Despite a fast start that saw two goals in 15 seconds, the Clinton boys ice hockey team had to settle for a tie with Ithaca.
Last Friday’s game at the Clinton Arena began with an aggressive offensive style by the Warriors. Most of the action took place in front of the Ithaca goal and Clinton goalie Luke Chesebro was often the only player on that half of the ice.
All that shooting finally led to something. Antonio Femia gathered the puck about 20 feet in front of the Ithaca goal and sent it toward the net. Nolan Provost reacted quickly with help from Brenden Karuzas and Ethan Carr and Clinton was on the board with 5:47 left in the first.
Before the official scoring could be announced, the Warriors pounced again. Femia scored off an assist from Provost on the left of the net and the Warriors had a 2-zip lead with 5:32 to go in the first period.
Chesebro finally had a chance to make a save and Killian Kulpa sent the puck still in play toward center ice as the Warriors closed the first period on top.
Ithaca picked up the first penalty of the second period and Carr almost made good on the power play by poking the puck on the left, but the whistle blew to end the chance. Provost had a shot stopped and he and Corbin Melie kept the Ithaca goalie zigzagging as they both came at the net.
Kulpa’s defense helped on the Ithaca powerplay and then his own…