Former Laker Goalie Scott Stops 47 Shots in Win

For three years, Ryan Scott and Ryan Busby were on opposing sides of one of the most intense rivalries in division three college hockey. Scott was a standout goaltender at Oswego State. Busby was an undersized forward at Plattsburgh.

During the three winters that their collegiate careers overlapped, Busby's Cardinals put an end the Scott and the Lakers' season on two occasions. Though Scott would achieve All-American statuts twice, Busby didn't seem to mind facing him, tallying two goals and five assists against the backstop.

Tonight, Busby scored three more goals with Scott between the pipes. This time it was Scott who didn't mind, he was at the other opposite end of the ice observing. The two Ryans are now teammates with the Richmond Renegades of the Southern Professional Hockey League.

Busby's tallies provided Scott with more offense than he would need. The SUNYAC career wins leader stopped 47 of the 48 shots he faced as the Renegades beat Fayetteville 4-1 at the Richmond Coliseum.

Scott's win improved his record with the Renegades to 7-4-1. His goal against average dipped to a 3.20 while his save percentage climbed to an even 91%. Busby's hat trick equaled exactly one half the total number of goals he had in the previous 31 games combined; though his 25 assists have helped him to the team's third-highest point toal this season.

Busby has been with the club all season long, Scott joined them in mid December when they were a game under .500. The two former enemies have been teammates for less than a month, but already seem to be meshing well: Busby's second marker tonight came on a breakaway after Scott made a save at point-break range on the penalty kill.

One has to believe it would be frustrating to be Scott's counterpart on a night like this. Your team peppers about a half-hundred shots on net, only to be denied 47 times in a losing effort. But tonight, Ross Cherry was between the pipes for Fayetteville, and he's seen this act before.

Ryan Maloney