Written by When I got home and walked through the door last night, mentioning that I had information about the Goffstown Grizzlies hockey game at Alvirne-Milford as I entered, I was greeted with excitement and questions.
Both twins asked me immediately if Goffstown won, and how many goals did Grady Chretien have in the game? I chuckled and answered the questions, yes, 8-1, and he had three goals. Later, in the quiet of the evening, I thought to myself, “Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?” Younger kids looking up to older kids achieving great things in a small, local community. Someone they can relate to because they aren’t so far removed from themselves. I thought it was pretty cool. More kids in the area should know this and feel this, I thought. With fewer distractions and true support of the local student athletes, these feats and stories, could, should, influence youngsters to pursue those greater things found in the security blanket of team sports where all are for one, and one for all. Largely, this is what fuels my drive and desire to bring these stories to others, while lifting up the kids, the families, the volunteers and coaches. There are great things going on all around us, and they aren’t being done by national celebrities, or million dollar faces, but by the kid next door or the coach up the road, or other members of our community.
The Grizzlies traveled to Hudson, NH to play the Alvirne-Milford Admirals in their third game in five days. Goffstown jumped out in front, scoring just 17 seconds into the game, and went on to an 8-1 victory. But before I get to that, I want to say that both goaltenders made exceptional saves in this game. I didn’t make any specific notes of them because, well, I was lazy I guess. Cody Crossland-Rae made 29 saves for the Admirals in the game. At the other end of the ice, Madeline Sage made 25 saves en route to her 21st career win between the pipes for the Grizzlies. As far as I know, 21 wins matches Colin Holt for the most career wins by a GHS goaltender.
Okay, seventeen seconds into the game, the Andrew Skora – Luc Ouellette – Grady Chretien line was buzzing in the offensive zone. Skora moved the puck from behind the net, then Chretien and Ouellette battled for the puck in front of the net before Ouellette scored with assists to both of his linemates.
The next two Grizzlie goals came from Jackson Burke. On his first goal, Eric DesRuisseaux settled things down behind his own net and broke the puck out of the defensive end himself before hitting Burke with a pass. Burke did the rest, breaking through the neutral zone with speed, and then gliding through defenders with the puck and ripping a shot into the twine. Goffstown led 2-0 with almost nine minutes left in the period. A couple of minutes later the Grizzlies controlled the puck in the O-zone before Burke stole a clearing attempt and bolted to the right-wing circle and fired another rocket into the back of the net. It was 3-0 Grizzlies.
Alvirne-Milford was trailing, but they were also getting shots and scoring chances. The Admirals would end the period with 12 shots on Maddie Sage in net. Goffstown kept converting on offense though. Owen Matatall lassoed a puck at his own blue line and slid it over to his D partner, DesRuisseaux all while under pressure. DesRuisseaux fought off a defender and moved the puck quickly to Grady Chretien who shifted through gears like a cheetah takes off and started putting defenders in his rear view mirror. Chretien skated in and scored on his backhand while Luc Ouellette filled a lane in support. With a 4-0 lead the Grizzlies took advantage of a frustration penalty on the Admirals. Goffstown had good puck possession on the power play before Ouellette hit Chretien with a tip pass and Chretien worked the puck back to DesRuisseaux at the blue line. Eric walked the blue line for a moment and ripped a shot that found the net inside the far post. The Admirals got a nice goal in the final minute of the period after Maddie Sage denied their first bid with a brilliant save. Matty Ryan got the puck back after the Sage save and hit Hayden Ricard in the slot for a point blank shot that found the net. The period would end with the Grizzlies leading 5-1 on the scoreboard, and leading 15-12 in the shots on goal category.
After an intermission pep talk, of sorts, from their coach, the Admirals came out in the middle period and did their best to hit everything that moved. The problem was that they did some hitting in retaliation and were whistled for 3 penalties in the period. On the other hand, the Grizzlies went 0-for-3 on the power play in the period, and took penalties themselves. The Grizzlies pounded 17 shots on goal in the period but Cody Crossland-Rae made save after save. The Grizzlies did get the only goal of the period after a scrum along the boards in which Owen Matatall and Grady Chretien came off of the half with the puck and a quick pass to Luc Ouellette in front of the net. Ouellette lifted a nifty backhand shot on goal but Crossland-Rae used every inch of his frame to make a tremendous save on the Ouellette bid. Unfortunately for him, the puck dropped in the crease against his pad, where Chretien happened to be and Grady put the puck into the net. Goffstown led 6-1 after two periods and were outshooting there opponents 32-18.
Alvirne-Milford took three more penalties in the final period and the Grizzlies hit on two of them. While on the power play, Jackson Burke got a piece of the puck at center ice and it skipped past the Admiral defender, right to Chretien. Grady took off with the puck and bolted for paydirt. Chretien made 3 separate dekes on his way to the slot where he buried a near perfect shot to finish the rush. With the clock running because a 6-goal spread in the final period, Goffstown did go on the power play again. With an offensive zone face-off in the left wing circle, Luc Ouellette won the draw over to Jake Klardie. Klardie shot the puck immediately, and as the puck rose, Crossland-Rae dropped into the butterfly position as the puck flew over his shoulder and just under the bar. The shot was perfect and Klardie had his first career varsity goal. Goffstown won the game, 8-1 and Maddie Sage made 25 saves to make sure things never got close.
Updated records.
Goffstown (3-6-0) vs. Alvirne-Milford (1-4-0)
Cyclones Arena, Hudson, NH
Wednesday, February 17, 2021. 3:45 PM Start:
Summary:
Goals:
Goffstown: 5-1-2 = 8
Alvirne-Milford: 1-0-0 = 1
Shots:
Goffstown: 15-17-05 = 37
Alvirne-Milford: 12-06-08 = 26
Scoring:
1st Goffstown at 0:17. Even. Luc Ouellette (3) from Grady Chretien (5) and Andrew Skora (4).
1st Goffstown at 6:11. Even. Jackson Burke (4) from Eric DesRuisseaux (1).
1st Goffstown at 8:50. Even. Jackson Burke (5) unassisted.
1st Goffstown at 10:03. Even. Grady Chretien (16) from Eric DesRuisseaux (2) and Owen Matatall (1).
1st Goffstown at 13:22. PPG. Eric DesRuisseaux (1) from Grady Chretien (6) and Luc Ouellette (8).
1st Alvirne-Milford at 14:03. Even. Hayden Ricard from Matthew Ryan.
2nd Goffstown at 11:04. Even. Grady Chretien (17) from Luc Ouellette (9) and Owen Matatall (2).
3rd Goffstown at 2:40. PPG. Grady Chretien (18) from Jackson Burke (4).
3rd Goffstown at 8:10. PPG. Jake Klardie (1) from Luc Ouellette (10).
Special Teams:
Goffstown Power Play: 3 for 7.
Alvirne-Milford Power Play: 0 for 3.
Saves:
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.