Too Easy – Goffstown Hockey

– Too Easy – Goffstown Hockey –

– Dover at Goffstown – Sullivan Arena –

Dover scored a shorthanded goal just 33 seconds into the game. And for me, the theme of the day started. Too easy. Either Dover is that good, or Goffstown just didn’t play up to their talent level. Because, for much of the game, it just looked too easy for the Dover Green Wave. The Grizzlies dropped the decision, 4-3.

 

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In the first period alone, I counted a dozen times where the puck, the Green Wave with the puck, or an odd-man rush occurred from their blue line in, where Goffstown either had either one or no defenseman back to defend. This does not even include the shorthanded goal allowed in the first 33 seconds of the game. Too easy.

I didn’t count them, but there were probably another dozen times in the opening period where the Goffstown hockey team was unable to the clear the puck out of their own end. The combination of these things led to Dover scoring three times and getting 18 shots on Kyle Bennett in net. And waaaaaayyyyy too many of these shots were either point blank, in close after a series of passes, or just wide open from anywhere.

When you come into a game after a thrilling come from behind victory a few nights earlier, and you are hosting the defending champs on your home ice, I would think you would be amped up and chomping at the bit to show the mighty Dover Green Wave that you are here to play and to show them what you are made of. Of course, my competitive sports days are way behind me, and perhaps you did show them what you are made of.

Personally, I think this Goffstown hockey team has shown glimpses of what it is capable of doing. I believe there is so much more.

I don’t see the fire in the eyes up and down the lineup. Like everyone being an electric shock waiting to electrify each of the fleeting moments of a high school career. A team of mates that energize everything they make contact with. Then being repeatedly recharged when the Grizzlies sit shoulder to shoulder at their bench, with each conductor of electricity practically having to be restrained from jumping over the boards at 100 miles per hour to support, to contribute, to will, the team to victory. Play after play, win every play, until the desired result is earned.

There are no shortcuts. The good thing about shortcuts is that they provide an opportunity to learn, and usually at the expense of failure or someone else’s success. But where would any of us be, if we didn’t have opportunities to learn.

 

 

Goffstown did fall behind, again, 2-0 again actually. Then a freshman on his first varsity shift scored his first varsity goal, and the Grizzlies proved that they were indeed alive. Cooper Chapman, making his varsity hockey debut scored on his first shift. Pretty awesome!

The Goffstown Grizzlies ultimately tied the game, 3-3, in the first minute of the second period. The won the 2nd period, 1-0. Then they came out of the gate in the final period and watched a pair of juniors and a senior put on a sense of urgency and passing display for Dover as they scored in the opening minute of the final period. This would be the game-winning goal, and one of only two shots that Dover had on net in the 3rd period. Refer back to the paragraph about electricity. That Dover play was electric. And it held up as the game-winner.

If I was coaching (I am glad that I am not), I would ask, “Who wanted that game more than Dover #2 (Behan)?” The answer, nobody.

Here are some highlights from the Goffstown comeback bid on Saturday:

 

 

1. First game. First shift. First shot. First goal. That is how you start your high school hockey career. The Grizzlies were pressing the play in the offensive zone. They didn’t necessarily have the puck but they weren’t letting Dover clear it either. Andrew Skora (back in the lineup) got one touch of the puck on the possession and he made it count. He quickly moved the puck from the wall to the low circle to Cooper Chapman. Chapman wasted no time while spinning and shooting the puck at the same time. The shot was along the ice but it was away so quickly that JP Alander didn’t have time to get set, and the puck got through the pads for the goal. C. Chapman (1) from Skora (5). 1-2. – First Career Goal.
2. Goffstown ties it, 2-2 at 8:46 of the first period – Way back in the defensive zone, Jackson Horne chased down a cleared puck in the corner, behind his own net. It wasn’t called icing. He spun and fired a blind pass to the far boards where Sam Chapman settled the puck, back to Tarrier. Tarrier looked up the ice and sent a long, timing type of pass to the long side of the ice at the offensive blue line. He was looking for Chapman but the pass didn’t connect. Chapman was flying up ice and got to the puck behind the net. No icing was called here either. Chapman turned and shot the puck from a near impossible angle and his shot found a spot just inside the far post for a tremendous goal. S. Chapman (9) from Tarrier (10) and Horne (2). 2-2.
3. Grizzlies come back again, and tie the game, 3-3 – It was the opening minute of the second period, and both Owen Matatall and Zack Tarrier won puck battles in the offensive zone to keep this play alive. They set up Brock Bennett at the right point for a shot that got through but it was kicked out Alander. The Grizzlies continued to battle regained possession of the puck without ever leaving the zone. Then Matatall moved the puck to Tarrier who worked from behind the net toward the corner. He angled a pass off of the boards back to Bennett again. This time Caleb Marasca was charging out to get in Bennett’s shooting lane. Bennett not only put the shot cleanly through Marasca’s legs, but he fired it harder than it appeared. The puck was low and gently rising. The puck didn’t hit anything until it hit the strings at the back of the net. Great shot! It was just above the goalie’s pad but below the glove and the screen from Marasca didn’t hurt Bennett’s prospects. Bennett (1) from Tarrier (11) and Matatall (4). 3-3.

 

 

The Goffstown hockey team fell to 5-4-0 on the season, and they now sit in 6th place in D-II. After Oyster River scored with 90 seconds left in the game to beat Alvirne-Milford, 3-2. They jump to 4th place and Dover sits in 5th place. Merrimack beat Winnacunnet, 5-2 and those two teams each have two losses on the season. Somersworth-Coe-Brown beat Spaulding, 4-3 and they are now in 7th, one spot behind the Grizzlies.

Not all the scores have updated on the NHIAA page but I watched some extra LiveBarn to see scores. Here are the 9 playoff positions as of this morning.

1. Winnacunnet
2. Merrimack
3. Lebanon-Stevens
4. Oyster River
5. Dover
6. Goffstown
7. Somersworth-Coe-Brown
8. Spaulding
9. Alvirne-Milford

 

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NHIAA Hockey:

Saturday, February 03, 2024

Sullivan Arena – St. Anselm College

Scoring:

Dover Green Wave: 03 – 00 – 01 = 04

Goffstown Grizzlies: 02 – 01 – 00 = 03

 

 

 

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Shots on goal:

Dover Green Wave: 18 – 11 – 02 = 31

Goffstown Grizzlies: 09 – 12 – 07 = 28

 

Goffstown Grizzlies Penalties:

1. Tarrier (2:00-Interference)
2. S. Chapman (2:00-Roughing)

Goffstown was 0-for-2 on the power play, while Dover was 0-for-1. Goffstown did allow a shorthanded goal.

Dover Green Wave – JP Alander made 25 saves on 28 shots (.893).

Goffstown Grizzlies – Kyle Bennett (Fr.) made 27 saves on 31 shots (.871).

 

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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.