BUFFALO 鈥 The Skaneateles boys hockey team has become accustomed to celebrating on the LECOM Harborcenter ice, but Sunday鈥檚 festivities meant just a little bit more.
鈥淲e made history,鈥 coach Mitch Major said as his team celebrated a 3-0 win over Ogdensburg Free Academy. 鈥淲e鈥檙e the first to do it.鈥
鈥淚t鈥 is winning three straight Division II state titles, a feat the Lakers accomplished thanks to timely scoring and a 22-save performance from senior goalie Danny Angelina. The win sent Major into retirement with one last piece of hardware for his trophy shelf, as the title is his fifth since 2015 (two COVID-related cancellations perhaps prevented more) and the program's record-breaking seventh.
鈥淗old up those threes,鈥 Major told his team during postgame photos, prodding them to hold three fingers up as they posed. 鈥淓njoy this.鈥
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The game was nothing but enjoyable for the Skanateles faithful who came west down I-90 for the contest. After going scoreless in the first period of Saturday鈥檚 semifinal win, the Lakers only needed four minutes to get on the scoreboard Sunday. Five seconds into a five-on-three advantage, senior Luke Mizro one-timed a Luke Bobbett pass from the top of the right faceoff circle past Ty Jacobs to make the score 1-0.
Two penalty kills and 13 saves from Angelina helped Skaneateles maintain a 1-0 lead after one period.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a great team,鈥 Major said of Ogdensburg. 鈥淲e knew they鈥檇 give us their best.鈥
Goalie Danny Angelina receives his medal.
The Lakers bedeviled Ogdensburg through much of the second period, holding Ogdensburg shotless through seven minutes and killing off another penalty. Just after that penalty, Kaden Rutledge put a Bobbett rebound into the net to make the score 2-0 10 minutes into the period. The Blue Devils were limited to three shots in the period, as the Lakers defense stymied any offensive rush they could muster and kept play in the Ogdensburg zone most of the stanza.
鈥淐oach Major had us ready,鈥 Angelina said. 鈥淗e doesn鈥檛 leave anything unturned in preparation.鈥
Play stayed in the Ogdensburg zone early in the third, resulting in an insurance tally for Skaneateles. Addison Taggart ended up with the puck in the slot after a fight for control, and his wrist shot made the score 3-0. The defense limited Ogdensburg to six third-period shots and few quality chances, allowing Angelina to secure his seventh shutout of the season.
鈥淗e鈥檚 the hardest-working kid,鈥 Major said of his goalie. 鈥淗e just brings it every day.鈥
There will be no more days for either of them at Skaneateles, though. Angelina graduates as one of the best goalies in the state, while Major will continue teaching in the district while working next year to mentor future coaches.
He helped shape one of the state鈥檚 premier programs, but Major opted to deflect credit Sunday.
鈥淚鈥檓 such a small part of Skaneateles,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t takes a village to raise good citizens. I can鈥檛 wait to go home and celebrate with our town.鈥
After 25 years of coaching the Skaneateles boys hockey team, Mitch Major has decided this season will be his last with the Lakers.
