Hockey: Goffstown 3 vs. Merrimack 2

Goffstown Makes It Two Tight Wins In A Row

On Saturday, what had been my full schedule for the day, which included my daughters’ figure skating, two youth hockey games, and one high school hockey game, were reduced to exactly zero events. We never even left the house, except to play in the snow. The snowstorm that caused blizzard conditions on the coast of New England dumped enough snow in Southern NH to wipe out pretty much all scheduled events, and also postponed Goffstown Hockey’s Senior Night events until the next day.

So, on a very sunny, cold, windy day the Grizzlies hosted Merrimack in the second half of a home and home series with the Tomahawks. It also became Senior Day for the three Goffstown senior players and their families. There were only three senior players celebrated this season, but that does not take anything away from them or their contributions to the GHS Hockey Program over these past four seasons. Captain – #8 Luc Ouellette. Alternate Captain – #6 Colby Wright. Alternate Captain – #30 James Amorelli. Thank you, each of you. It’s truly been our pleasure to watch you, to cheer for you, to nearly burst with you alongside you, and to drag ourselves back to the places we all need to get to in order to regroup when things don’t go the way we wish them to. Thank you.

 

I spent some time going through the sensational pictures that Jen Webber took of the Senior Ceremonies and the pregame shots with players, families, and friends. They brought tears to my eyes. They’re not even my kids, but I have an idea of the sacrifice, discipline, and commitment that it takes to play hockey through to the high school level. Not just for the players, but for the entire family. I wrote a message to Jen that said something like this…”Reading between the pixels, represents so many moments that lead a kid to his or her senior year, and I see them in your pictures”. So many, many moments.

 

Conservatively, I estimate these players have been on the ice for at least 75,000 minutes in structured team practice and game situations. And to think that Colby Wright has only 6 minutes in penalties over his high school career. I don’t know what that means exactly, except that is a big difference in minutes.

 

I walked into the rink on Sunday afternoon and checked in with several of the folks who help put on every Goffstown home game presentation. I made sure that I had my notes, and that I had the guest lists all correct for the ceremony. Then I took a few minutes to check out each of the senior boards. I love these photo tribute boards. I love how many places, how many years, and thousands of miles that they represent. I remember when he hosted the senior Mom’s at our house to work on the photo boards a few years ago, and how much fun it was even though I tried to stay out of the way. I think there were eight Mom’s at the house that night. They were working, visiting, talking, and remembering. It was awesome!

 

---

So, despite the youth hockey games earlier in the day running later than scheduled, we did get to the one-ice ceremony before the game. I think it went pretty well. I know I thoroughly enjoyed it. I absolutely loved the players’ messages to their parents. Their quotes referenced things like, “…supporting me in hockey and beyond”. Or “…supporting my goals and pushing me to be the best I can be.” Even, “…can’t thank both of you enough…have sacrificed to allow me to play hockey…hockey has had, by far, the biggest impact on my life…Without your sacrifices I never would have been able to have these experiences…” Some pretty awesome stuff for younger players to aspire to, and for us to recognize now. 

 

Eventually we got to the game. At one point, I am pretty sure I even saw a Grizzly bear on the ice. Also; Have I mentioned that we are so very fortunate to be able to carry out these events and the careers that define them at one of the best facilities in the state of New Hampshire? We are fortunate and we all would be well pressed to count our blessings, often. Such things are not to be taken advantage of without being fully regarded.

 

After playing a really tight, 3-2 game just a few days before, only a mile away at West Side Arena, it was time to see what Sunday would bring in the rematch. I expected both teams to really bring ‘it’, like they always seem to. Goffstown scored first when Nick Caldwell retrieved a loose puck back at his own blue line while Merrimack was changing lines. Caldwell whipped the puck to his D partner, Brennan Pierce. Pierce already had his legs churning, and he took the pass with an opportunity to get up the ice with the puck, or to make a pass. Well, Pierce held onto the puck and ripped a shot toward the net once he crossed the center ice line. The shot seemed to be immune to most laws of gravity as it spun like a thick little frisbee, traveling at a pretty good clip before it clanked off of Matt Licata’s glove and still had enough steam to pop the netting in the back of the goal. Goffstown led, 1-0 just 1:31 into the game.

