Ice hockey recaps: Pelham scores five times, ends Skaneateles' 65-game winning streak
Before leaving for a trip north to the Duke Schneider Tournament at the Skaneateles Community YMCA, Pelham ice hockey coach Ed Witz said playing Skaneateles, the state's top-ranked Division II squad, would be a "really good test" for his team.
Friday night, the Pelicans aced that test.
Louie Marcellino scored three goals and Griffin Evans and Ben Rosenberg had solo tallies as Pelham ended Skaneateles' 65-game winning streak, beating the Lakers 5-3 at the Y's Allyn Arena.
Pelham, which took the lead just 47 seconds into the game when Evans scored off assists from Rosenberg and Reid Finster, never trailed.
It led 3-0 after one period and 4-1 after two.
And that was hardly a fluke. It put 40 shots on net, compared to the Lakers' 20.
The teams — or at least the programs — weren't totally unfamiliar with each other.
Witz's 2016-17 team blanked Skaneateles 4-0 before going on to win the state Division II championship. And Skaneateles routed Pelham 8-1 two years ago, en route to winning its second straight state D- II title.
While going 20-0 last year, the Lakers didn't have a chance for a three-peat at states, since state championships were canceled over COVID concerns.
The Lakers, who got goals Friday night from Colin Morrisey, Jack Torrey and Luke Renaud, had entered the game with a 9-0 record.
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With the win, Pelham, which entered the game ranked second in the state among small schools behind Skaneateles, is now 6-2-1.
Witz praised Skaneateles (which is located a half-hour's drive southwest of Syracuse) for amassing such a long winning streak, especially in light of the high level of competition it regularly faces.
"(A) 65-game winning streak in the league they play in is amazing," he said.
But Witz also used that word to describe some of what he saw Friday night from his own squad.
"We had amazing performances by a lot of guys," he said.
Henry Smith, Eric Elbery and Evans each had an assist for the Pelicans.
Garrett Krieger and Henry Major both had a pair of assists for Skaneateles and Carter Corbett and Renaud each had one assist.
Chad Lowe had 35 saves for the Lakers.
Pelican keeper Jack Mallinson, whom Witz cited for strong play, stopped 17 shots.
Nancy Haggerty covers cross-country, track & field, field hockey, skiing, ice hockey, girls lacrosse and other sporting events for The Journal News/lohud. Follow her on Twitter at both @HaggertyNancy and at @LoHudHockey.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Ice hockey Jan. 7 recaps: Pelham ends Skaneateles' 65-game win streak
