February 18, 2023 – Goaltending and grit. The Goffstown Grizzlies had their rematch with Merrimack, this time on home ice. On Senior Night. The Goffstown hockey team got great goaltending and grit en route to their 2-1 win.

Class of 2023 – Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)

This was a good hockey game from start to finish. Both teams were able to create scoring chances. While doing so, they had to remain wary that the other team could quickly turn a defensive play into an odd-man rush going the other way. In other words, there wasn’t much room for error.

The first period was almost completely played without much in the way of offense. Actually, there was a lot of defense and traffic in front of the net that kept many shot attempts as just shot attempts and not shots on goal. In the period, Matt Licata faced 6 shots and Ethan Santoro faced only 5 shots. Of course these were just the shots on goal. Here we had it, goaltending and grit.

Lessard from Bograd and Klardie, Grizzlies lead, 1-0. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)

At 14:19 of the first period, the Goffstown hockey team put the first goal up on the scoreboard.

The play started with Xavier Bibaud reading a play at center ice to break up a Merrimack fly pattern up the middle. Bibaud dumped the puck harmlessly in on Licata from center ice. Licata steered the puck to the side. The Tomahawks worked the puck around behind the net toward the other corner. That is where Jake Klardie helped turn the direction of the puck back toward the net. Brandon Bograd grabbed the puck behind the net and made a gorgeous backhand pass to Tyler Lessard at the bottom of the circle. Lessard fired the puck quickly, through a bit of a screen, and found the back of the net.

With just under 41 seconds left in the first period, the Grizzlies had opened up the scoring. Lessard from Bograd and Klardie, at even strength. The period would end with the Goffstown Grizzlies leading, 1-0. There were no penalties called in the first period.

Merrimack came out with something to prove in the middle period. After Goffstown’s last minute goal in the first period, the Tomahawks answered with a first minute goal in the second period. Merrimack had the puck in the offensive zone for awhile. The Goffstown hockey team attempted to clear the puck a few times but were unable to get the puck out and make a line change. Then, Kyle Dunn grabbed a loose puck and flipped a little pass to the slot where Eliot Medlock ripped a shot past Santoro for the game-tying goal at 0:55 of the period. The game was knotted one goal apiece.

Goffstown and Merrimack each had power play opportunities after the tying goal but could not score.

DiMarzio’s pass sends Ouellette on a sprint to the other net. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)

At 8:52 of the period Nick DiMarzio scooped a nifty backhand pass to the spot in the center of the ice, where he thought Max Ouellette might be. Ouellette got to the puck just a split second after two Merrimack defensemen nearly collided while trying to keep the puck in the zone. This freed the puck and left Ouellette with open ice all the way to Licata. Max beat everyone up the ice and patiently held the puck until the exact moment he picked a spot and fired. The shot was true, and the Grizzlies had a 2-1 lead. Ouellette from DiMarzio.

Merrimack took a pair of penalties over the final five minutes of the period, but they killed both of them. The teams would each end up with 11 shots on goal in the period. After Ouellette’s goal, the Grizzlies pulled Santoro from the net and inserted fellow senior, Jake Webber, into the net. The two senior goaltenders split the duties on senior night. Goaltending and grit had the Goffstown Grizzlies in the lead with one period left.

In the final period, it was like watching a really good playoff game. Merrimack was trying to tie the game with all of their talented offensive weapons. Goffstown wanted to create and score but had to mind their defensive end first. Merrimack would end up with 10 shots on Webber in the 3rd period, while the Grizzlies managed 7 shots on Matt Licata. As the clock counted down and the Grizzlies still held the lead, the Tomahawks desperately needed the puck so they could attack and pull Licata.

Goffstown moved the puck well and even continued to move the puck into the offensive zone which kept Licata in the net.

Merrimack did get the extra attacker on for a few seconds here and there in the final 40 seconds, but the Grizzlies held on and took the decision, 2-1. Santoro and Webber made 25 saves on 26 shots. Lessard and Ouellette scored enough to win. And the entire team held possession, moved the puck, and played smart hockey to get the win. Goaltending and grit, and Senior Night was a home win for Goffstown.

So much to see here. Reading between the pixels. Reflection in the glass sets the bookmark for all-time. A competitor hunches down in a moment of temporary failure which I mark as opportunity and another challenge to be great. The fans cast their votes that scholastic athletics are a great way to spend a Saturday night. And behind the play the team rides the wave with the rush up ice. A scorekeeper stops the clock to set the reflective lights. Behind the lens a senior Mom spends her ceremonious evening capturing hundreds of thousands of yet to be spoken words. And this writer lets a tear escape, heart full, and thankful for the chance. It’s all about the kids, and every school kid should have these moments to live, and better yet, to later remember. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)

Before the game, with the beautiful Sullivan Arena as the backdrop, Goffstown recognized the following Seniors in their Senior Night Ceremony.

