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Home / Family / Hockey: Goffstown 8 vs. Alvirne-Milford 3 (Senior Night)

Hockey: Goffstown 8 vs. Alvirne-Milford 3 (Senior Night)

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Family, Goffstown Hockey, Photography, Sports

From Thomas F. Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – Friday, February 28, 2020

It’s that time of the year again, when the regular season winds down and teams honor their seniors while jostling to improve their tournament seeding. Friday night was Senior Night for the Grizzlies and they honored the four seniors that will be graduating from the program in a few months. On the ice, Goffstown electrified the home crowd en route to a convincing win, 8-3 over the Admirals.

(Players L-R) Melanie Riendeau, Theo Milianes, Colby Gamache, Drew O’Brien.
(Sage Photo)

Not only was it Senior Night for the Grizzlies, but they were also playing for a chance to host a quarter-final playoff game instead of opening the tournament on the road. With their win, and with Merrimack beating Oyster River, 1-0 at the same time, the Grizzlies jumped into the #4 seed. Goffstown will host #5 Oyster River at 4:00 pm on Saturday, March 7th. The teams split a pair of 3-2 decisions against each other during the regular season. Each team earning a win on their home ice. So this quarter-final game should be a dandy.

To be fair, the Alvirne-Milford Admirals were missing several players from their lineup on Friday night due to illness and injuries. Even so, the Grizzlies were the favorites after grabbing a 7-3 win down at Skate 3 in January, and also they had 12 league wins to the Admirals’ 2 wins. So, Goffstown did as they were supposed to do according to the trends following each team. But one of the things that I love about sports is that attitude and effort are both completely up to the participants. Alvirne-Milford did not roll over, they skated hard, and gave effort shift after shift. As they should. The attitude, well that I am not so sure about for a few players on either side of the ice. That’s not necessarily a knock on any of them, it’s more of a deep observation. Maybe it’s more of a call to accountability on the influences these kids are subject to. Either way, I began thinking about this while the game was unfolding on Friday night. And ever since.

I will get to some details of this game, for now though, I want to get into a little, or not so little, observation. This may, or may not, speak directly to this particular game. It may also speak to every single game so I am going to go through my thought process that runs somewhere between me, my iPad, the scoresheet, and my little notebook while I watch live sports play out right in front of my eyes.

First, I speak of attitude. Webster lists a number of definitions of the word, attitude.

Here are some of them:

4a: a mental position with regard to a fact or state
b: a feeling or emotion toward a fact or state
6: an bodily state of readiness to respond in a characteristic way to a stimulus (such as an object, concept, or situation)
7a: a negative or hostile state of mind
b: a cool, cocky, defiant, or arrogant manner 

So, in my words, attitude is more or less being in the frame of mind (predisposition) to be willing to do something when one is presented a situation. Frame of mind is powerful, just think of how we read an innocent message or email we have received when our frame of mind is anything but.

Then there is the whole idea of behavior. Again, I call on Webster for the definition of behavior.

Here are some of them:

1: the way in which someone conducts oneself 
2a: the manner of conducting oneself
b: anything that an organism does involving action and response to stimulation
c: the response of an individual, group, or species to its environment
Again, in my words, behavior is the expression or action chosen in response to the scenarios presented in every moment. Many believe that people are predisposed, or inclined to behave in a certain manner based on examples instilled in our very existence. Simply, behavior is learned.

Imagine a teen-aged athlete shows up to compete in his or her sport with, among other things, the following factors racing through their every fiber. They may not know that they are inclined to act in a certain way because they are in a frame of mind that allows them to be willing to do something based on scenarios that affected their attitude, and will do so based largely on a catalogue of behaviors that have been imparted on them since their life began. Talk about unpredictable. Talk about the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Talk about parenting, coaching, and role models.

Brennan Pierce and Colby Wright defend out in front of Madeline Sage. (Sage Photo)

I feel for the individual youngsters that have so much to overcome simply because we as parents, coaches, or role models inhibited their growth and development by not allowing them to reach for the sky, fall on their face, or get back up again, because our agenda, behaviors, or habits were some weird self-defined protective, stifling bubble of our own insecurities. Our demons pulled us down and we weren’t going to make that trip alone so we brought anyone loosely attached to us down too. Or we went to bat for kids that should have batted for themselves because they are smarter and more able than we think. Perhaps, our career, or our dreams didn’t go the way we wanted them to so we invest a small fortune into something that is a passion of ours, and not necessarily theirs. So before you finish the thought about that guy, or she this, or they do that, I remind us all of the mirrors available to each of us. And if that’s not enough, the reflection we need may just be walking around in our lives every day that we are fortunate enough to open our eyes again. Ironically, in nature, the fittest survive. That is the natural selection.
Alright, folks if you are still here, thanks for hanging on. I see things. I hear things. I am told things. I witness interactions. I sense things. I am haunted at times by the collections of these things, and I write my piece, so that perhaps others, and myself can be at peace.

