This is one winter ritual that Baldwinsville ice hockey fans would rather not see again.
Just as in the previous two years, the Bees’ season ended at the expense of West Genesee, only this time it came in the opening round of the Section III Division I playoffs as the defending state champion Wildcats prevailed 7-0 at Shove Park in Camillus.
In both 2009 and 2010, B’ville and WG met in the sectional finals – first at the Syracuse War Memorial, then at Allyn Arena in Skaneateles. Both times, the Wildcats prevailed, adding more intensity to an already intense rivalry. Now they were together again, just three weeks after B’ville took a 3-0 loss to the Wildcats in Lysander on Jan. 28, the Bees hoping that, even in the hostile surroundings of Shove Park, it could make WG work harder. Quickly, though, the rematch went in WG’s favor as it again went ahead 3-0 – by the end of the first period. As the night wore on, B’ville found itself stymied on the offensive side, only managing 13 shots against the Wildcats’ deep, swarming defense. Chris Johns, before getting pulled in the late going, made 25 saves (Josh Pinard added seven), as WG countered with a deep and balanced attack. Six different players scored, as only Josh Duquette found the net twice. John Sabert added a goal and three assists. As the Wildcats advanced to face Corcoran in the Division I semifinals, B’ville pondered the end of an 8-12-1 season. With just six seniors on the entire roster, there’s reason to think that, next winter, the Bees could rise back above the .500 mark and be a serious title contender again.