Scott Duell (14x) and Connor Cleveland (09) going into turn three-wheel to the wheel as they battle for second early in the Sportsman Modified main. It would be week 2 of the 2021 season at Albany Saratoga Speedway and it would also be the return of fans to the races at the track for the first time in like 18 months although be it at a limited capacity of 20% in the stands. First up in the qualifying would be the heats for the Sportsman Modified and getting the four heats to win would be Pat Jones, Scott Duell, Dan Grignon, and Justin Miller. Then on track would be the Pro Stocks for three heats and the wins would go to Nick Stone, Chad Jeso, and Rob Yetman. Then we would have the ground-pounding Modifieds in the first heat Mike Maraseca would make a last-lap pass on Matt Depew for the win. Then in heat two, we would have another late-race pass this time by Jeremy Pitts on Derrick McGrew Jr for the win. In the third heat Anthony Pergero would take the lead on lap five over Rich Ronca and walk away with the win/ Then we would have the Limited Sportsman Modified out for three heat and in the first heat Bryce Breault would take the early lead for the win. In the second heat of the Limited Sportsman Modified, Gerald Leclair would go wire to wire for the win, and then in the third heat Zach Buff would do the same. Then the last set of heat races would be the Street Stocks for two heats and the winners would be Josh Femming and John Filarecki. Then we would have are only two last chance qualifiers on the night in the Sportsman Modified division and getting the wins would be Michael Fitzgerald and Tyler Corcoran. Then it would be back for its second year the Dash race this week in the Sportsman Modified class and getting the win is Pat Jones and the extra 200 dollars. Then all that would be left on the night would be the Mains and first up would be the Pro Stocks for 25 laps Rich Crane would start on the front row and slowly pull away from the field but there would be a late-race caution with 6 to go to bunch the field back up and have Chad Jeseo and Rob Yetman back in the hunt although it wouldn't be enough as Rich Crane would get the win. Next up on the schedule would be the 20 lap Limited Sportsman Modified and it would come down to the last lap and corner as Chris Jakubbiak would pass Gerald Leclair for the win. Then we would have the ground-pounding Modifieds and the early racing would see Michael Maresca and Anthony Peregeo battling at the front although a lapper would get in the way sending them both off. As the benefactor of that would be Jeremy Pitts and once he got the lead he would not give it up as he would secure his first career victory in the division. Then we would have the shower of 602 power as the Sportsman Modified would hit the track it would be slow getting going as there would be three cautions and we would have only one lap complete. Pat Jones would use his front row starting spot to avoid the wrecks and lead wire to wire for his second career victory. Although that wasn't to say there wasn't racing behind him as Andrew Buff would come up from 20th and get the 2nd place finish and Connor Cleveland would avoid an early crash to secure third. Then it would be the 15 laps four-cylinder race and Jaxson Ryan would walk away for his second straight win on the season. Then to finish off the night it would be the Street Stock for 15 laps as Hunter Sanchez would charge from the back of the pack for the win. The racing will return to the great race place next Friday (April 30th) for week three of the season on VP Small Engines Fuels night and Pro Stock Dash. Gallery

