden Eagles 4-3.

Syracuse trailed 2-1 through a period. It caught up in the second and then broke a 3-3 tie in the final period, this time led by a pair of goals from Will Scanlon.

Shenandoah had a goal and assist, with Braydon Amidon also converting. Single assists went to Polhamus, Grady Etoll, Hayden Halbritter and Miller MacDerment.

A rematch with Cazenovia would take place at Meachem Rink Friday night and end in a 2-2 tie. Rayfield and Jason Borte both earned goals to match those of the Lakers’ Henry Frazee and Henry Miller in the first two periods.

The third period and overtime would pass without resolution, an evenly played contest where Rose’s 30 saves were equaled by Cazenovia counterpart Ezra Stahlberg.