 

Goffstown took a 2-0 lead at 5:58 of the period on a shot that was disputed by the visitor’s coaching staff. Brandon Bograd pulled his best Pavel Datsyuk impersonation and disrupted the Tomahawk player turning the net to start the break out. He had the puck at his feet and he also had Luc Ouellette right there in support as well. Ouellette grabbed the puck and snapped a quick hard shot up over Licata’s shoulder and into the net. The puck bounced out of the net quickly and didn’t make much of a sound, at least any that I heard down at ice level. It looked like the puck went over Licata’s right shoulder and hit the middle post inside the net and bounced out of the net to the goaltender’s left. The official that called the play ‘a good goal’ was in great position and looking right at the net/crease area when Luc fired the shot. He called it a goal immediately. There was no argument on the ice from any of the players that I could see or hear. Either way, Goffstown had their second straight 2-goal first period against Merrimack in four days. The first period would end with the Grizzlies holding their 2-0 lead even after taking a penalty at 10:26 of the period. They had managed to get 12 shots on goal to just 6 shots on goal for Merrimack. Goffstown had some great scoring chances all throughout the period and were it not for Matt Licata making some athletic saves, this game could have been over early. Goffstown senior goaltender, James Amorelli, who has been injured since before the regular season started was back in net to guard the Grizzlies Den in front of the home crowd. Amorelli only played the first period, stopping all 6 shots that he faced.

 

It didn’t take too long for the visitors to welcome Jake Webber into the fray as he took over in net for Amorelli. Brayden Guagliumi scored from Eliot Medlock and Connor Dunn on a beautiful transition goal which included a couple of nice passes. Guagliumi missed Wednesday’s game serving a suspension, and having him on the same line with Medlock certainly gave the Grizzlies something else to think about. Luc Ouellette bumped the Goffstown lead back to a pair of goals with his second goal of the game. The goal came with the home team on the power play, and a nice lead pass from Bograd up to Pierce who carried the puck through center ice with speed, set the play in motion. Luc was skating the left-wing, and going to the net when Pierce delivered a perfect pass to Ouellette who collected the puck and ripped a shot that got through Licata and into the net. Goffstown led, 3-1 at 9:25 of the period. Goffstown did outshoot Merrimack, 12-8 in the period, but again they were not able to get additional goals to widen their lead. For the second straight game, the Grizzlies led the Tomahawks, 3-1 going into the final period.

 

Jake Webber would end up with 18 saves on 20 shots faced in two periods of play. Goffstown was forced to kill another penalty in the final period and that penalty came after Merrimack had cut the lead to, 3-2. The Tomahawks scored on a another transition goal, on a real nice pass idea, and then a great pass. Kyle Dunn whipped a pass out of his defensive end in hopes that Eliot Medlock would win the puck in a battle with Colby Wright. Wright and Medlock were flying up the ice and some how the puck squirted out to Medlock who was free for a second on the right wing boards. Medlock delivered a gorgeous pass even though Wright was contesting the play aggressively. Kids, this is where you are reminded of one of the all-time hockey lessons. Skate to the net. Get to the net. Skate with your puck carrier and give them a place to go with the puck. Jackson Woods did exactly that, and was awaiting the Medlock pass in the slot, and then he didn’t miss once the puck got there. It was a beautiful play. The goal came at 4:58 of the third period. Webber and the boys shut the door down the last 5 minutes of the game. Even with Licata pulled for the last 49 seconds of the game, Merrimack had to settle for just the 2 goals. Merrimack dropped to 0-4 when they don’t score 3 goals or more in a game, while being 4-1 when they get at least 3 goals.

Fortunately, the three seniors for Goffstown will get at least another 4 home games, Lord willing, before the season ends. I know that we all sure do enjoy getting to see the team play in their home whites. The Grizzlies picked up their third straight win at home, improving to 3-2 at Sullivan Arena this season. Goffstown hits the road again for their next game when they head to Dover on Saturday (Feb. 5th) for a 1:30 pm game with the defending Champions, the Green Wave of Dover.

 

---

 

---

---

---

Please feel free to click on any picture to open it and zoom in for a closer look at Jen Webber’s incredible eye and talent. If I ever do something so amazing that it should be captured, I hope Jen Webber is nearby with her camera ready. Enjoy!

 

---

---

---

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.