Stewart Friesen (44) celebrates the first Super DIRTcar Series points event victory in over 470 days. It would be the official start to the 2021 Dirtcar season at the Can-AM Speedway for the Thunder on the Thousand Islands presented by St. Lawrence Radiology and would feature 47 of the best Super Dirtcar Series races along with 50 Dirtcar Sportsman Modifieds and 20 Dirtcar Pro Stocks. After the Hot Laps and qualifying first to the track for racing would be the Sportsman Modified with 5 heats of racings all the wins would be wire to wire Brian Hudson, Zach Payne, Mike Fowler, Anthony Rasmussen, and Matt Janczuk. Next to the track would be the ground-pounders of the Super Dirtcar Series that would also have 5 heats of racing and once again the leader of the start would get the victories going to Carey Terrance, Eric Rudolph, Justin Hears, Pat Ward, and Matt Shepard. Then to finish off the heat races would be the Dirtcar Pro Stocks with two heats would be Ivan Joslin and Sid Harmer but the story of the heats would b be Tyler Coonradt spinning out and finishing deep in the field and hurting his starting position for the main. Then we would have the last chance qualifiers for the Super DIRTcar Series and Sportsman Modified but before they would go there the track would be down for some track prep as they did a great job and getting an outside grove to come in and make for some great races. As for the LCQ's first would be the Sportsman Modified with two races and wins going to Gavin Eisele and Robert Gage. Then it would be the Super Dirtcar Series for two last chance qualifiers and the wins would go to David Marcuccilli and the hometown boy Jordan McCreadie and that would end the qualifying races on the evening. Now it was on to the mains and first out of the gate would be the Dirtcar Sportsman Modified for a 30 lap event, Brian Hudson would get the lead off the start and lead for the first seven laps until a spin would put them under caution. They would get back racing but for only one lap as another spin would put them under the yellow. On the ensuing restart, Mike Fowler would take the lead. Although Matt Jancauck would stay on his trail and take over the lead on lap 14 and hold the lead till the end for the victory but not without a late-race charge from Tyler Corcoran to make him work for the victory. Next up would be the main event of the evening with the Super DIRTcar Series with the Thunder in the Thousands 100 and their season would start the way it finished last year as Max McLaughlin who won the last race in Weedsport's would start on the pole tonight. Although his lead would short-lived as Tim Fuller would use his local knowledge. There would be caution on lap 17 for a spin-out but then the big one would come out as Eric Rudolph running in the top 5 would have a flat on lap 71 and bring out the caution and the restart would come with 25 to go. The front row of the restart would be Tim Fuller and Stewart Fresien and Stewie would dive bomb turn 1 and take the lead from fuller until the caution came out on lap 78 for Max McLaughlin. Although Timmy Fuller would get one last restart to try and get Stewart Fresien as Rusty Smith would have an engine go south 15 to go. Although it would not matter as Stewart Fresien would hold on and get the opening win of the season over Tim Fuller and Larry Wight. The Super DIRTcar Series will be back in action in two weeks at the end of April as they take to the high banks at Bristol Motor Speedway for the first time ever. Then to finish off the night would be the DIRTcar Pro Stock for 20 laps. The local Sid Harmer Jr would sit on the pole and lead the first five laps through a couple of cautions. Although on the fifth lap Nick Stone would go around him for the lead. Then there would be another caution on lap 8 as the 33 of Pete Schroy would have to pull in. Then on the ensuing restart, Sid Harmer would take the lead back but it would be short live cause on the next lap Luke Horning would take the lead with 5 to go. Although it would not be easy to the end as Rob Yetman would be charging up and would try last-ditch slide job off of turn four on the final lap but there wasn't enough room and Luke Horning would wrap the bumper cover off and slide under and beat to him to the checkered for the win. Gallery

Plattsburgh's (9) with the goal as she slides it through the lakers pads. For the second time in three days, the Plattsburgh Hornets would the Saranac Lake/Lake Placid Lakers in Girl's Hockey action. The game would look like it was going to start the same as the last meeting as the Hornets would take the 1-0 lead at the 4:30 mark of the first period on the Giroux goal. Although this time the Lakers would have an answer to the Hornets defense and get the tying goal with 90 seconds left in the opening period. In the second period, the Hornets would answer back quick to regain the one-goal lead at 2-1 on the Johnston goal. Then just over three minutes later the Hornets would strike again and get the two-goal lead on the Amanda Vaughn goal at 3-1. The Lakers would still have fought in them and cut the lead in half at 3-2 at the 6:52 mark of the second period. The Lakers would keep up their attack and would eventually get that game-tying goal at 3-3 with just over nine minutes to go in the game. Although the tie would be short-lived as the Hornets would take the lead back at 4-3 just ten seconds later. It was starting to look like the Hornets were going to get the win but with 33 seconds left in the game, the Lakers would get the tying goal with the extra attacker on the ice. The teams would head to overtime but the extra would be of no help on this night as the game would end in a 4-4 tie. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Mackenzie Brown (6) with the rebound goal on the doorstep for the lead. It would be an Upstate New York Girl's Hockey League contest as the Plattsburgh Hornets would host the Saranac Lake/Lake Placid Lakers at the Amer-can North Sports Center. The game would get started well for the host Hornets as they would take the 1-0 lead 3:20 into the game on the Mackenzie Brown goal. Then at the ten-minute mark of the period, the Hornets would extend their lead to 2-0 on the Emily Vaughan goal as Brown would have the assist. Then with just over two minutes left in the game, the Hornets would strike again for a 3-0 lead again from Mackenzie Brown for the second goal of the game and third point of the contest. In the second period, the Lakers would play their hearts out and keep the Hornets off the board but the Lakers would have no answer and the game would stay 3-0 after the second period. Then about halfway through the third period, the Hornets would strike again this time from Giroux for the 4-0 lead. Then with just over five minutes left in the game, the Hornets would add one more for good measure and complete the 5-0 shutout victory on the Emily Vaughan goal. In the winning effort, the Hornets netminders would combine for a thirty-two save the night. Gallery.

