CENTRAL NEW YORK – Infused with energy after its second 3-3 tie with state no. 1-ranked West Genesee in as many outings, the Cicero-North Syracuse ice hockey team was not eager to have winter weather interfere with the schedule again.
This was especially the case last Tuesday night, when yet another January snowstorm kept the Northstars from going to Kennedy Arena to test itself against the other unbeaten area Division I side, Rome Free Academy.
What had happened against WG on Jan. 25 at the Syracuse War Memorial only reinforced C-NS’s belief that it could make a championship run.
Staying close most of the way, the Northstars overcame a 3-2 deficit through two periods with a tying tally in the third, and it would stay even.
Trevor Smith, who recorded 40 saves in the first meeting against the Wildcats at Shove Park in December, nearly matched that total here with 38 saves.
Overcoming 27 saves by WG goalie Luke Beck, the Northstars’ Emmit Porter got his 12th and 13th goals of the season, the other goal going to Cam Walker. Andrew Gabor picked up a pair of assists and Nate Bustin also got an assist.
Back-to-back games would come late in the week as C-NS went to Utica’s Nexus Center to face Mohawk Valley Thursday before returning to the Twin Rinks to meet Auburn a night later.
The Northstars outscored Mohawk Valley 7-4, further cementing its spot in third place in the Division I standings as Gabor had the best game of his varsity career.
Involved in all but one of C-NS’s scoring plays, Gabor compiled a three-goal hat trick and tacked on a trio of assists, too, with Porter close behind notching four assists to go with a lone goal. Bustin converted twice and Austin Clarke found the net, too, Dylan Ling contributing an assist.
Then, against Auburn, C-NS breezed to a 7-1 victory over the Maroons, building a 3-0 advantage through two periods before doubling that margin in the third while taking 53 shots to Auburn’s 17.
Porter and Jase Knopp each picking up three assists as six different players netted goals Only Bustin converted twice, with Porter joined by Gabor, David Cooley, Gabe Springer and Evan Sobolewski getting single goals. Jake Roskopf had two assists as single assists went to Alex Kirkby, Calen Brown, Rob Warner and Landon Russo.
These wins put the Northstars’ overall mark at 12-3-2 overall with games against Ontario Bay and Watertown IHC this week that, with the possible makeup of the RFA game, will close out the regular season.