Butler Toronadoes

CASTLE SHANNON - *****Game Summary provided exclusively to PA Hockey by Canon-McMillan Hockey***** Four times in their first nine games this season, Canon-McMillan has been tied or behind in the third period, but they've rallied to win each of those games en route to a 9-0 record. In seeking their 10th win on the year Friday night, the Big Macs were once again in that familiar position when they trailed 2-1 to South Park after 2 periods. And for the fifth time this season -- and fourth time in their last five games -- the Big Macs used a strong third period to pull ahead for the victory. South Park trailed first in this one, though, after Nick Cusolito gave CM the 1-0 lead with 7:02 to play in the opening frame. Justin Cormack picked up the assist on the play after he appeared to have scored on a backhander from the slot. The puck was ruled to have not crossed the line until Cusolito buried the loose puck in to the back of the SP net. South Park didn't trail for long, however. Larry Locante jammed home a loose puck of his own from the edge of the Canon-McMillan crease 1:06 later to tie the score at 1. Eric Narolesky and Danny Remlinger got the assists on the goal. The Eagles then claimed the lead when Matt Nichol fired a wrist shot past CM goaltender Drew Stanton for an unassisted shorthanded goal at the 12:50 mark. The first period ended with South Park leading, 2-1. So did the second period. Canon Mac tightened up defensively to hold the home team to just 7 shots in the period, and Stanton turned away each of them. Eagle netminder Shane Bicker was just as good in the period, especially during a span of CM power play time that lasted 3:13, including 47 seconds of 5-on-3. Canon-McMillan knew they'd need some of their same third period magic to win this one, while South Park sought to play smart defensively and slow the pace with icing calls to keep the 2-1 lead. The Big Macs just had too much up their sleeve, and 4:17 in to the third period, they tied the game. Cormack battled for the puck behind the South Park net, and Corey Griffith was able to back him up and come away with the puck. Cusolito freed himself in front of the net and took a pass from Griffith to convert his second goal of the night. Cormack, who had returned to the game after an early injury, then gave Canon Mac their first lead of the game just under 3 minutes later. Erik McKown crossed the SP blue line in a 2-on-1 with Cormack and drew the attention of the defender. Cormack then made a quick move to the backhand to beat Bickar on the short side. A strong performance on the night by the Canon-McMillan power play finally saw some fruits for its labor on its last opportunity of the game. Doug Stanton scored what would prove to the eventual game-winning goal on the man advantage with 2:51 to play, putting the visitors ahead, 4-2. With a little over a minute left to play, the game looked to be safely in hand for the Big Macs. But South Park pulled the goalie for an extra attacker and immediately created chances around the CM net. Drew Stanton was able to keep the puck out of the net, but South Park went on the power play with 1:03 to go. During what was 6 skaters against 4, Narolesky and Remlinger again created more Eagle offense, and Nichol finished the job. The rebound off of Narolesky's shot came to an open Nichol, who wasted no time in depositing the puck in to the net. There was still 50 seconds to play, and after gaining possession of the puck again, South Park put on the extra man. They weren't able to get the equalizer, however, after a few key defensive zone face-off wins by CM forward Jesse Patnesky. Drew Stanton made 19 saves as Canon-McMillan came away with their 10th win of the year. The undefeated Big Macs close out the first half of their season on Monday night when they face Thomas Jefferson at home. South Park got a strong game from Bickar, who made 29 saves on the night. The Eagles, whose record fell to 4-5 with the loss, travel up the road to play Peters Township on Monday before ending their first half at Canevin on Thursday.