Oddly, I didn’t really make any notes during the game on Friday night because things were happening so fast. For starters, in a pre-game presentation, the Grizzlies recognized their four senior players and their families, they honored a senior’s dad who is battling poor health as we speak, we all paid respect to another senior’s dad who passed away nearly two years ago, we talked about the meaning of legacy, and told the story of volunteering efforts and fundraising for a cause, and remembered a military hero that was one of New Hampshire’s own. That was all before the National Anthem was sung by a man who holds each of the opponents on Friday night very dear to his heart.

If that sounds like a lot, it felt like a lot, but I wouldn’t trade it for any other place or time. The game started at 7:32 pm and the Grizzlies were ready to go no matter what time the game started. I will say that Cody Rae-Crussland made some sensational saves in this game and the score wouldn’t indicate as much. Goffstown pounded the goalie, the net, and whistled other shots into traffic, over and beside the net in the first period. The home team outshot the visitors 16-2 in the opening period, and the 4-0 lead could have been much more one-sided were it not for Cody’s efforts in net.

With relentless pressure things tend to crack or break. Once Colby Gamache lifted a one-handed backhand shot past the Admiral goaltender at 6:10 of the period while the Grizzlies were short-handed things started to come apart for the visitors. Gamache simply beat everyone else down the ice and flipped the puck into the net after the goalie had left the puck out front for one of his defensemen. Then, when Goffstown was afforded consecutive power play opportunities on Admiral double minor penalties, they took full advantage. The Grizzlies scored the next 3 goals in a span of 65 seconds. On the power play Grady Chretien continued his other-worldly season with a rush from his own end at 12:21 which was on the first minor penalty. Theo Milianes and Colby Gamache had moved the puck out of the offensive end to keep the Admirals from gaining possession of the puck when Grady scooped it up and weaved through the defense enroute to his goal. Then at 13:10, on the second of the double minor penalties, Xavier Bibaud scored his first career goal on a rebound out in front of the net. Luc Ouellette sent a pass to the left point where Eric DesRuisseaux fired a shot on goal that created the rebound for Bibaud. Then, back at even strength, Colby Wright made a two-line pass from his own end up to Drew O’Brien at the offensive blue line. O’Brien dropped a pass to Colby Gamache in the left-wing corner and Gamache skated a straight line just above the goal line and rifled a shot inside the far post with an Admiral defender screening his own goaltender, at 13:26.

In the second period, the Grizzlies started to cycle the puck even more, working depth players into their lines and trying to create opportunities for them. Even so, sometimes the puck still finds its way into the scoring areas with a first liner on the spot. Such was the case at 2:43 of the period when Grady Chretien slid the puck into the net after Drew O’Brien and Brandon Bograd worked the puck from behind the net out to the left wing circle. Bograd earned his first career point on the play with a deflected pass off of his skate. Then Theo Milianes eclipsed his single season high in goals scored on his Senior Night after a nice steal and then pass from Calvin Sage at 4:25. Alvirne-Milford erupted with a goal of their own on a nice sequence of plays from Zach Greer and Dylan Jillson that led to Corey Girouard’s goal at 4:52 of the period. The Admirals covered the length of the ice in a matter of seconds on the play. Goffstown added another power play goal at 9:12 when Colby Gamache finished off an offensive zone possession that seemed to last for minutes with a goal from Grady Chretien and Theo Milianes. On the play, Gamache registered his 123rd career point for the Grizzlies which moved him past Griffin Cook (’19, 48g-74a-122p) as the all-time leading scored in Goffstown High School hockey history. Since I am a nerd for numbers, it also marked Colby’s 99th point scored since the beginning of last season. Hey, my Dad started showing me how to score baseball games when I was about 5-6 years old and I have been tracking things ever since. Anyways, the second period ended with the Grizzlies holding a 7-1 lead on the scoreboard and a 30-9 advantage in shots on goal.

