Titans hockey slides into the season this weekend

Home games this Thursday, Friday and Saturday

By Than Acuff  

Believe it or not, the Crested Butte Titans high school hockey season is already underway, and the Titans open the season at home with a scrimmage on Thursday, November 21 and games Friday and Saturday, November 22-23.

They finished up last year 9-9-1, third in the Mountain League, and after pulling off a big win over Steamboat Springs at the end of the regular season, they headed into the post season but fell to Liberty in the first round of the 4A state tournament.

The Titans lost five seniors to graduation last year but between 15 and 22 up-and-coming players played fall hockey through the West Elk Hockey Association program. It was a tough season for the WESA team but as it wore on, the team gained some ground to finish a more successful stint than last year’s crew.

“It was an okay season,” says coach Joey Otsuka. “The majority of the fall program was incoming and younger players so it was a lot of getting to know our system and executing that.”

Still, they did see a surge as the fall season continued winning three games, compared to winning none last fall, and scored far more goals than the previous fall season.

But now it’s high school hockey time and the Titans hit the ice as a full unit on Monday, November 11 for workouts with 27 players including another exchange student from Czechia, aka Czech Republic, and four goalies, three of whom are returning from last year. Shane McGuinness will be back as the assistant coach and Justin Biehl will continue his work with the goalies.

“That group of goaltenders put in the most work in the off season,” says Otsuka.

With just a week and a half of workouts under their belts, Otsuka does see some elements coming to light such as Grady Buckhanan, Marshall Spann, Mark Williams and Max Dukeman stepping into leadership roles. 

“Those guys are taking the helm,” says Otsuka. “It really wasn’t until early to mid-January last year when we knew our leaders.”

In addition, the Titans seem to have one notable characteristic, size.

“We’re really big compared to last year,” says Otsuka. “We can physically intimidate other teams. That’s not necessarily the identity we’re looking for though because it’s hard to be physical without taking penalties and getting emotional.”

That potential for physicality does play a part in what looks to be part of their systems of play as Otsuka will look for the Titans to get the puck into their opponent’s defensive zone and then use their size to create chances.

“We’re going to accept a skilled, grinder mantra,” says Otsuka. “Get the puck deep and use our physical aspect to create some offense.”

While still so early in the season, Otsuka does feel the team is a bit behind of where he would like them to be at this point.

“It’d be nice if it was October 19 and not November 19,” says Otsuka. “We’re a little bit behind but nothing too crazy. We are where we are, and it will either motivate us or create an obstacle and we will have to figure out a way to push through it.”

They will get their first test of the season this weekend as they face Cheyenne Mountain in a scrimmage on Thursday, November 21 at Jorgenson Ice Arena in Gunnison. They remain at home with a game against Standley Lake on Friday, November 22 at 4:30 p.m. and then host Colorado Academy on Saturday, November 23 at 1:30 p.m. All of their games are part of a bigger weekend of high school hockey with additional programs coming to play in Gunnison as well.

“It’s kind of a jamboree,” says Otsuka. “Ultimately, for the program and our valley it’s a great thing to host.’

As for what he expects to see from his team this weekend, Otsuka is curious to what they will bring to the ice.

“I’m the most intrigued person in the valley to see how this weekend goes,” says Otsuka.