It seems the closer the Garnet hockey team gets to Canada – the sport’s birthplace – the more comfortable they become. Rye remained unbeaten in its five games played north of Albany this season, coming from behind for a hard-fought, 3-3 tie against Section 2 Division 1 power Shenendehowa on Friday.
As the second-ranked Division 2 team in New York, the Garnets (10-2-1) have clear intentions of advancing farther than last year’s first-round exit from the state tournament. And since nearly all roads in the postseason go through teams near the Canadian border, maybe coach Peter Thomas’ scheduling of top-tier opponents upstate is for more than just team bonding purposes.
Shenendehowa (11-2-1), a Division 1 state semifinalist last year, jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Rye after converting its first two power plays of the game. Then, with 12 minutes to play in the second, Rye sophomore Max Niejadlik scored the Garnets’ first goal off an assist from senior Matt Rovenger. Four minutes later, senior Jamie Morris scored from a Luke Davis pass to make it 2-2.
Two minutes later, Shenendehowa’s burly assistant captain, senior Brayden Williams, made it 3-2 heading to the third period.
Morris netted his second goal of the game, this one unassisted, with 16:49 to play in the third period to tie the game at 3-3. After the completion of regulation plus a five-minute overtime period, neither team could push a goal past Garnet junior keeper Fernando Mosquera or Shenendehowa Brendan Westrick.
Rye has a quick turnaround, heading 35 miles farther north to face Queensbury at 11 a.m. Saturday.
