Hockey: Goffstown 4 vs. Nashua North-Souhegan 1

Grizzlies Rebound With Team Effort In 4-1 Win

I described much of the first half of this game as Goffstown playing not to lose. Almost like they were waiting for the other shoe to drop. They powered through and played like a team that had each other’s backs, and that served them well. The Grizzlies were able to add a pair of third period goals and skate to a solid, 4-1 win.

Owen Matatall had a special afternoon for Goffstown. Not only did he register the game-winning goal (GWG), it was his first career goal. His tally gave the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead at the time. It came on an offensive zone face-off win from Jake Klardie to Andrew Skora, back to the point, quick shot, score. It was the sixth “First Career Goal” for the Grizzlies this season. Matatall also made a nice play that doesn’t get into the box score, but it did lead indirectly to the first Grizzlies goal of the day. Moments after the Grizzlies defense blocked a point blank shot from Chase McBride out in front of James Amorelli, Goffstown won a face-off outside their own blue line. With possession of the puck they quickly regrouped, retreating for a second or two in their own end. Luc Ouellette sent the puck back to Colby Wright who moved the puck to his right, quickly over to Owen Matatall. The sophomore defenseman started to skate out of the defensive zone with his head up when he saw Max Ouellette going like a runaway train through center ice. It was a perfect pass that allowed Max to split the D on his way into the offensive zone. As Max entered the slot area with speed, the Saber Titans were forced into a hooking penalty to deny a breakaway chance for Ouellette. The penalty was called at 8:59 of the first period, and 44 seconds later, the Grizzlies were on the board. Goffstown moved the puck around the perimeter of the offensive zone when Colby Wright slid a pass across the zone to Luc Ouellette who let his signature wrist shot fly. Zach Veilleux made the save through traffic but the puck bounced off his body and into the low slot. Max Ouellette was right there, on the spot, and he fired the puck into the net to give Goffstown a, 1-0 lead.

---

The following has been mostly true not only this season, but for the most part over the last 20 + seasons that I have coached baseball, basketball or covered Goffstown hockey. Teams generally keep working hard, skating hard, and giving solid effort whether they are up or down on the scoreboard. I would hope this behavior was something as simple as the human nature found in each one of us. Although, I have found that this behavior is not always presently found as we deal with the ups and downs of life on any given day. I have found, however, that many times the well within from which we “dig deep” is often replenished by coaches who do care how their players carry themselves in conduct, in respect, and in effort. I also cannot place a value on the tremendous power of persuasion to push ones’ self to be better even in moments when they don’t care to be, by playing hard and the right way for the teammates they see when they look up and down the bench. If this alone isn’t a fantastic reason for schools everywhere to fully embrace extracurricular activities like team sports on every level that they could muster, then I don’t know what is.

In the final period, the Grizzlies were able to get a pair of goals from junior, center, Brandon Bograd. I don’t Brandon, or his family personally, but I know his game. I know that other teams love to run at him because of his size, but this has given him better vision. It may have also driven him to be as tenacious as he can be in the spaces where he works his game. Bograd had a single assist as a freshman, he scored his first goal last season, and returned to the team this year as a new entity. He has been a wonderful surprise and a perfect fit between the Ouellette boys.

Goffstown’s third goal was sort of a broken play because the Saber Titans had the puck on their sticks with a chance to clear the zone but Bograd pressed the defender while trying to clear the puck. This action allowed Luc Ouellette to pick off the clearing attempt and move the puck to Brennan Pierce near the left point. Pierce drifted toward the boards and threw a shot at the net nearly head high through traffic. Veilleux made the save despite the gathering of players out front, but the puck dropped in front of him. Bograd on the spot, dragged the puck from backhand to forehand to the open side of the cage and put the puck in to the net while being pestered not to do so. Tenacious in the space he was working in.

It was about two and a half minutes later when Brandon “The Bulldog” Bograd struck again. Again, the Grizzlies scrambled to keep the puck in the zone. They did. The puck bounced over Bograd’s stick on a one-timer attempt but it skipped through his legs right to Luc Ouellette who ripped a wicked wrister from the left-wing circle. It was a heavy shot, and on net. The puck caromed off of Veilleux and Max Ouellette helped the puck from the crease toward the right-wing circle, where “The Bulldog” slid the puck home as he got decked on the play. Goffstown led, 4-1 with half a period to go.

While the Grizzlies were slowly building on their lead, James Amorelli was keeping the group from Nashua North-Souhegan from getting any closer. If the sport of hockey was a great horse, Amorelli probably beat his horse for no good reason on Saturday night. But after a good night’s rest, some feed, and the dawn of a new day, the great horse welcomed James back to the saddle on Sunday. And Amorelli rode like a polished western horseman all afternoon, on his way to a 36-save win, the 10th win of his career. I am not singling out James here, there were plenty of folks that adversity showed effects on. For a senior captain, it was imperative to bounce back for himself, to bounce back for the bigger picture, for the team; and he did that. He was steady, he was ready, and he backed his mates to a much needed win. I go back to my opening lines of this piece, “…They powered through and played like a team that had each other’s backs…”. These wins don’t happen by themselves, nor do they happen on the strength or weakness of one player. Was it James’ best performance from start to finish? No. He made mistakes like we all do. What was great to see though, was that the actions on the ice carried no blame, just a whole lot of, “I got your back”. That is the way this team wins games.

My proximity to the ice and my desire to share positive feedback to officials, coaches, and opponents, whenever I can, leads me to a lot of information that I don’t go looking for. I heard folks present at both the Saturday and Sunday games, not from our team, mention how nice it was to see both teams play hockey and exude sportsmanship in Sunday’s game. I also talked to the other coach and told him how impressed I was to see his team play hard, but not nasty, and keep working right to the final whistle. He was thrilled to hear that someone else noticed and has high hopes for the group he has in the coming seasons. They did have 30 shots on goal in the last two periods.

Goffstown plays Winnacunnet at home on Friday night the 18th. It’s the final regular season game of this season. The Playoffs are certainly a possibility for the Grizzlies and a 10th win would absolutely put them in the mix. The game is at 7:30 pm, and the Warriors are also battling for a playoff spot. This should be a real good game.

 

---

When Jen Webber Photography has pictures of the game available, I go back and update my recap. Check these out and more. Click on pictures to enlarge and look around.

 

---

---

---

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.