Brian C. Stone Memorial Christmas Hockey Tournament: Goffstown 1 @ Trinity 5

From J.F.K. Coliseum in Manchester, NH: Goffstown 1 at Trinity 5.

I always enjoy attending the Brian C. Stone Memorial Christmas Hockey Tournament at JFK Coliseum in Manchester, NH. It’s good high school hockey during a festive time of the year with families in attendance and crowds coming and going all day. Tonight was another fun trip to the rink amid a holiday atmosphere and the excitement of opening night. However, for the Grizzlies faithful, Goffstown fell short in their first tournament game, 5-1 to a very deep Trinity team.

Jen Webber Photography

This is isn’t the right terminology but I think you will know what I mean. I haven’t seen so much stickwork in an evening since the sword fight scene in The Princess Bride. I am all for letting the players play but this was ridiculous, both ways. Hooks and slashes, holding and interference, nothing. Is it possible to go an entire game and see nothing? I think the rest of us saw plenty. On a smaller than normal ice surface, the last thing anyone needs to see is players being hacked at, held back, or letting players swing their hockey sticks willy nilly. Regardless of all that, Trinity was the better team on the ice all night. They dominated in time of possession and shots on goal.

Jake Webber made 36 saves in the loss to Trinity. Jen Webber Photography.

After one period, the Pioneers led 1-0. They outshot the Grizzlies 13-6 and had many more scoring chances than the Grizzlies. Goffstown did have some good looks, especially by Grady Chretien. One of the things that makes Trinity so good is that they have great team speed. They get from end to end very quickly, which includes back-checking to pressure virtually every shot attempt against them. So even when Chretien or other Grizzlies got a chance, there was usually some pressure from a Trinity skater or more. Trinity scored the only goal of the period when Goffstown defenseman Eric DesRuisseaux took away the passing option from Anthony Dizillo and Dizillo circled the net for a wrap around goal at 13:08 before Jake Webber could get across from the right post to his left post. The goal was assisted by Brandon Boss. Webber played very well in the period with several good saves including a beauty at 8:57 off of a slapshot from a great centering pass.

Goffstown answered with their lone goal just 20 seconds into the middle period when Luke Chase scored from Xavier Bibaud and Luke Ouellette. Trinity would rack up a 12-7 advantage in shots in the period before it was done. Goffstown had a hard time defending the front of their net, leaving the backside open often, only to be bailed out by Webber in net. The other thing I noticed so far this season, especially tonight, was how Goffstown forwards gave Trinity puck handlers so much credit with the puck. For example, instead of challenging a player face to face for the puck, the Grizzlies often times pull up short as if it’s a foregone conclusion that the opponent is going to handle or move the puck perfectly. Then so many times when the puck is mishandled, or boxed around, they have time to recover because the pressure stopped short and has to restart. Again Goffstown had some chances but nothing sustained. Jake Webber made a real nice arm save when Goffstown got caught in a terrible line change at 11:46. Trinity finally took the lead for good at 12:36 of the period when Webber was beat on a rebound after a solid first save. Ryan Glass scored the goal from Tate Flint and #28 who I think was Quinn Booth.

I am a softie for the red, white, and blue. These Trinity uniforms have to be the coolest of the tournament. Jen Webber Photography.

So, thirty minutes into the game, Trinity led, 2-1. Webber kept the score at 2-1 with a beautiful glove save from point blank at 1:57 of the period. Goffstown continued to make their own job more difficult by rushing the puck up the wall or just throwing it the length of the ice for icing calls. The Pioneers do fore-check well, don’t get me wrong, but the Grizzlies kept throwing the puck to nobody shift after shift. And these turnovers kept returning in the form of offensive possession and shots on goal, or even goals against. Sometimes pressure helped generate that result but many times a Goffstown player would not look for the play, look for their time, or look for their space, and essentially turn the puck over into the rotating ceiling fan blades that was the Trinity fore-check. That is awfully tough to keep at bay for an entire game. At 3:05 Cam Laventure scored off of Webber’s glove from Aidan Ross and Hugo Gil. Then at 4:52, Trinity scored again against a screened Webber when Cole Popkin scored from Jack Socha and Mike Guman. Colby Gamache got a breakaway chance, kind of, while the Grizzlies were shorthanded but Gamache’s bid was high and wide with a player draped all over him from the blue line in. In a scary moment, Jackson Burke was rocked by a direct hit that looked like a shoulder to somewhere between his solar plexus and sternum. Burke was stretched out reaching for a loose puck with his stick which lowered his upper body considerably while the Trinity player had the better angle on the puck and slammed his shoulder at full impact into Burke.

Mel mixing it up at JFK. Jen Webber Photography

Burke went over backwards and laid nearly motionless on the ice for a moment or two. Coaches and trainers rushed onto the ice and attended to the talented freshman for Goffstown before he skated off the ice with some assistance after a 10-minute scene on the ice.

With the Grizzlies trailing 4-1, and still killing a penalty after the injury, with 7:29 left to play, it was as if the air had been let out of the building. Man, do I despise that feeling because it often follows a scene we wish didn’t have to see. I can’t stand seeing kids get hurt, even by accident. I guess that’s the parent in me. Tate Flint would score from Robbie Bernier at 13:28 and Trinity won the game 5-1. Webber played well with 36 saves on 41 shots. Colton Gooden saved 17 of 18 shots for Trinity which was pretty good for not seeing a ton of action for stretches of time.

Summary:

Goals:

Goffstown: 0-1-0 = 1
Trinity: 1-1-3 = 5

Shots:

Goffstown: 06-07-05= 18
Trinity: 13-12-16 = 41

Trinity: Colton Gooden 17 of 18. (44:51)

There were many things happening on the ice last night and blowing a whistle wasn’t one of them. Jen Webber Photography

Goffstown didn’t get a lot of shots on goal but they did have some chances. Jen Webber Photography

 

 

The beginning of every article. (C) 1inawesomewonder 2017.