Avery Morgan – Team Manager

Jake Webber – Goaltender

Brandon Bograd – Forward

Jake Klardie – Forward

Jack Wilkinson – Forward

Corbin Huntley – Defense

Xavier Bibaud – Defense

Brennan Pierce – Defense

Annie St. Cyr – Forward

Ethan Santoro – Goaltender

They are not done playing hockey yet. When it is all done and the final buzzer has sounded: We will miss each of them, and we truly wish them the very best moving forward. It was my honor and pleasure to be a part of the ceremony this season. Thank you.

It’s Over!!! Grizzlies win, 2-1! Senior Night Celly. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)

After the weekend action in NHIAA Hockey – D2, here are the standings.

Standings: Boys Ice Hockey Division II

NOTE: The following are not official NHIAA standings. They are only the accumulation of game results as reported by the athletic directors and coaches.

Click here to view the schedules for all of the teams below.

School	W	L	T	Points	Rating
St. Thomas Aquinas	12	3	1	52.00	3.2500
Oyster River	11	5	0	45.00	2.8125
Dover	11	6	0	45.00	2.6471
Winnacunnet	9	5	2	41.00	2.5625
Goffstown Grizzlies	9	5	2	41.00	2.5625
Merrimack	9	6	1	39.00	2.4375
Somersworth-Coe-Brown	9	8	0	36.00	2.1176
Alvirne-Milford	7	9	0	29.00	1.8125
Portsmouth-Newmarket	4	13	0	16.00	0.9412
Spaulding	3	13	0	12.00	0.7500
Timberlane	0	15	0	0.00	0.0000

Bold Type = Current playoff positions

The Goffstown Grizzlies play their final regular season home game of the season on Wednesday night, February 22nd, against Somersworth-Coe-Brown. The Bearcats have won their last 3 games while outscoring their opponents, 22-5. The game is scheduled to start at 7:45pm.

You can follow other Goffstown Hockey stories, here.

You can also follow this blog here. I write a lot about hockey. It’s a long season. It’s not all just about the hockey, but rather about lessons and takeaways that come up throughout these seasons. Yes, I am biased. I am biased toward the truth and the right way to do things, whether anyone is watching or not.

The players play the games. The kids score the goals and make the saves. Most of the time, the kids band together for something that is bigger than themselves; the team. The kids do so many things right on any given play, on any given day. I have found that more often than not, the kids pleasantly surprise us all. It’s awesome. It’s all about the kids.

Senior Night 2023 – Goaltending and Grit – (Photos by Jen Webber Photography)

: Bogie, well done. We are all thrilled that your Mom is here too.Toughest words I have read in some time. It’s been our pleasure. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)

: Oh what fun it is to be a Senior Grizzlie with this group. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)

: Never sell yourself short. It really does take each one of you for the team to succeed. Look in every moment for the places where you can better yourself, or your team.

: In a 2-1 hockey game, goals were hard to come by. Santoro, Licata, and Webber all made that clear.

: Nick DiMarzio has great vision on the ice. And, I see great things for him yet to come. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)

: Ethan was 12 for 13 on the night, and earned his 6th win of the season. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)

: While the storm rages outside the crease, Santoro snags another shot. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)

: Senior Night 2023, at Sullivan Arena. When you’re home and counting your blessings, don’t forget this one. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)

: Brennan Pierce works for some space to operate against Merrimack. Pierce was a +2 in the game. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)

: I see you Jake. You got this. We all know, you got this. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)

: Best there are out there. Santoro 277 saves, Webber 276 saves. Together they stop 91.7% of the shots they face. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)

: Grizzlies Win, 2-1!!! Celebrate Senior Night!!! Coach Slocum’s 6th different 10-win season, a program record. (Photo by Jen Webber Photography)

NHIAA Hockey:

Updated records.

Goffstown (9-5-2 NHIAA) (10-7-2 Overall) vs. Merrimack (9-6-1)

Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH

Saturday, February 18, 2023. 7:38 PM Start.

Summary:

Goals:

Goffstown: 01 – 01 – 00 = 02

Merrimack: 00 – 01 – 00 = 01

Shots:

Goffstown: 06 – 11 – 07 = 24

Merrimack: 05 – 11 – 10 = 26

Scoring:

1st Goffstown at 14:19. Even. Tyler Lessard from Brandon Bograd and Jake Klardie.

2nd Merrimack at 0:55. Even. Eliot Medlock from Kyle Dunn.

2nd Goffstown at 8:52. Even. Max Ouellette from Nick DiMarzio. (GWG)

3rd Period – No scoring.

Special Teams:

Goffstown Power Play: 0 for 4.

Merrimack Power Play: 0 for 2.

Saves:

Goffstown: Ethan Santoro 12 of 13. (.923). (23:52)

Goffstown: Jake Webber 13 of 13. (1.000). (21:08)

Merrimack: Matt Licata 22 of 24. (.917). (44:31)

(photo by Jen Webber Photography)

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.

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 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.

“We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we’re too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming. We should always have dreams.” ~ the late Herb Brooks.

“To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it: If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.” ~ Jim Valvano on how to live life, during his ESPY speech.

“I started writing sports stories 20 years ago. I still do. I write because somewhere, in some game, a kid might be having the time of his or her life. That’s awesome to think about. It’s all about the kids.” ~ Steve Beal Sr.