The Saranac Lake Lake Placid Lakers celebrate as Rhett Darrah would light the lamp with 14 seconds left to get the game-winner. The teams would have a feeling out process through the early part of the first period. Eventually, Plattsburgh's Austin Lucas would get the opening goal of the game at the 6:34 mark of the first period and that's how the first period would end. In the second period though the Lakers wouldn't take long to tie the game up at one Dylan Annell goal. Then just under the five-minute mark of the second period the Lakers would take the 2-1 lead once again coming from Dylan Annell. Then in the closing seconds of the second period, Rhett Darrah would come down on the breakaway and slide it by the Hornets goalie for the 3-1 cushion. In the third period, the Hornets wouldn't go quietly as Drew Knowles would score just about at the midway mark to make it a one-goal game again at 3-2. Then with about 5:30 left in the game, the Hornets would get the tying goal to make it 3-3. Just when the game was starting to look like we were headed for overtime Rhett Darrah would strike again for his second goal of the game with 14 seconds left in the game to give the Lakers the 4-3 win. In the winning effort, the Lakers would go to 1-2 on the season while the Hornets would finish the regular season at 0-12 and will get ready for their playoff game against Northeastern Clinton on March 27th. Gallery.

Beekmantown's Zach LaPier (19) and Plattsburgh's Jace Lacey (21) battle for the puck off the faceoff in the Hornets zone. It would be the start of the final week of the regular season in the Champlain Valley Athletic Conference Boy's Hockey season as the Plattsburgh Hornets would host the Beekmantown Eagles at the Amer-can North Sports Center. The game would be tight through the first half of the first period until DJ Gonyo would light the lamp at the 8:48 mark of the period on the powerplay for the 1-0 lead. Then just outside the five-minute mark of the first period, the Eagles would strike again on special teams this time from Dalton Kane on the shorthand goal for the 2-0 lead. Then at the 6:39 mark of the second period, the Hornets would get on the board and cut the lead in half a 2-1 on the Knowles goal. The Hornets would waste time getting the equalizer just 90 seconds later on the Colburn goal. Although the Eagles would answer back again on special teams with the Burdo goal with 2:15 left in the second period to regain the 3-2 lead. That's where the game would be as they entered the third period and in that period when the Eagles Sweenor would score on the powerplay to make it 4-2 just two minutes into the period. Then with just under 6 minutes to go in the game the Eagles would make it 6-2 once again on the powerplay this time the goal would go to Tetreault goal for the 5-2 victory. In the winning effort, Riley Hansen would make 22 stops as they go to 6-3-2 and Plattsburgh's Calkins would make 19 saves as they fall to 0-11 on the season. Gallery.

Plattsburgh (32) with the all-out effort on the loose ball scramble to get it back for the Hornets late. It would be a matchup of winless opponents in Champlain Valley Athletic Conference Girl's Basketball action as the Plattsburgh Hornets would host the Ticonderoga Sentinels. The game would start off good for the home hornets as they would jump out to the big lead after the first quarter at 17-6. In the second quarter, it would be a complete flip of the scrip as the Sentinels would get back into the game with a 13-3 quarter and only trail the Hornets by 1 at 20-19 at the half. When the teams returned for the second half they would play the third quarter rather tightly and the Hornets would increase their lead by the slimmest of margins at 8-6 to take a 28-25 lead into the final quarter. In the fourth quarter, the game would remain tight throughout and there would even be a couple of lead changes in the stanza. Although the Hornets would have enough in them to secure the 42-36 victory on the strength of a 14-11 quarter to get their first win of the season. The Hornets will look to continue their winning ways on Friday, March 19th as they travel to Clintonville and take on the Ausable Valley Patriots. Gallery.

