Written by Bauer Hockey christmas classic
Sunday, December 27, 2015. 2pm @ JFK Coliseum, Manchester, NH-
Goffstown versus Bedford, always draws a little more attention. The neighboring towns have established quite the rivalry through athletic contests over the years. Well, today the hockey rivalry was renewed. Bedford is considered by most to be one of the top teams in Division I NH Hockey, and to start the season, they have done nothing but cement that notion, winning all three games they have played thus far. Goffstown on the other hand, well, they aren’t making anybody’s list of anything worth listing this year in Division II. Lists are also made to be re-written. Goffstown knew they were playing one of New Hampshire’s top teams.
It was apparent early on that this Bedford team can really skate. They are quick. Even more noticeable, to me anyway, is that the Bedford Bulldog players are constantly looking to move the puck via the pass. They pass often. They pass quickly. They have a good idea of where the puck is going before they even receive the puck themselves. Add the element of quick passes to the speed of quick skaters and both time and space seem to shrink. Anyways, the first real good chance of the game came when Goffstown’s Max Lajeunesse was sent in on a breakaway after a perfect long pass from Sam Greenwood. Lajeunesse raced in from the right side and let a shot go that was turned away by Bedford goalie, Alec Lindberg. Just seconds later, the Grizzlies were called for a high stick penalty on Tyler Riendeau. It took the Bulldogs just 28 seconds to turn the power play into a goal. Bedford moved the puck quickly and scored when Matt Giroux scored on a one-timer from Alex Abad and Jacob Rioux with 10:35 to play in the period. It was Bedford’s first shot on goal. A few minutes later, Riendeau was whistled again, this time for interference. The Grizzlies killed the penalty and actually got a real good scoring chance when Riendeau came out of the box, but could not beat Lindberg. Then it was Colin Voloshin for Bedford who ripped a backhand past Goffstown goalie, Colin Holt, but the shot clanked loudly off of the post and bounced away. With 3:04 left in the period, Bedford’s Jay Roberto scored when he ripped a shot into the top corner on a feed from Jacob Rioux, and Bedford led 2-0. The period would end with Bedford leading 2-0 on the scoreboard and holding a 9-6 edge in shots on goal.
In the second period Goffstown managed just 2 shots on goal even though they had a pair of power plays. That didn’t mean there weren’t chances though. 65 seconds into the period Max Lajeunesse had a golden opportunity to cut the lead in half, as he was in all alone in the right side, but sent his shot wide and over the net. A minute later Bedford made the misfire look bigger as Colin Voloshin scored when Sean McGadden sent a shot into traffic in front of the net, and Voloshin snagged the puck and put it home. Bedford’s Griffin Gagne made a series of nice moves and took a powerful line to the net, blowing past all defenders only to have his shot ring off of the post behind Colin Holt. Trailing 3-0, Goffstown went on the power play once again with 2:20 left in the period, but any hopes of cutting into the lead with the man advantage, were dashed when Nick Nault was whistled for a tripping penalty with 1:20 left on the man advantage. The period would end with Goffstown trailing 3-0. Bedford led in shots 15-8.
The third period started with a new goaltender for Bedford as Erik Voloshin took over in net. Alec Lindberg had done his duties, saving all 8 shots he had faced. Less than 3 minutes into the period, Bedford scored again when Sean McGadden pounced on a rebound from a Colin Voloshin shot and put it into the strings giving Bedford a 4-0 lead. The Bulldogs would add another goal when Jacob Rioux was left all alone in front of the net and he put the puck in the net after consecutive passes from Jack Flanagan and Griffin Gagne. Bedford had another would-be goal waved off after it was determined that the puck was played with a high stick. Bedford would end up with a 5-0 victory, they’re second shutout in as many games in the tournament. Erik Voloshin turned away all 4 shots he faced in the final period. Colin Holt would end up with 19 saves in the net for Goffstown. Goffstown returns to the ice tomorrow night with an 8pm prime time tilt against Manchester Central.
Monday
8pm Goffstown vs. Central