Written by From Dover Arena, Dover, NH – Saturday, January 16, 2021
It was the season opener on Saturday, and for the most part, it took place almost completely under the radar. Unfortunately, for the kids, it will be something like that all season, I fear. The silver lining of course is that, at least there are games being played.
It was difficult to watch the action on Livebarn because the game is just so much better live. There are rules everywhere that keep healthy people at home and this season might be the least seen season that any of us will ever know. I am heartbroken for the young people of our country who have been permanently scarred by the shutdowns and restraints commanded on their developing, energetic, lives.
In any event, the 2021 Grizzlies showed up in Dover to play the defending D-II Co-Champions, St. Thomas. The Grizzlies have graduated three consecutive senior classes, each of which have ‘one-upped’ the previous group as the winningest group in Goffstown Hockey. So, in a short season, with few, if zero fans, at all, who knows what will happen.
In the opener it appeared that the Grizzlies had some defensive misreads that led to St. Thomas goals. Grizzlie players either did a ‘fly-by’ defensive swipe that missed and led to point blank shots against Maddie Sage.
Wilkinson scores for the Grizzlies. (Photo from LiveBarn video)
Or they misjudged the speed of the attack, and allowed chances that probably should not have been chances at all. But that’s what you get with a younger team, in a pandemic year, with no student section, music, or energy in the arena.
Saint Thomas scored twice in the first period and held Goffstown off of the scoreboard. At 2:27 of the period Brendan Chrisom scored on a break in from Max Murry. Then the Saints added another goal at 10:18 when Finn Conner blew in all alone and scored.
Goffstown scored their first goal of the season at 2:11 of the second period. Jack Wilkinson, a sophomore, scored after a nice quick outlet pass from Luc Ouellette. Wilkinson raced up ice with Grady Chretien on his right and chose to shoot the puck himself, and scoring to cut the lead to 2-1. The period would end with the score still favoring St. Thomas, 2-1.
The Saints extended their lead to 3-1, when Gage Spagna scored on a screened wrist shot after a skate the length of the ice from Rolly Edgerly just two minutes and ten seconds into the final period. It would be eight minutes of game time before the Grizzlies answered the goal at 10:10. Grady Chretien took a feed in the slot from Ouellette behind the net and pounded the puck into the net for his 80th career goal, and cut the lead to 3-2.
Burke rips a shot, ‘bar-down’ to keep the Grizzlies chances alive. (Photo form LiveBarn video)
Chretien scores for Goffstown in the 3rd period to cut into the St. Thomas lead. (Photo from LiveBarn video)
If Chretien’s goal created any momentum it was short lived. The Saints scored again at 11:58 of the period and restored their 2-goal lead Brendan Chrisom struck again, this time from Colin Chrisom.
Less than a minute later Eric DesRuisseaux regrouped and banked a pass off of the side boards, and Calvin Sage’s stick to a rushing Jackson Burke. Burke made a move around a defender and cut to the left wing circle before ripping a shot that found the net, just below the crossbar. The Grizzlies were down by a goal with 2:15 left to play.
St. Thomas had a different ending in mind though, because they scored again, just 28 seconds later. On the final goal of the game, Brendan Chrisom completed his hat trick when he literally took the puck from behind his own goal line and skated with the puck through the entire Goffstown defense, the length of the ice and scored to give St. Thomas a 5-3 lead with 1:47 left to play. That was the end of the scoring on the day, and probably a moment when each of the Grizzlies wish they had a chance to replay that sequence for a chance at a different result.
Goffstown next hosts Bishop Brady on Wednesday night while St. Thomas plays Winnacunnet on Monday.
Updated records.
Goffstown (0-1-0) at St. Thomas (1-0-0)
Dover Arena, Dover, NH
Saturday, January 16, 2021. 12:45 PM Start:
Summary:
Goals:
Goffstown: 0-1-2 = 3
St. Thomas: 2-0-3 = 5
Shots:
Goffstown: 29
St. Thomas: 39
Scoring:
1st St. Thomas at 2:27. Even. Brendan Chrisom from Max Murry.
1st St. Thomas at 10:18. Even. Finn Conner unassisted.
2nd Goffstown at 2:11. Even. Jack Wilkinson (1) from Luc Ouellette (1).
3rd St. Thomas at 2:10. Even. Gage Spagna from Rolly Edgerly.
3rd Goffstown at 10:10. Even. Grady Chretien (1) from Luc Ouellette (2).
3rd St. Thomas at 11:58. Even. Brendan Chrisom from Colin Chrisom.
3rd Goffstown at 12:45. Even. Jackson Burke (1) from Calvin Sage (1) and Eric DesRuisseaux (1).
3rd St. Thomas at 13:13. Even. Brendan Chrisom unassisted.
Special Teams:
Goffstown Power Play: 0 for 0.
St. Thomas Power Play: 0 for 2.
Saves:
Goffstown: Madeline Sage 34 of 39. (45:00)
St. Thomas: Silas Stanek 26 of 29. (45:00)
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.