The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“We were using a hammer when we could have used a calculator”
By Than Acuff
The Crested Butte Titans hockey team set the pace all game long against the Aspen Skiers on Friday, December 6 but it took an extra minute for their efforts to be rewarded as they skated to a 2-1 overtime win.
The Titans are still missing numerous players to injuries, so much so in fact that they had to remove a few from the bench area to make room for the coaches. As a result, the coaches had to call players into action while remaining cognizant of their abilities to ensure a positive impact and experience.
“You don’t want to put a player in a position when they’re not prepared,” says coach Joey Otsuka. “They did really well though, our emphasis was getting pucks deep and forechecking hard.”
Crested Butte got off to a rough start with a penalty early in the first period, but their penalty kill did the job leaving Aspen no chance at finding their rhythm on the powerplay.
Once back to full strength, the Titans pushed hard up and down the ice with an organized defense and an aggressive offense attacking the Aspen net when and where possible.
The Titans rattled off 10 shots in the first period but rebounds fell unattended and passes into the slot for additional opportunities were just slightly off mark or caught players just slightly out of position to put the finishing touch on the puck.
Crested Butte was hit with another blow as a five-minute major had them a man down for the final three minutes of the first period, but they stepped up their physical presence to keep Aspen off balance and the teams closed out the first period notched in a scoreless tie.
“I thought the first period was great,” says Otsuka. “Their goalie was good, but we also made him look better. We were just hitting him in the chest with shots because we were trying to do too much on offense on an individual level.”
Aspen opened the second period with more time left on the powerplay and finally scored to go up 1-0 but Crested Butte continued to attack the Aspen net setting up a succession of chances throughout the period with no luck.
The first four minutes of the third period were a chaotic mess as both teams traded off penalties leaving them fluctuating between powerplays, penalty kills and four on four situations. When Aspen picked up a five-minute major Otsuka called a timeout to get the team back on track.
“We needed to start moving the puck and we needed to start moving off the puck,” says Otsuka. “We really only have seven players for the powerplay, and seven players can’t play five minutes so it was time to tap the brakes and talk about it so they don’t feel rushed to score.”
It took the Titans all of 18 seconds after the timeout to finally score as Jake White fired a shot on net and while the initial strike was denied, Max Dukeman followed to score on the rebound tying the game 1-1.
Despite the efforts of Marshall Spann up and down the ice to create additional chances for the Titans, they still struggled to score, and the game headed into overtime.
“We had chances but were getting annoyed that the puck wasn’t going in and got a little tunnel-visioned on offense,” says Otsuka. “We were using a hammer when we could have used a calculator.”
A little over a minute into the extra period the Titans finally sealed the deal as Ethan Suazo punched the puck past the Aspen goalie for the game winner. Titans’ goalie Gustav Desauliners finished the game stopping 15 of 16 shots.
“It’s always good to get the first win of the season, we just didn’t have to make it so dramatic,” says Otsuka. “There’s a more efficient way to get the win.”
Crested Butte hit the road the next day to face Glenwood Springs and built off their momentum from the overtime win in the first period.
Glenwood scored first in the 13th minute, but the Titans responded a minute later when Spann fired from the point with a screen in front. Unfortunately, Glenwood scored in the final ticks of the first period to go up 2-1.
“That first period was maybe the second or third best first period I’ve seen the Titans play,” says Otsuka. “I liked how we scored, we were forechecking and focused. A goal at the end of any period is just so deflating.”
Glenwood Springs scored the next two goals of the game before the Titans struck again when Spann scored from the point again off an assist from Grady Buckhanan. But as the game wore on, Glenwood continued to capitalize on chances in close eventually skating to an 8-2 win. Desauliners finished the game with 36 saves.
“Slowly the wheels started falling off the bus,” says Otsuka. “We just couldn’t make the micro-adjustments needed. After the game though there was a real strong emotional wave among the players that they can beat Glenwood by as much when they come to play us at home later in the season.”
The Titans head to Steamboat Springs for games Friday and Saturday, December 13-14 and hope to get at least one player back on the ice from injury. They have their next home game on Friday, December 20 when they host Battle Mountain.
