Starpoint Falls to Lakers 6-1

The Starpoint Spartans skated into Saturday’s Far West Regional against the Skaneateles Lakers looking to knock off the defending state champions and advance to the state semifinals.

Unfortunately for the Spartans, their ambitions didn’t go as planned, as they fell to the Lakers by a score of 6-1.

“We were matched up against the best team in the state and they sure played like it,” Spartans coach Clayton Wilson said. “They’re a good hockey team. We prepared well for them and (Lakers coach Mitch Major) told me that we’re the best team he’s played all year. Once the wheels fall off, it’s tough to stay focused at the end there, but I’m proud of this team and I’ll take this team to battle anytime and play against anybody.”

“I’m letting eight seniors go and they’ve been a great group of kids. It’s going to be tough, but our kids had an opportunity to learn from other good kids.”

Jack Henry gave the Lakers a 1-0 lead midway through the first period and Garrett Krieger recorded a pair of goals to make it 3-0 going into the second. From there the rout was on, as Cole Heintz and Charlie Russell each got on the board and Krieger finished off his hat trick with less than four minutes to go in the third.

Captain Blake Dewey got the Spartans’ lone goal midway through the second period.

Following the game Wilson sounded hopeful in the prospects of his roster for next year, and the motivation that this loss could provide for them.

“Our underclassmen will learn what it takes to win these kind of games, and knowing what it takes to compete and commit to this team,” Wilson said. “All summer the seniors were at all of the workouts, and not only that but also getting the experience of playing in high-intensity games like this one. You can’t teach it, you can only live through it.”

“It was a great season,” Dewey said. “We didn’t finish the way we wanted to, but we’re still proud of the season we had. This team was amazing, it was only our third year in the Federation and we’ve already won a Section VI championship. It’ll only get better from here for the rest of the guys.”