Saranac's Nik Hamel (9) and Zach O'Connell (12) comes down on a 2 on 1 attack and hit the back of the net. It would be the start of week three of the shorten Champlain Valey Athletic Conference Boy's Hockey season as the Plattsburgh Hornets would meet up in the first of a three-game series and the offenses would be on display. The game would get off to a real quick start as both teams would score in the first thirty seconds of the game as Saranac's Landon Duprey and Plattsburgh's Bostyn Duquette would score to tie the game at one. Through the rest of the first period, the teams would combine for 5 more goals scoring for the Chiefs would be Hunter Provost, Zach O'Connell, and Nik Hamel (twice) while the Hornets would add one more this time from Hutchinson Ovios as the Chiefs had a 5-2 lead after the first period. In the second period the scoring would slow down and the Chiefs would expand their lead at the 5:29 mark of the period on the Hayden Buckley goal to make it 6-2. Although the Hornets would still have some fight in the cause at the 9:37 mark of the second period Jace Lacey would light the lamp on the powerplay and keep the game at a three-goal gap at the end of the second period. In the third period, the offense would be back as the Chiefs would score thirty seconds into the period for Zach O'Connell's second goal of the night to make it 7-3. Then just about two minutes later the Chiefs would score to make it 8-3 on the Nik Hamel hat trick goal. The scoring wouldn't stop there though as Hunter Provost would add his second of the night to make it 9-3 with just under ten minutes left in the game. Although the Hornets would try and help their cause just about a minute later on the Hayden Colburn goal. In the winning effort, Macen Mero would make 27 saves on the night and improve to 4-3 on the season while the Hornets fall to 0-7on the season. Both teams will return to action Saturday, March 13th at the Amer-can North Arena. Gallery.

Beekmantown's VanNatten goes up and under the defender and lays in the basket with the scoop. It would be another classic rival game as the Plattsburgh Hornets would host the crosstown Beekmantown Eagles at the high school gymnasium. The Eagles would get off to a flying start and take a 19-10 advantage through the first quarter. In the second quarter, it would be a moe eventually match defensive quarter as the Eagles would win the quarter 9-8 and take a 28-18 lead into intermission. When the teams came back from the break the Eagles would be hammer down and expand the lead and start to but the game away with a 14-5 quarter and have a 42-23 lead into the final stanza. In the final stanza, the Hornets would do their best to stay with the Eagles but that's all they could do as they would win the quarter 11-10 but the win would go to the Eagles at 53-33. In a losing effort, Liam Perkins for the Hornets would lead all scorers with fifteen points. Next up for the Hornets would be a road tilt against Northeastern Clinton while the Eagles also will have their next game against Northeastern Clinton but not till Friday, March 12th. Gallery.

Adirondack's Kori Lynn Seymour with the blocker save on the breakaway attempt by the Oswego Buccaneers as part of a 25 save afternoon. It would be a little under 14 girls' hockey as the Adirondack 46ers would host the Oswego Buccaneers at the Malone Civic Center. The game would remain scoreless through the first 15 minutes as the teams were very evenly matched and the defenses were holding down the attacks of the teams. In the second period, it was starting to look more of the same until the last thirty seconds of the period when the 46ers would score on the Ashley Cromie goal to make it 1-0 46ers. The game would stay right there through the third period until the final three minutes when the 46ers would double their lead at 2-0 on the Anna Monette goal to secure the 2-0 victory. In the winning effort, the 46ers Kori Lynn Seymour would make 28 saves as they go to 12-2 on the season. Next up for the 46ers will be a home and home next Saturday with the Valley Eagles-CNY Bobcats. Gallery