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As the final horn blared throughout LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, the Skaneateles boys’ ice hockey team erupted in celebration. Its 3-0 victory over Ogdensburg Free Academy secured a third straight NYSPHSAA Division II State Championship.

Players rushed to the boards, pounding the glass in exhilaration. Yet, head coach Mitch Major, the architect of the Lakers’ dynasty, remained composed. He calmly applauded on the bench and returned to the locker room to celebrate privately before finally joining his team on the ice.

“It was really unbelievable. We never thought in my wildest dreams that we would win three state championships in a row,” Major said.

The third straight state title marked Major’s final game as Skaneateles’ head coach. He announced his retirement before the Lakers’ playoff run, ending his 25-year coaching tenure. The Skaneateles alumnus won one national championship at the school as a player and compiled 452 wins and five state championships as head coach, cementing his legacy with the Lakers.

The decision to retire took shape at the start of the 2024-25 season. Major wanted to watch his children play hockey — Charlie at Cornell, Henry with the United States Hockey League’s Chicago Steel and Cora, who will play for Northwood School (New York) next year.

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After all, Major’s own family piqued his interest in hockey. Despite growing up in a family of nine, with five brothers who all played the sport on a backyard rink, Major initially wasn’t interested in hockey. But his mother encouraged him to take the ice, and he quickly became intrigued by the game.

This led to a lengthy hockey career. After leading Skaneateles to its second state title in 1989 as a senior captain, Major played four years of Division III hockey at SUNY Geneseo. In 1993, he unexpectedly transitioned to coaching when a parent asked him to volunteer to coach a team of 7-to-13-year-olds at the Skaneateles Youth Hockey Club. Just a week later, the club offered him a head coaching position.

His strong community ties eventually drew him back to his alma mater. In 1995, Major returned to Skaneateles and spent five years as an assistant coach before becoming its head coach in 2000.

“This is a town that means a lot to me. I was born here, so it was a really easy transition,” Major said.

However, it took 15 years for Major to seize his first state title with Skaneateles. Although the Lakers were consistently a top team in the state, they often faltered in the playoffs. Major remembers his 2001-02 team vividly, when the Lakers were the No. 1 team in New York. But Skaneateles was upset in the first round of the sectional tournament.

To break through in the postseason, Major scrutinized details such as the team’s habits and patterns that could’ve led to premature playoff exits.

“You have to watch those tough games back and realize that everything wasn’t fixed during the season,” Major said. “You have to make sure you’re crossing your T’s and dotting your I’s.”

In 2015, his determination paid off when Skaneateles clinched its first state championship since 1989. Major then won another state title in 2019.

To maintain that high standard at Skaneateles, Major prioritized connecting with his players. With stronger locker room communication and practice methods, he motivated his players to be disciplined.

“​​Mitch always prided himself on building a great culture, having a great environment for players to play in,” Skaneateles Athletic Director Steve Musso said. “He was able to build those relationships and make connections with kids to get them to believe. They wanted to come to the rink every day to work hard.”

The Lakers’ success continued. Despite the cancellations of the 2020 and 2021 state tournaments due to COVID-19, the Lakers remained undefeated during those seasons, capturing two Section III Division II championships.

And after a 4-2 loss to Webster Thomas in the 2022 NYSPHSAA Division II Regionals, the Lakers rebounded with back-to-back state championships. Major credited the sustained success to Skaneateles’ youth program, where he helped develop future Lakers stars. His sons, Charlie and Henry, rose through the ranks and became standout players, fueling Skaneateles’ title runs in 2019 and 2023. Major’s deep investment in player development created a winning formula.

“I was fortunate enough to be able to coach since they were 5,” Major said. “I think it helped this snowball into something pretty special.”

Mitch Major (far left) capped his 25-year coaching career at Skaneateles High School by winning his third straight title. Courtesy of Viki Redding Photography, LLC

Simultaneously, Major’s coaching mindset evolved. To strengthen the team’s mental toughness, Danny Angelina, the Lakers’ starting goalie for the past two seasons, said Major assigned all players to read “Wooden,” a book by legendary basketball coach John Wooden, which features life lessons on achieving excellence.

Despite the Lakers’ historic three-peat, Major called the 2024-25 season the toughest among the three championship-winning campaigns, as players had to step up to fill the spots of graduating seniors. As captain, Angelina assumed that role.

“A big part of that was me setting an example for how to work on and off the ice while maintaining the Lakers’ culture that was instilled in me by prior captains,” Angelina said.

As the sectional playoffs neared, Major informed his players in early February of his retirement. After his announcement, Major tried to stay “even-keeled.” He encouraged his players to remain focused on the season instead of being distracted by his decision.

In the sectional final against Christian Brothers Academy, the sides were tied at 2-2 and went into overtime. Angelina recalled Major’s decision to keep the locker room silent. He knew their preparation would be enough.

“There was no talking (in the locker room). There was just breathing,” Angelina said.

The tactic worked, as the Lakers prevailed for a 3-2 victory. Skaneateles then cruised past Franklin Academy and Williamsville East in the state playoffs, setting the stage for a championship appearance.

Despite being on the verge of three-peating in his final game, Major remained composed. He didn’t contemplate the possibility of a third straight state title until the final buzzer confirmed it.

“It was our best game as a team all year long,” Major said. “It was nice to see it all come together.”

Major’s storied 25-year career ended with a bang. He put Skaneateles hockey on the map, providing its tight-knit community something to cheer about for years to come.

“Skaneateles means a lot to me,” Major said. “I just felt like this was my role in the community for the past 25 years.”

Published on March 31, 2025 at 10:48 pm
Contact Kevin: jlu124@syr.edu | @kevlu0288