In search of the missing defense (Capital District Jets @ LaSalle, 1/18/20)

This was the night that everyone had marked on their LaSalle hockey calendars in red ink. Cadets For Vets III, with the Capital District Jets (Shaker, Colonie, Tamarac, Averill Park, Columbia) in town, having already beaten homestanding LaSalle in a non-league match last month.

Tim Flanigan's Cadets, however, were trying to right the ship after losing six in a row. The weather may have kept a few folks away, but there were plenty of fans of both teams in attendance at Conway Arena.

However, Flanigan might want to file a missing persons report on his defense. One of the reasons LaSalle has struggled this season was clearly evident in this game. While this night was about the veterans, LaSalle's players were behaving more like they stepped out of the pages of a certain Jimmy Breslin novel, The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight.

Late in the first period, Kyle Millington gave the Jets an early lead when he whistled one past Leo Paul. Capital District went into intermission with a 1-0 lead.

This would last until the 3rd period, when LaSalle's (Moves Like) Jagger Sessa put the hosts on the board with a one-timer past Michael LaCouture to even the score. Just a couple of minutes later, however, David Clemenzi put the Jets back on top by going top shelf on Paul, and it was 2-1 in favor of the Jets. With under two minutes to go in regulation, Mike Baker, making a rare start, tied the game when he beat LaCouture to send the game into overtime.

Less than two minutes into the extra session, however, Cameron See sent everyone home, whistling one past Paul, as the Jets sent LaSalle to their 7th straight loss, 3-2. The loss bumps the Cadets into the CDHSHL basement with one lone point on the season. The seven straight losses represent the worst stretch of futility in recent memory, and, unfortunately for the Cadets, it's only going to get worse as they travel to Queensbury on Wednesday, already assured of a play-in game on February 22 in order to qualify for the playoffs.

As part of the event, SEFCU donated $500 for each goal scored, for a total of $2500, to the Albany Housing Coalition, the real winners of the evening.

The ineptitude on defense for LaSalle is in sharp contrast to their performance vs. Albany Academy last month, and the two teams of Cadets will meet again next month.