February 08, 2023 – Short shifts and what ifs: The Goffstown Grizzlies got better as the game went on, keeping shifts short, and rolling their lines. One goal bested them on the scoreboard, but there is hope in the what ifs.
![click to enlarge short shifts and what ifs](https://i0.wp.com/1inawesomewonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/JWP_Lineup-as-one.jpg?resize=500%2C334&quality=89&ssl=1)
The Goffstown Grizzlies lineup before their game at Oyster River, at the Whittemore Center. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)
Goffstown got the first shot on goal in the game and then the Oyster River Bobcats had the next seven shots. The Grizzlies started slow, which has been a trend for this Goffstown hockey team. The Bobcats would take the shots tally, 12-6 in the first period, but nobody put a shot in the net.
The Oyster River Bobcats cashed in on a second period turnover in the Goffstown defensive end and put the puck in the net. That was the only goal of the game. Talon Beyer scored from the slot. There was no assist. Just the goal.
The goaltenders, Cole Hardwood of Oyster River, and Jake Webber of Goffstown, combined to stop the other 55 shots they faced in the game.
By the end of the second period the Grizzlies were playing much better and started to get more scoring chances. This would carry into the final period as well.
There were only two penalties called in the game, and they were matching penalties on the same play, so neither side even had so much as a power play opportunity.
![click to enlarge short shifts and what ifs](https://i0.wp.com/1inawesomewonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/JWP_On-we-go-as-one.jpg?resize=500%2C334&quality=89&ssl=1)
Goffstown hockey captain, Xavier Bibaud leads the Grizzlies onto the ice out in Durham, NH. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)
This was good old fashioned, line-up toe to toe and play hockey, and let’s see who wins. Special teams didn’t factor in at all.
In the third period, I thought Goffstown had the better legs and more left in the tank, but they could not get a puck past Harwood. I also noticed the Oyster River five on the ice were packed in below the tops of the circles, literally circling the wagons to fend off the Goffstown hockey attack.
Then again, when you have a 1-0 lead you really don’t need to score anymore goals if you allow none. The Grizzlies did have a questionable pinch at center ice which led to an odd-man break for the Bobcats. It was was a 3-on-1 which kind of turned into a pair of 2-on-1 breaks. Jake Webber made consecutive spectacular saves on the break-in. For a couple of seconds he looked like a cat chasing the light of a laser pointer, but he saved the Grizzlies bacon after the breakdown.
Goffstown’s forecheck did lead to some opportunities in the offensive end. On the other hand, Oyster River won most of the defensive zone faceoffs so the Grizzlies had to count on the forecheck to get the puck back and create scoring chances.
The Goffstown Grizzlies called a timeout and pulled Jake Webber from the net at 13:31 of the third period. They skated with the 6-on-5 advantage for the remainder of the game but were unable to score.
Goffstown has a week off and will play their next game on February 15th at Skate 3 in Tyngsboro, Mass. against Alvirne-Milford. Game time is scheduled for 7:50pm. Alvirne-Milford has won five of their last six games, and currently they sit in 7th place, one spot behind the Grizzlies in the D-II hockey standings.
For the Goffstown Grizzlies, and their fans, perhaps the Goffstown hockey squad can turn short shifts and what ifs into great hockey plays and winning ways.
One
(Photos by Jen Webber Photography)
- There is One name on the front of the jerseys. That is the name each One represents. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)
- Two become One when defending for the name on the front. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)
- One leads, but all of them, yes, each One of them makes it team. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)
- You can’t make 28 saves if you don’t make them One at a time. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)
- To make what I call, “good hockey plays”, it starts with One good play. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)
- It’s a team game, and the team rises and falls together. With each One making a contribution. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)
- One team, is made up a lot of folks with One common goal. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)
- One on One, time and time again. That’s what it takes. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)
- Covering Goffstown Hockey from the Whittemore Center out at UNH. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)
![click to enlarge short shifts and what ifs](https://i0.wp.com/1inawesomewonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/JWP_One-of-many.jpg?resize=1002%2C1500&quality=89&ssl=1)
Uniform number: One. Pucks to stop: One. Nets to guard: One. Positions to play on the ice: One. Team defending for: One. Stops to make: One, at a time. How many come to defend the position: EveryOne. Jobs to be the best at: One. Conscious decisions that matter most: The next One. Ripples that One makes: Countless. How many are affected: EveryOne. Team equals: All for One. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)
Updated records.
Goffstown (7-5-2 NHIAA) (8-7-2 Overall) at Oyster River (9-4-0)
Whittemore Center, University of NH, Durham, NH
Wednesday, February 08, 2023. 6:21 PM Start.
Summary:
Goals:
Goffstown: 00 – 00 – 00 = 00
Oyster River: 00 – 01 – 00 = 01
Shots:
Goffstown: 06 – 10 – 11 = 27
Oyster River: 12 – 09 – 08 = 29
Scoring:
1st Period – No scoring.
2nd Oyster River at 2:38. Even. Talon Beyer unassisted.
3rd Period – No scoring.
Special Teams:
Saves:
Goffstown: Jake Webber 28 of 29. (.966). (43:31)
Oyster River: Cole Harwood 27 of 27. (1.000). (45:00)
Remembering Jen Cheney…
The Jen Cheney Memorial Scholarship and Sportsmanship Award (awarded each season)
As a sixteen-year-old junior, Jen was a manager for the very first Goffstown Grizzlies hockey team in the 1999-2000 club season. Her infectious smile and friendly nature was a joy for everyone fortunate to know her. Jen is now our eternal team angel. The spirit of Jen lives on…our team champions an angel memorial patch sewn to each uniform jersey.
On Thursday, May 18th, 2000, Jen was killed by a drunk driver. We are dedicated to memorialize Jen’s life with the Jen Cheney Memorial Scholarship and Sportsmanship Award. But we also want to deliver a message from our team angel… simply…if you choose to drink, don’t drive.
![click to enlarge](https://i0.wp.com/1inawesomewonder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wp-1675170289042.jpg?resize=221%2C230&quality=89&ssl=1)
The current look at my ‘hockey office’. So many hours spent in this space, tracking numbers and capturing season after season. (C) 1inawesomewonder 2023.
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.