The Niskayuna/Schenectady hockey team got a break from its Capital District High School Hockey League schedule Saturday with a non league tilt against Canton at the Schenectady County Recreational Facility.
The Mohawks knew coming in that the game would be anything but a break as they faced the arduous task of trying to defeat one of the top 10 teams in the state. And though they made a game of it in the second period, the Mohawks ultimately lost to the Golden Bears 5-3.
The first period we didn’t show up. They outplayed us, outshot us we were basically standing around and watching the game,` N/S coach Todd Templeton said. `We spotted them a 3-0 lead, and that cost us.`
The Mohawks (8-4-2 overall, 2-2-2 league) found themselves down 3-0 after the first period as they watched the Golden Bears pepper goalie Scott Hartz with 11 shots while managing only one shot on Canton goalie Ben Hammond.
N/S played like a revitalized team in the second period. Nick D’Amario battled for the puck behind the net and sent a pass in front to Paul Chamberlain, who beat Hammond with a low wrist shot into the corner of the goal. A short time later, Jake Hendrick-son grabbed a rebound off Britton Leone’s missed shot and sent the puck over Hammond’s glove hand inside the left post to make the score 3-2.
`I told them after the first that if they decide to play and put their best effort forward, they could skate with that team. They showed that in the second period by coming out and carrying the play even into the third period,` Templeton said.
The Mohawks tried to get the tying goal in the waning minutes of the second period, but Hammond made several saves to keep Canton in the lead. Wade Megan then scored less than five minutes into the third period to give the Golden Bears a 4-2 lead.
Matt Dempsey’s long shot from the blue line found the back of the net to pull N/S within a goal again with 1:15 left, but Canton added an empty net goal to seal the victory.
`In the second and third periods, I thought we were the better team. We outplayed and outshot them for two periods,` Templeton said. `Their goaltender is very talented, and he’s a senior who’s been around for a while.`
The Mohawks head back to their CDHSHL schedule for the rest of the season with an exception of a final non-league contest Jan. 19 against Beekmantown.
`We have a pretty tough league schedule left with a lot of games in a short period of time. We need to try and stay healthy and come out every night and play three periods,` Templeton said.
N/S entered the Canton game off a 5-3 victory over Potsdam Friday at Schenectady County Recreation Facility.
The game was tied at 2 entering the third period, but the Mo-hawks scored three times to pull out the non-league win.
Reuben Dacher-Shapiro had two goals, while Leone, Matt Chestoski and Matt Kelly each contributed a goal for N/S. Chamberlain chipped in two assists, and Hendrickson made 21 saves.
After visiting South Glens Falls Wednesday, the Mohawks host Guilderland Saturday. They then travel to Bethlehem next Wednesday.“
