Missing some key players Wednesday night, Central Bucks South found itself deadlocked in a 1-1 tie with Suburban High School Hockey League National rival Neshaminy.
The Titans spun that scenario on its head however in the second period with a flurry of goals including three in the first six minutes of the middle frame.
“We had some guys who weren’t used to playing with each other so we had a lot of bunching and the continuity was missing,” explained CB South head coach Shaun McGinty.
“We weren’t playing our game. I told the boys, ‘Good teams find a way to win so we have to bear down and fight through this, fight through the adversity.’”
The players must have gotten the message because that’s exactly what the Titans did.
Twenty seconds into the second stanza, Sean Cutter scored unassisted for the first of six second-period goals that sparked a 9-1 CB South victory. For the Titans, now 9-2-1, it was the third consecutive win against a SHSHL National Division opponent and second since the new year.
“The plan is always just to score early and I think we did a good job with that, just seeing how many we can put up on the board. Every goal counts toward tiebreakers,” said CB South freshman forward Grant Boyne, who scored twice including one of those second-period goals on a power play.
“We did a good job of getting back into the rhythm and getting pucks on net. We finished 9-1 so we turned it around after the first period.”
Five of CB South’s nine goals were tallied by the first line, which includes Boyne, D.J. Lindenmuth and Ryan Frey. Lindenmuth tallied a goal and three assists while Frey accounted for a pair of scores and three helpers including an assist on defenseman Aidan Linso’s even-strength goal with five minutes remaining. Linso’s backhanded shot spun through the five-hole, putting the Titans on top 7-1 heading into the final frame.
Three additional tallies came from the line that includes Cutter, Alex Cannon and Colin Mendham. Cutter scored the game-winner and aided on both of his linemates’ goals.
“We’re pretty spread out. Our scoring is very spread across the board, which is good. That makes us hard to coach against,” explained McGinty. “Right now, we’re only running three lines – normally, we have four – and a lot of guys are scoring and every line is a threat.”
“That’s a good thing; it means everyone is sharing the puck.”
Frey tallied the game-winner in CB South’s previous win, a 4-2 triumph over SHSHL National rival North Penn Jan. 3 at Hatfield Ice.
“He’s a great little player, super creative on offense and an awesome player,” stated McGinty. “He was Freshman of the Year for us last year and he’s a very smart hockey player, plays at a high level for his club (team) so he’s able to jump in with upperclassmen and fit right in.
Frey also scored twice and registered the game-winner in the Titans’ 12-1 victory over league rival CB West Dec. 21 at Hatfield Ice. In that duel, it was the line centered by Logan Hood that shone through with Hood notching a hat trick and two assists and left winger Jeff Kvecher accounting for a pair goals and one helper.
Perhaps, CB South’s toughest battle of the season came before that, however, in a 6-5 loss suffered in overtime at the hands of still unbeaten Pennridge.
After a scoreless first period, goals by Kvecher, Cutter and Frey put the Titans on top 3-1 heading into the third period. Two additional strikes by CB South that came in the first five minutes of the third period including an unassisted goal by Lindenmuth and a tally by Joey Slobodrian put the Titans up 5-1 with 11:05 remaining in regulation.
However, two straight shorthanded strikes by Rams forward Andrew Savona in the span of two minutes and a power-play goal by Kevin Pico put Pennridge within striking distance. Savona tied the score at 5-all with 4:19 to go in regulation and James Rush’s tally won the game for Pennridge in overtime.
“What happened shouldn’t have happened. We gave up two shorties that started their momentum,” admitted McGinty. “But they’re a former state championship team. They have guys on that team that won the state title and they have guys who can put the puck in the net.
“For us, it was a big-time learning experience. We have to learn how to finish.
“Against a team like that with a high arsenal of forwards, you gotta know that they’re never out of a game.”
But now, CB South has mounted a three-game win streak and appears headed in the right direction. The Titans currently sit in third place in the SHSHL National Division standings behind Council Rock South (12-1) and league leader Pennridge.
“It’s important to keep our minds set on our goals and the future,” explained Boyne.
“We knew we had to rebound after that (Pennridge loss). Moments like that you can’t forget but you use them as fuel.”
NOTES: The Titans next face off against Pennsbury Jan. 17 back at Grundy Ice Arena. After Pennsbury, CB South has five duels remaining including the final game of the regular season facing Pennridge Feb. 14 at Hatfield Ice.
stevesherman222@gmail.com
Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.
