Written by Finally, the 2021-2022 hockey regular season got under way for the Goffstown Grizzlies. After a game that was postponed due to winter weather, and another game pushed back due to illness, Goffstown played host to the Bearcats from Somersworth-Coe-Brown-Northwood Academy (SCBN) on Wednesday night.
The Bearcats played in the Division II State Championship game last season, losing to Dover, 2-1 in OT. They return a ton of talent from that team and have to be one of the favorites to win the D-II Title this year. Their speed and talent showed up throughout the game. SCBN came into the game on Wednesday night with a 2-0 record already, winning by scores of 6-2, and 7-2. They added another win, 6-3 over the Grizzlies but I am not sure it came as easily as they might have expected. Despite the fact that the Bearcats are well coached and loaded with talented seniors, Goffstown only trailed 4-3 after two periods and were two breakaway goals from being in the lead.
Before all of that, I have to say that it was pretty close to pure joy to welcome fans back to Sullivan Arena. It was awesome to welcome back the worthy opponent with fans from both teams cheering their players on. Students, parents, friends and family, all in the building to watch kids playing the sport they love. It adds so much to the experience. They should be present together, always, every time.
You only get to score your first varsity goal once. That is worth celebrating! Photo by Jen Webber Photography.
Goffstown got on the scoreboard first after they controlled the puck in the offensive zone for a moment or two. Sophomore, but first year varsity player, Max Ouellette fought for a puck and gained possession before the Bearcats could clear the zone. Ouellette then made a hard left turn toward the slot and ripped a beautiful backhand up and under the bar for his first career goal. The goal was unassisted and his big brother was on the ice with him to celebrate. The Grizzlies led 1-0 at 4:44 of the first period.
The Bearcats responded quickly, scoring the tying goal less than two minutes later. While on the power play, Aaron Bono was allowed to skate the length of the ice virtually unmolested and get to the slot for a quick wrist shot. The goal was unassisted. Goffstown took a 2-1 lead with a power play goal of their own. Xavier Bibaud found an open lane to make a nice pass ahead to Max Ouellette who broke into the offensive zone before ripping a wrist shot inside the far post for the go ahead goal. SBCN evened it up at 14:18 of the period when Jon Pelletier scored an unassisted goal on a screened wrist shot through the legs of a Grizzlie defenseman who was reaching for the puck. The first period ended with the score tied, 2-2. Goffstown was outshout by a wide margin, 15-4 in the frame.
In the middle period the Grizzlies settled down a bit and did a better job of defending their end of the ice. Then, like a lightning bolt, the Bearcats struck for a pair of goals in a span of 16 seconds on two Goffstown mistakes, at 10:43 and 10:59. First, Dante Ceppetelli picked off a dump in attempt by Brennan Pierce at the blue line and skated in on a clean break away against Ethan Santoro in net for the home team. Ceppetelli scored on a shot just inside the post. After the center ice face-off a Goffstown defenseman made a risky attempt to pinch in and keep the puck in the offensive zone. The play came too late and Wes Jones chipped the puck onto Jon Pelletier’s stick and the Bearcats were off to the races. Pelletier flew up the right wing and JR Norris hustled up the left side. Pelletier drew the defense to him and slid a pass to Norris who put the puck into the open half of the net despite Santoro’s effort to be in two places at the same time. Just like that, the Grizzlies trailed, 4-2. Goffstown got one goal back at 14:41 of the period on the power play. Brennan Pierce kept puck in along the left wing boards and worked down low before dropping a pass to Andrew Skora in the low circle. Skora ripped a shot into the top corner of the net to cut the lead to 4-3. The period would end with the Grizzlies down by one goal. Goffstown was outshot in the period, but only by a 9-7 margin.
Goffstown battled throughout the third period but Jake Pelletier netted two goals to ice the game for the Bearcats. He scored at 9:19 and 11:03 to give SCBN a 6-3 victory. First, Aaron Bono won a clean face-off to Pelletier in the high slot who ripped a shot into the back of the net. Then, Jon Pelletier centered a pass to the slot to Jake Pelletier who fired a shot into the back of the net. Goffstown was outshot 13-10 in the final period.
The Grizzlies aren’t on anyone’s list to finish very high in the standings this season, but they showed some grit and determination against one of the top teams in Division II hockey. There were some soft spots in the Grizzlies game but I am guessing those areas will improve week by week. Ethan Santoro made a bundle of excellent saves in his first career start in net for the Grizzlies. Rylye Coe did what he had to get the win on the road, and Goffstown didn’t test him as much as they would have liked to.
Goffstown will be playing in the Brian C. Stone Memorial Christmas Tournament at the JFK Coliseum on December 26-29. They will play Bow, Manchester, and Exeter. This will be a challenge for the inexperienced Grizzlies but there are no better ways to learn and to improve. Goffstown also plays a league game up at Kingswood on December 29th. So it’s going to be busy week of hockey in the one-ice classroom for the Grizzlies. I look forward to where this team goes from here.
If you would like to see some wonderful photos from the opening game, check out this collection by Jen Webber Photography. They are outstanding!
Merry Christmas everyone!!!
The Grizzlies skate by their bench to be congratulated on scoring a goal on opening night. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)
NHIAA Hockey:
Updated records.
Goffstown (0-1-0) vs. Somersworth-Coe-Brown (3-0-0)
Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH
Wednesday, December 22, 2021. 7:20 PM Start:
Summary:
Goals:
Goffstown: 2-1-0 = 3
SCBN: 2-2-2 = 6
Shots:
Goffstown: 04-07-10 = 21
SCBN: 15-09-13 = 37
Scoring:
1st Goffstown at 4:44. Even. Max Ouellette (1) unassisted.
1st SCBN at 6:11. PPG. Aaron Bono unassisted.
1st Goffstown at 9:57. PPG. Max Ouellette (2) from Xavier Bibaud (1).
1st SBCN at 14:18. Even. Jon Pelletier unassisted.
2nd SBCN at 10:43. Even. Dante Ceppetelli unassisted.
2nd SBCN at 10:59. Even. JR Norris from Jon Pelletier and Wes Jones.
2nd Goffstown at 14:41. PPG. Andrew Skora (1) from Brennan Pierce (1).
3rd SBCN at 9:19. Even. Jake Pelletier from Aaron Bono.
3rd SBCN at 11:03. Even. Jake Pelletier from Jon Pelletier.
Special Teams:
Goffstown Power Play: 2 for 2.
SBCN Power Play: 1 for 2.
Saves:
Goffstown: Ethan Santoro 31 of 37. (43:25)
SBCN: Rylye Coe 18 of 21. (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.