Written by From Love Gymnasium, Phillips Exeter Academy – December 21, 2019
On Saturday night Goffstown traveled to Exeter to play their first road game of the season against an always feisty squad of Warriors from Winnacunnet High School in Hampton. Over the course of the game the Grizzlies were able to impose their offensive will enough to win a 7-3 decision and improve to 3-0 on the young season.
Now I looked this up, and I found that Phillips Exeter Academy was founded in 1781, and somehow I still don’t know my way around the campus or where exactly to park for sporting events. I may, or may not, have made a few of my own routes through the years. On another note, playing out there right before Christmas is a real treat, especially at night. The campus is lit up and the area by the massive fieldhouse is both impressive and beautiful.
After wandering through the massive complex of fieldhouse, gymnasiums, courts, and other assorted athletic based facilities, I found the two ice rinks. I have been at these two rinks many times over many seasons and I am almost certain that I have not used the same path twice to get to them. But I did get there in time to watch the game thanks to a Goffstown snafu with some of their uniform jerseys arriving at a different baggage claim.
Our grand ole flag and Grizzlies lined in a row at Phillips Exeter Academy. (C) Jen Webber Photography
Jake Webber gets his left pad in the way of this shot from Chaz Ziolkowski. (C) Jen Webber Photography
In the spirit of Christmas, Goffstown was very generous defensively in the first half of the game. They left several gifts for Winnacunnet right under the tree, er uh, out in front of their own net. Either that, or they were initiating Freshman goaltender, Jake Webber, to the team in his first varsity start, by saying, “Here you go. Save this, kid!” Despite the sloppy play in their own end, Jake played well enough to hold the Warriors to a single goal on 8 shots in the opening period. Not all of Goffstown’s charity ended up with shots on goal, but Winnacunnet certainly had numerous chances in close. Goffstown got on the board first against Jack Ellis in net for Winnacunnet. Colby Gamache scored from Drew O’Brien and Xavier Bibaud at 5:57 of the period. Bibaud was called for a tripping penalty later in the period. Goffstown was able to kill the penalty thanks in large part to a very nice right pad save by Webber at 11:36 of the period. Just as the penalty ended though, the Grizzlies allowed the tying goal at 12:20 when James Roughsedge scored from Chaz Ziolkowski and Jacob Giacolone. It looked the period would end in a 1-1 tie, until David Martineau scored his first career goal set up by Bibaud and Eric DesRuisseaux at 14:13 on a very nice play. The period would close with the Grizzlies holding a 2-1 lead on the scoreboard while the shots were even at 8-8.
Colby and the Grizzlies offense really got it cranked up in the second period. High fives all around. (C) Jen Webber Photography
Goffstown took over the game, at least on the scoreboard, in the second period. There were still some less than pinpoint accurate plays out of their own end, but the offense really cranked things up. Goffstown would end up with a 14-6 advantage in shots when the period ended. Not only that, but the Grizzlies scored three straight goals in less than a 3-minute span to open things up. In the first minute of the period, Luke Ouellette sent a nice shot past Jack Ellis but it rang off of the far post and stayed out of the net. Then at 3:16 of the period Ellis robbed Drew O’Brien with a nice glove save to hold the score at 2-1. Then the dam started leaking for the Warriors. Grady Chretien scored on a nice play from Colby Gamache and Eric DesRuisseaux at 3:43. Big Eric Purcell let a shot fly from the point that was set up by Colby Wright, and Jackson Burke redirected the shot into the net at 5:15 on a great team play to give the Grizzlies a 4-1 lead. Then, at 6:24 Gamache scored an unassisted goal to cap the quick three-goal outburst and give Goffstown a 5-1 lead. At 8:38 Conor Belcher broke free to score an unassisted goal for Winnacunnet. Theo Milianes was whistled for a cross-checking penalty at 11:15, giving the home team a power play opportunity to get back into the game perhaps, but the period would end with the Grizzlies still in command at 5-2.
David Martineau is off to the races at Winnacunnet. (C) Jen Webber Photography
The third period was a bit chippy as seems to happen often with Winnacunnet and wide gaps in the score on the board. That said, this was nothing as serious as the atrocities committed at this very rink last season. Despite the teenage version of spats on the ice, the Grizzlies added to their lead while on their only power play of the night. After Tanner Holt was called for elbowing at 7:11, Jack Wilkinson scored a PPG from David Martineau and Jackson Burke on a beautiful play. At 9:05 a minor melee broke out and somehow the Grizzlies ended up shorthanded. The Grizzlies killed the penalty before the legend of Calvin Sage’s dash happened before our very eyes. At 12:35 of the final period, Sage capped the scoring for Goffstown on the night with an awesome rush through heavy traffic, and a great deke at the end to score a gorgeous goal. In my mind, the more time that elapses from the time the actual was scored, until the rest of time, this goal will only grow in legend and grandeur. Just like how impressive it was for us old-timers to walk barefoot, uphill, in the snow, to school both ways, back in the day. Anyways, the Warriors scored one more goal, at 14:42 when Cooper Kinnaly put the puck in the net on a set up from Carter Renaud and Andrew Joyce. The Grizzlies finished with 30 shots, to Winnacunnet’s 21. Jake Webber played well in his varsity debut and there is plenty to look forward to in his career.
