Simply Outclassed – Goffstown Hockey

– Simply Outclassed – Goffstown Hockey –

– Goffstown vs. Winnacunnet, Tri-Town Arena – South Rink –

The Goffstown Grizzlies played host to the Winnacunnet Warriors on Saturday afternoon. It was a home away from home game at Tri-Town Arena. After a promising first period despite the 3-1 deficit, Winnacunnet simply outclassed Goffstown while cruising to a 7-2 win.

 

 

 

I believe that the Goffstown Hockey team surprised the Winnacunnet Warriors in the first period with their ability to get to the net and create excellent scoring chances. I don’t think that this Grizzlies team could have beaten the Warriors on Saturday even if the first period results had been even better. The Grizzlies played well for the first 14.5 minutes of the game. They drew two penalties on Winnacunnet while being whistled for only one penalty. But to come out of that period trailing 3-1 was quite deflating. Especially when the Warriors scored with 17 seconds left in the period, on their 11th shot.

After killing a penalty at the beginning of the second period, the Grizzlies scored to make the score 3-2. Then 12 seconds later they took a penalty. Being shorthanded for 4:00 of the first 4:53 of the middle period was taking its toll. The Warriors were getting all their engines firing, and they were flying. Goffstown only managed 4 shots on goal in the second period, after scoring at 2:41 of the period. Winnacunnet finally scored on their third power play of the middle period which began a 4 goal blitz over 4:57, and the game was essentially over. Goffstown was outshot 19-5 in the second period.

Simply outclassed, Winnacunnet dressed 19 players for the game, of which, 8 are seniors, and another 5 are juniors. Goffstown played 3 seniors and 5 juniors in the game.

Goffstown’s goaltender, Kyle Bennett not only faced 45 shots on goal, almost every one of them was tipped, almost tipped, screened, or involved traffic in front of the crease. Goffstown showed some ability to get to the net, mostly in one-on-none, or some two-on-one chances. When they did, Owen Helton made several tremendous saves, to keep the Grizzlies from building any momentum on the scoreboard.

Half way through the game, the score was 3-2. But there was a crack in the dam, and the power play goal to make the score, 4-2 seemed to be the drop of water that ultimately rendered the dam useless. Goffstown had been limited to four skaters (due to penalties) for 7:25 over a span of 8:56 in the second period, the dam was weakening. Then the power play goal went in.

In the final period the Grizzlies were whistled for 31 penalty minutes, which is a difficult thing to do. They were outshot, 15-5 in the final period. And if the Grizzlies showed their true colors in the face of a bigger, faster, better team, also known as adversity, then I hope to never see those colors again. I hope for the Goffstown hockey team that it was just a bad day at the rink, and truly not the makeup of several players on the team. Time and actions will tell.

I had a brief post-game chat Coach Andruchuk, and he spoke of how his team reacted to the adversity of being figuratively punched in the face by a team that was relentless in their full ice pressure throughout last two periods. He hopes to see the Grizzlies bounce back well, and carry themselves better through such tough times.

I also talked to Coach Kinnaly after the game. I apologized for the way some of the players carried on during the game. He was respectful, as always, noting that his team wasn’t innocent either. He pointed out some bright spots for the Grizzlies and wished Goffstown well going forward.

 

1. Grizzlies tie it early, 1-1 – Austin Campbell stepped in from the right point and made a nice play to keep the puck in the zone. Then he made an even better play by getting a nice short-hop shot on net with Sam Chapman in front of the net. The shot either hit Chapman’s stick and went in, or it hit the goalie’s pad, then Chapman’s stick for the rebound goal. Either way – Chapman (3) from Campbell (6). 1-1.
2. Grizzlies cut the deficit to one – The Grizzlies were hemmed in their own end while killing a penalty. Chapman got out of the box and retreated to the defensive end to help out. A few seconds later Andrew Skora got his stick in a passing lane and poked the puck out toward center ice. Chapman grabbed the puck and hit top speed. Well actually, he then hit another higher speed and got behind the defense before scoring his second goal of the game. I watched this goal live. I watched a few times on video too. What blows me away from the very first time is how Chapman went from center ice into the offensive zone still accelerating, like he was a sail caught in a gale force wind. Great goal for the Grizzlies.  Chapman (4) from Skora (4). 2-3.

 

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NHIAA Hockey:

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Tri-Town Arena – South Rink

Scoring:

Winnacunnet Warriors: 03 – 04 – 00 = 07

Goffstown Grizzlies: 01 – 01 – 00 = 02

 

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Shots on goal:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 17 – 05 – 05 = 27

Winnacunnet Warriors: 11 – 19 – 15 = 45

Goffstown Grizzlies Penalties:

1. Ellbeg (2:00-Roughing)
2. Chapman (2:00-High-Sticking)
3. Caldwell (2:00-Slashing)
4. Tarrier (2:00-Tripping) (Matching penalty)
5. Ellbeg (2:00-Hooking) (Power play goal against)
6. Stratford (5:00-Major – Head Contact)
7. Stratford (10:00-Game Misconduct – DQ)
8. Chapman (2:00-Roughing)
9. Tarrier (2:00-Unsportsmanlike Conduct)
10. Tarrier (10:00-Misconduct)
11. Bench (2:00-Too Many Men-Chapman)

Goffstown was 0-for-3 on the power play, while Winnacunnet was 1-for-8. This was the first power play goal that the Grizzlies have allowed in 6 league games.

Winnacunnet Warriors – Owen Helton made 25 saves on 27 shots (.926).

Goffstown Grizzlies – Kyle Bennett made 38 saves on 45 shots (.844).

 

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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.