Just how good is Keith Buehler? Well, the student has become the teacher.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Skaneateles forward Keith Buehler is the The Citizen hockey player of the year.
Skaneateles forward Keith Buehler is the The Citizen hockey player of the year.
“I learned a few new moves from him this year,” said Skaneateles hockey coach Mitch Major of his star forward. “He'll make a play and the whole bench is like, ‘Oh my gosh,'”
It's a safe bet opposing goalies had the same reaction when they faced Buehler this year, which is why he was named The Citizen's player of the year. Not many netminders had an answer for the junior, who snared the scoring title in Section III, Division II by posting 77 points and topping all goal-scorers with 44. He did that in all of 28 games - and that's without even taking credit for all of his goals.
Buehler became the true definition of a leader once his teammates voted him to wear the captain's “C” on his sweater as just a junior. It's pretty clear why as Major retells one of Buehler's plays.
With a teammate in a scoring slump, Buehler sent a puck to the net through a pile of players in the slot, and it found its way into the back of the net. In the midst of the celebration, the referee skated over to ask who scored the goal. Buehler quickly pointed to the teammate, stating that he had deflected it past the goalkeeper. The teammate refuted, but Buehler insisted it was tipped in. It would have meant a hat trick for Buehler, but the good of the team - and the confidence of his teammates # - superseded his own run at the scoring title.
“That's what a leader does,” Major said. “He'd be that unselfish. When the other players see that, it just goes right down the line.”
Goals aren't the only thing he gave up for his team. During the Lakers' playoff run, Buehler gave up his body. More than once.
Against Clinton in the semifinals, Buehler took a shot to the shoulder. After the game, the pain was so great he couldn't even lift his arm. So Major made the decision to send Buehler out only as a decoy against Whitesboro in the title game, drawing defenders and opening lanes for his teammates.
How did Buehler respond? With a goal and three assists.
He showed it again in the first round of the state tournament. Along with his four points, Buehler notched three new injuries to go with them: he rolled his ankle, needed stitches to close a cut on his chin, and he bruised his sternum.
Not even that could slow him down.
He scored Skaneateles' first goal of the game before taking a hit so hard he had to leave the ice. Upon making his return, he tallied the Lakers' second and final goal on his first shift. After that goal, he had to be helped off the ice by teammates.
Good thing he'll have time to recover for next season - though he won't be wearing a Lakers uniform. Buehler and his family came to the decision to finish up at a prep school as he prepares to embark into Division-I hockey.
But after helping Skaneateles win its first Section III title in many years, he'll be gone but not forgotten.
It's a safe bet opposing goalies had the same reaction when they faced Buehler this year, which is why he was named The Citizen's player of the year. Not many netminders had an answer for the junior, who snared the scoring title in Section III, Division II by posting 77 points and topping all goal-scorers with 44. He did that in all of 28 games - and that's without even taking credit for all of his goals.
Buehler became the true definition of a leader once his teammates voted him to wear the captain's “C” on his sweater as just a junior. It's pretty clear why as Major retells one of Buehler's plays.
With a teammate in a scoring slump, Buehler sent a puck to the net through a pile of players in the slot, and it found its way into the back of the net. In the midst of the celebration, the referee skated over to ask who scored the goal. Buehler quickly pointed to the teammate, stating that he had deflected it past the goalkeeper. The teammate refuted, but Buehler insisted it was tipped in. It would have meant a hat trick for Buehler, but the good of the team - and the confidence of his teammates # - superseded his own run at the scoring title.
“That's what a leader does,” Major said. “He'd be that unselfish. When the other players see that, it just goes right down the line.”
Goals aren't the only thing he gave up for his team. During the Lakers' playoff run, Buehler gave up his body. More than once.
Against Clinton in the semifinals, Buehler took a shot to the shoulder. After the game, the pain was so great he couldn't even lift his arm. So Major made the decision to send Buehler out only as a decoy against Whitesboro in the title game, drawing defenders and opening lanes for his teammates.
How did Buehler respond? With a goal and three assists.
He showed it again in the first round of the state tournament. Along with his four points, Buehler notched three new injuries to go with them: he rolled his ankle, needed stitches to close a cut on his chin, and he bruised his sternum.
Not even that could slow him down.
He scored Skaneateles' first goal of the game before taking a hit so hard he had to leave the ice. Upon making his return, he tallied the Lakers' second and final goal on his first shift. After that goal, he had to be helped off the ice by teammates.
Good thing he'll have time to recover for next season - though he won't be wearing a Lakers uniform. Buehler and his family came to the decision to finish up at a prep school as he prepares to embark into Division-I hockey.
But after helping Skaneateles win its first Section III title in many years, he'll be gone but not forgotten.
The Citizens' Say
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