-Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey-

200 Foot Game – January 23, 2025

After being outclassed against St. Thomas, I heard that the Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey team had a ‘great week’ of practice coming into Thursday night. I guess they did.

 

 

In the scorer’s booth at ice level, Mr. Chapman and I noticed a difference in the team’s play within the first three shifts of the game. The Grizzlies hockey team was playing a different discipline of hockey. We were talking about it from the beginning of the game, and it held up all night. It was a glimpse of what I see when I look at the mix this Grizzlies hockey team has this season.

 

 

The Grizzlies took a 1-0 lead late in the first period. Oyster River tied it, 1-1 late in the second period immediately following a great scoring chance for Goffstown.

Gavin Diodati took the bouncing puck off of the end boards back in the D zone. Braiden Moriarty had shot a slapper wide and the puck came off the end boards hot. This is where Diodati took the puck and weaved his way up ice. Eventually he carried the puck behind Cole Harwood at the other end of the ice. Diodati fed a pass to Austin Campbell on the doorstep while Harwood was still siding to his left. But Campbell was unable to get a shot on net. The puck hit Gavin Horne’s stick and Harwood’s pad saved a goal.

I made a note in the first minute of the second period that Moriarty had raised his game a few notches. On this play, off of Harwood’s pad, the puck came to the slot. Moriarty was the aggressor and he chipped the puck off of Jackson Horne’s stick and past him. Moriarty raced up the right side of the ice. He was hounded by Jackson Horne and even took a slash from Horne. Then he unleashed a rising shot into the far side top corner where Grandpa hides the best cigars for just such occasions. Unbelievable individual effort.

Goffstown had two power plays in the final period and during each of them you could hear people exclaiming things like, “I can’t believe that didn’t go in!” On the flip side I also noted that the Grizzlies hockey team was still subject to full possession turnovers. Something that has plagued the Grizzlies this season. Just watch the Alvirne-Milford and St. Thomas games and you will see plenty of examples.

In the end though, both teams played good hockey. Better than good hockey. Both teams had grade A chances to score all through the game. But defense and goaltending were at their best on Thursday night. Even through the overtime, both teams could have won, or lost, but the play up and down the sheet was excellent.

I had the opportunity to talk briefly with Coach Harwood at center ice after the game. It’s not a secret that I respect his coaching style, his success with Bobcat teams year after year, and how he carries himself. He had some nice things to say about the Grizzlies game on Thursday night. I told him, “This is the best 200 foot game Goffstown has played all season.” I congratulated him on their Championship in March and wished him well.

Now the question becomes, will the Grizzlies hockey club show up and post performances like they did against the Bobcats for the remainder of the season. If they do, they could be a force to be reckoned with in the postseason.

 

 

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Goffstown Grizzlies vs. Oyster River Bobcats.

Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH.

NHIAA Hockey: Game twelve.

Thursday, January 23, 2025.

 

NHIAA Hockey:

Scoring:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 01 – 00 – 00 – 00 = 01 (OT)

Oyster River Bobcats: 00 – 01 – 00 – 00 = 01 (OT)

 

Shots on goal:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 12 – 05 – 12 – 05 = 34 (OT)

Oyster River Bobcats: 10 – 08 – 05 – 08 = 31 (OT)

 

Goffstown Grizzlies Penalties:

• Ellbeg – 2:00 – Slashing.
• Ellbeg – 2:00 – Holding.
• B. Bennett – 2:00 – Hooking.
• Horne – 2:00 – Slashing. (Penalty nullified as the Bobcats scored on the play).
• B. Bennett – 2:00 – Roughing. (OT).

Goffstown was 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Bobcats were 0-for-3.

• Goffstown Grizzlies – Kyle Bennett (So.) made 30 saves on 31 shots (.968).
• Oyster River Bobcats – Cole Harwood made 33 saves on 34 shots (.971).

 

The Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey team scored only once, and it came on a 1st period power play.

1. 1st 13:57 – Zack Tarrier won an offensive zone face-off with so much mustard on it that the puck had to be retrieved in the D zone by Tyler Lessard. Lessard flipped a little backhand pass to a retreating Campbell and the Grizzlies set up for the attack. Campbell gave the puck to Tarrier at center ice while Lessard circled the D zone and shot up the left wing. Tarrier hit Sam Chapman in stride with a pass at the center ice red line. Chapman had good speed. As Sam crossed the blue line he had Jackson Horne and Tyler Lessard on his left. Two defensemen were back. From the high slot Sam rifled a wrist shot using one of the defenders as a screen or at least a distraction. The puck found the net inside the post. It was a broken play of sorts, off a face-off win that covered three zones. Great shot. PPG – S. Chapman (11) from Tarrier (9) and Campbell (5). Up 1-0.

 

 

You can find news, video, updates, and all kinds of interesting tidbits involving Goffstown Grizzlies hockey here, Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey.

 

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Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey

Tarrier’s Treasures – (Thank you Meagan)

 

 

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The thoughts and opinions expressed here are those of the individual contributors, mostly mine. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the leagues, schools, coaches, players, or characters listed in any of these blog posts. Or, maybe they do. Either way, you would have to ask them directly.