The third period was running time. There were 30 minutes in penalties called between the two teams, just 5 shots on goal, and somehow 3 more goals scored. It wasn’t the best looking period of hockey anyone has ever seen by a long shot. Zach Greer made the score 7-2 at 1:57 of the period with a goal set up by Sal Pace. Pace cleared the puck from his own end and hit Greer with the pass. Greer was stood up by Colby Wright but he continued to make a play on the puck from the right wing boards. The shot hit Wright in the skate, bounced, and hit off of the inside of Sage’s right pad for a goal from a near impossible angle. Goffstown answered at 4:39 when Sean Hunter scored his first career goal on a beautiful feed from Theo Milianes after Melanie Riendeau had cycled the puck down low to start the play. Somewhere between the 7:00 and 12:00 mark this game almost left the rails completely. At 14:37, on the power play, the Admirals scored when Dylan Jillson rambled in all alone and scored to make the final score, 8-3.

I didn’t mention Maddie Sage much, until now, in this recap because she wasn’t tested a whole lot which can make it hard to get into any kind of rhythm for a goaltender. Though, to her credit, in a stellar career thus far, she notched her 20th career win against only 6 losses to date.

As I said earlier, the win gave Goffstown the #4 seed in the tournament, and they will host #5 seed Oyster River on Saturday, March 7, at 4pm on the campus of St. Anselm College. I will have more on the tournament pairings in the next couple of days.

Thank you for sticking with me here. I routinely prove just how imperfect I am. Despite my many faults, I long to help, teach, or lead anyone I can in ways that would make life better for them, even if it’s just a reason to smile or to construct a sense of belonging. Let us carry ourselves well, not for the look of it, but for the authentic care and kindness towards others because we possess the choice to do so.

Charity of Choice 2020: ALS Association of NNE. $1,122 Raised.

NHIAA Hockey:

Updated records.

Goffstown (13-8-0) vs. Alvirne-Milford (2-16-0)

Sullivan Arena, Goffstown, NH

Friday, February 28, 2020. 7:32 PM Start:

 

Summary:

Goals:

Goffstown: 4-3-1 = 8

Alvirne-Milford: 0-1-2 = 3

Shots:

Goffstown: 16-14-02 = 32

Alvirne-Milford: 02-07-03 = 12

Scoring:

1st Goffstown at 6:10. SHG. Colby Gamache (19) unassisted.

1st Goffstown at 12:21. PPG. Grady Chretien (41) from Colby Gamache (29) and Theo Milianes (15).

1st Goffstown at 13:10. PPG. Xavier Bibaud (1) from Eric DesRuisseaux (14) and Luc Ouellette (6).

1st Goffstown at 13:26. Even. Colby Gamache (20) from Drew O’Brien (16) and Colby Wright (7).

 

2nd Goffstown at 2:43. Even. Grady Chretien (42) from Drew O’Brien (17) and Brandon Bograd (1).

2nd Goffstown at 4:25. Even. Theo Milianes (4) from Calvin Sage (2).

2nd Alvirne-Milford at 4:57. Even. Corey Girouard from Zach Greer and Dylan Jillson.

2nd Goffstown at 9:12. PPG. Colby Gamache (21) from Grady Chretien (14) and Theo Milianes (16).

 

3rd Alvirne-Milford at 1:57. Even. Zach Greer from Sal Pace.

3rd Goffstown at 4:39. Even. Sean Hunter (1) from Theo Milianes (17) and Melanie Riendeau (1).

3rd Alvirne-Milford at 14:37. PPG. Dylan Jillson unassisted.

 

 

Special Teams:

Goffstown Power Play: 3 for 4.

Alvirne-Milford Power Play: 1 for 4.

 

Saves:

Goffstown: Madeline Sage 9 of 12. (45:00)

Alvirne-Milford: Cody Rae-Crussland 24 of 32. (45:00)

 

Standings: Boys Ice Hockey Division II

NOTE: The following are not official NHIAA standings. They are only the accumulation of game results as reported by the athletic directors and coaches.

Click here to view the schedules for all of the teams below.

School W L T Points Rating
Keene 12 2 2 54.00 3.3750
Merrimack 13 4 1 55.00 3.0556
St. Thomas Aquinas 13 4 1 54.00 3.0000
Goffstown 13 5 0 53.00 2.9444
Oyster River 12 5 1 50.00 2.7778
Somersworth-Coe-Brown 10 6 1 42.00 2.4706
Dover 10 7 0 40.00 2.3529
Lebanon-Stevens-Mount Royal 7 9 1 30.00 1.7647
Portsmouth-Newmarket 7 11 0 28.00 1.5556
Kingswood 7 11 0 28.00 1.5556
Winnacunnet 3 14 1 14.50 0.8056
Spaulding 2 15 0 8.00 0.4706
Alvirne-Milford 2 16 0 8.00 0.4444

Sage Page

~ Thank you Maureen, your photos are fantastic!

Honestly these articles are so much better with your contributions.

Senior jerseys and banners from the penalty box. (1inawesomewonder Photography)

wp-1487550159758.jpg

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.

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