Hockey: Goffstown 7 vs. Nashua North-Souhegan 1

From Thomas F. Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – January 6, 2020

Monday night Goffstown hockey was back at it again, and playing their fifth consecutive Division I opponent. It was the Saber Titans from Nashua North-Souhegan (NNS) that came calling on the Grizzlies at Sullivan Arena. This time the home team moved the puck efficiently and erupted for four goals on their first eleven shots on goal on their way to a 7-1 victory.

The Grizzlies line up for the National Anthem, sung by world record holder, Alan St. Louis. (Jen Webber Photography)

The final score may have been 7-1 in favor of Goffstown but the final score doesn’t tell the entire story. If Goffstown freshman goaltender, Jake Webber, didn’t bring his ‘A-game’ to the rink the outcome could have been very different. The Saber Titans piled up 35 shots on goal, hitting double digits in each period of the game. Webber held the shutout until he let the 32nd shot that he faced get past him. The Grizzlies had a 7-0 lead when this happened, but the home team and crowd were all pulling for Jake to get the shutout. With a 7-goal differential after two periods, the final period was running time on the clock. Even then, NNS managed 11 shots on goal and Webber was tested often. On the other end of the ice, Colin Duckless allowed 7 goals on 21 shots, but you’d be hard pressed to say that he had a bad night because at least 4 of Goffstown’s goals were tremendous passing plays leading to near perfect shots.

Jake was smiling with Colby and Melanie, and he had reason to with 34 saves in the win. (Jen Webber Photography)

Overall, the Grizzlies are now 5-4 on the season, with a 5-1 record in NHIAA League play. The Grizzlies are still without two players that are in their top twelve or so. Goffstown is young overall, especially on the defensive side of the puck. The inexperience has shown through quite clearly at times. They have had a difficult time getting out of their own end on a regular basis which is compounded by the lack of offensive zone time that the Grizzlies are able to maintain. After the last two seasons which boasted maybe the best cycling line in NH, this year is a stark difference. Now, having just completed 5 consecutive games against Division I opponents who regularly have more depth and speed than most Division II programs, the learning curve has been steep. It’s still early and the youth is getting more experience every single night. Melanie Riendeau is the only senior in the defensive group and she is getting significantly more ice time this season. Eric DesRuisseaux and Eric Purcell are both juniors and have seen their time on ice way up too. This is isn’t just about age, experience, or what grade these players are in, but also about the team chemistry on the ice. Getting to know where your defense partner will be, how they skate, what their tendencies are, etc. Colby Wright (So.) as well as Xavier Bibaud (Fr.) and Brennan Pierce (Fr.) are also getting lots of ice time and getting better every week. Isaac McGregor (So.) would be in the middle of all this as well but he’s been out for 3 weeks now, and hopefully healthy soon.

Luke Chase and the Grizzlies were able to capitalize on scoring chances early in the game to play with a lead. (Jen Webber Photography)

Personally, I think that the Goffstown goaltending rotation (Madeline Sage, James Amorelli, and Jake Webber) has been nothing short of outstanding so far. Given the fact that the Grizzlies are being outshot by an almost 2-1 ratio through nine games this season, Goffstown has a team save percentage of 89.47%. That is astounding based on the quality of shots they have faced not to mention the sheer quantity of shots. If the goaltenders can maintain this level of goaltending while the group in front of them improves and gels together, this could be a very interesting season right into March. A pair of freshmen, Landon Wilson and Ethan Santoro are also goaltenders in the Goffstown program that will get some minutes in practices and JV scheduled games.

(Jen Webber Photography)

Up front Goffstown lost their program’s all-time leading scorer and the number three scorer of all-time who combined for 100 points (40g-60a) by themselves last season. Don’t feel too bad though because Colby Gamache and Grady Chretien are back and they had 85 points (46g-39a) on their own last season. Add in Theo Milianes who has plenty of skill with the puck, with a host of freshmen, and the Grizzlies could still pile up some goals. Jackson Burke, David Martineau (injured), Jack Wilkinson, Drew O’Brien (Sr.), Corbin Huntley, Jake Klardie, and Brandon Bograd are all first year players in the program and are showing lots of promise. Anne St. Cyr is another freshman among the alternates in the program. Luke Chase (Jr.), Sean Hunter (Jr.), and Calvin Sage (Jr.) are all back and contributing in various ways. They are not afraid to mix it up, or to be difficult to play against. Luc Ouellette is the only sophomore forward and has already shown a great deal of growth since last season.

Chretien scores for the Grizzlies in the second period with Wilkinson on the doorstep. (Jen Webber Photography)

Monday night Goffstown started slow as Nashua North-Souhegan rattled off a few shots at Webber before they had even broken a sweat. NNS would get shots and opportunities throughout the game. All game. But it was Goffstown that executed on a very high level in the offensive end. The Grizzlies drew a penalty that was a borderline penalty shot scenario. Tripping was the call and Goffstown needed only 37 seconds of power-play time to take a 1-0 lead. Colby Wright moved the puck from low to high, back to Colby Gamache at the point. Gamache made a pass instead of taking a shot and found Grady Chretien for the goal at the far post at 8:45. Less than two minutes later Luke Chase pounded a rebound home that was set in motion by Xavier Bibaud. Then at 12:34 of the period Jackson Burke fed a pass ahead to Theo Milianes who made a gorgeous pass to Eric DesRuisseaux at the back door for a tap in goal. Before the opening period ended, the Grizzlies were killing a penalty when Gamache feathered a pass from his own end out through center ice which allowed Chretien to skate onto the puck. Chretien gathered and shot all in one motion just before reaching the opposing net and put the puck in the top corner to make it 4-0 at 14:15 of the period.

The second period began with the Grizzlies still shorthanded and a Jake Webber right pad save turned into a goal for the Grizzlies. Webber faced a shot from his left and made a great right pad save that rebounded all the way to center ice where Grady Chretien snatched it up. Chretien did the rest, and sniped a goal at the other end to give Goffstown a 5-0 lead at 0:38. Theo Milianes walked in and scored a beautiful goal of his own at 4:34 of the period. Then Chretien capped off the Goffstown scoring with his 4th goal of the night when Eric DesRuisseaux set him up at 12:04.

(Jen Webber Photography)

With the clock running for the entire third period, it passed quickly but NNS never stopped skating and working. Finally, at 10:03, on the power play, Peter Lennox scored for the Saber Titans. I am sure that Jake Webber would like that shot back, but one finally got past him. Webber had made several good saves on the night, even in the third period against a 2-on-1. Jake also had 3 straight rapid fire saves in the first period at 6:35 of the period. But the save everyone was talking about came in the second period at 7:14 when he made a sensational save at the short side post after a flurry in front of him. So, Goffstown improved to 5-1 in the standings and set themselves up for the rest of the week. The Grizzlies play three more home games this week, against the #1, #3, and #5 teams in the standings, in Dover, Keene, and Somersworth-Coe-Brown. Goffstown hosts Keene at 5:00 pm on Wednesday (1/8/2020).

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