'Jackets hockey lives on edge
BUFFALO TWP — Robert Reichenbaugh, Stone Haberstroh and Mel Reichenbaugh all agree that the Freeport hockey team has played in some exciting games during the past month.
They also wish they spent a little less time living on the edge.
The young Yellowjackets squad — which only returns eight skaters from last year’s team that reached the PIHL Class A semifinals — played three consecutive overtime games before its 11-6 win over Greensburg Salem Thursday night at Center Ice in Delmont.
The Yellowjackets lost to Thomas Jefferson 5-4 Oct. 20, before outlasting Bishop McCourt 4-3 Nov. 6 and Franklin Regional 6-5 Nov. 18.
“Well, we’d like to win them before overtime,” said Rob Reichenbaugh, who plays forward and is second on the team with 15 points. “They’ve been exciting games, but we should have won before overtime.”
It’s part of the process with a young team.
First-year Freeport coach Mel Reichenbaugh has played scientist, experimenting with a variety of lines to start the season.
The Yellowjackets, who are 5-3, did something different against Franklin Regional. They played Hunter Kepple, Nick Rusak and Michael Frazetta together on the top line.
On the second line, Freeport had Reichenbaugh, Haberstroh and Tommy Intieri.
On the third line, the Yellowjackets rotated younger players.
“We stacked two lines and went with younger inexperienced guys on the third line,” Mel Reichenbaugh said. “They (the third line) didn’t get scored on and it was a great game for them. We tried something different and every got a good bit of ice time.”
What the Freeport team is looking for with its lines is trust. That will help everyone settle in.
“I would say it’s knowing where to pass, but you also have to know you can trust someone to be in the right position,” Rob Reichenbaugh said. “You work better with certain players. We’re still working into things.”
Earlier in the season, Freeport had two experienced kids on the each of the top three lines, paired with a younger player.
Haberstroh, who has a team-high 16 points (eight goals, eight assists), has consistently been paired with Reichenbaugh.
“Rob and I have played together for years, not just in Freeport, but also with Armstrong for one year,” Haberstroh said. “We played a lot over the years and we both have speed. Having fast guys on your line helps to make plays and build chemistry.”
Freeport’s offense has been balanced this season, with no Yellowjacket appearing in the top 20 in scoring.
Frazetta has 11 points (eight goals, three assists), while Kepple has 13 points (five goals, eight assists).
Haberstroh’s hoping Freeport will continue to find ways to win.
And that some of them will end in regulation.
“I’d say it’s kind of tough,” Haberstroh said. “We’ve been playing stronger in the third period. It’s coming down to the third period.”