All I can say is this, “Friends don’t let friends be ‘close-talkers’.” (C) Jen Webber Photography
Winnacunnet is not a bad team. They have some pretty good team speed and they could definitely sneak up on some teams as they improve through the season. The Warriors lost their first game of the season to defending D2 runner-up, and perennial favorite, Dover just 3-1 a few nights earlier. Goffstown did get away with some early defensive breakdowns and turnovers as they were in a hurry to go on the offensive without first taking care of the defending and securing the puck pieces of the team hockey equation. Teaching moment: If you, or any young players want to see what a back-check looks like, or how to be a defensively responsible forward, watch #7, Grady Chretien and how he gets back to break up would-be shots, passes, and other opponent opportunities.
Theo Milianes points to Jackson Burke while the ref points to the net. Meanwhile Jack Ellis looks to the skies for answers. Grizzlies goal! (C) Jen Webber Photography
The Grizzlies return to home ice on Monday night when they play host to the Lebanon-Stevens-Mount Royal conglomerate. Winnacunnet travels to Merrimack (Manchester West Side) on December 30th for their next league game.
Here are some results form around NHIAA Hockey on Saturday. This is also the hyphenated section of this blog post.
Bow lost to Hanover, 2-1. Goffstown will see Hanover in the Brian C. Stone Memorial Christmas Tournament next week.
Dover stayed unbeaten by handling Portsmouth-Newmarket, 7-1.
Two-time defending D3 Champs John Stark-Hopkinton doubled up Laconia-Winnisquam-Inter-Lakes, 6-3.
Keene got their first win of the season with an 8-1 trouncing of Spaulding.
Lebanon-Stevens-Mount Royal fell to Somersworth-Coe-Brown, 3-2.
In a head-scratcher, inquiring fans want to know exactly how this went down, with Oyster River annihilating the defending champs, at St. Thomas, 8-1.
NHIAA Hockey:
Updated records.
Goffstown (3-0-0) vs. Winnacunnet (0-2-0)
Love Gymnasium, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH
December 21, 2019. 6:15 PM Start:
Summary:
Goals:
Goffstown: 2-3-2 = 7
Winnacunnet: 1-1-1 = 3
Shots:
Goffstown: 08-14-08 = 30
Winnacunnet: 08-06-07 = 21
Scoring:
1st Goffstown at 5:57. Even. Colby Gamache (5) from Drew O’Brien (2) and Xavier Bibaud (1).
1st Winnacunnet at 12:20. Even. James Roughsedge from Chaz Ziolkowski and Jacob Giacolone.
1st Goffstown at 14:13. Even. David Martineau (1) from Xavier Bibaud (2) and Eric DesRuisseaux (2).
2nd Goffstown at 3:43. Even. Grady Chretien (2) from Colby Gamache (2) and Eric DesRuisseaux (3).
2nd Goffstown at 5:15. Even. Jackson Burke (2) from Eric Purcell (1) and Colby Wright (4).
2nd Goffstown at 6:24. Even. Colby Gamache (6) unassisted.
2nd Winnacunnet at 8:38. Even. Conor Belcher unassisted.
3rd Goffstown at 8:28. PP. Jack Wilkinson (2) from David Martineau (1) and Jackson Burke (2).
3rd Goffstown at 12:35. Even. Calvin Sage (1) unassisted.
3rd Winnacunnet at 14:42. Even. Cooper Kinnaly from Carter Renaud and Andrew Joyce.
Special Teams:
Goffstown Power Play: 1 for 1.
Winnacunnet Power Play: 0 for 3.
Saves:
Goffstown: Jake Webber 18 of 21. (45:00)
Winnacunnet: Jack Ellis 23 of 30 (45:00)
Goaltenders start the handshake assembly line. Grizzlies Win! (C) Jen Webber Photography
The beginning of every article. (C) 1inawesomewonder 2017.
The thoughts and opinions expressed here are those of the individual contributors, mostly mine, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the schools, coaches, players, or characters listed in any of these blog posts. Or, maybe they do, but you would have to ask them directly. Either way, “It’s a great day for hockey” ~ the late “Badger” Bob Johnson.