Out Of Sync – Goffstown Hockey

– Out Of Sync  – Goffstown Hockey –

– Goffstown at Mon-Fall Mountain-ConVal – Keene Ice – Keene, NH –

Goffstown went to Keene to play against the Monadnock-Fall Mountain-ConVal Huskies in a MUST win game, against an opponent they should beat with a solid effort. The Goffstown hockey team got the win, 4-1, all while battling through details that seemed just a bit out of sync.

 

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Studies show that there may in fact be benefits to having a daily routine which includes exercise or heightened activity (sports) at the same time each day. The body’s mechanisms can reset each day and perform at higher levels day after day. We are creatures of habit, and this makes some sense.

Then there are even more studies on the ideal time of day to be active, but even more accurately, to be at peak performance level during those specific times of day. These studies show that afternoon/early evening are the best times for optimal exercise results. Then by the previous comments measure, one would, for the best of the best results, practice and play games in the afternoon/early evening, and do that everyday.

But, here we are talking about high school hockey with practices and games showing up on the daily, between 5am and 10pm, on a nearly random basis, yet still demanding the teenage athlete to give their all, their very best. And if this age group wasn’t already inherently unpredictable just by growing and changing through these ages, the schedule doesn’t help. This is not a complaint, or blame. This is just high school hockey reality. It’s nobody’s fault.

 

 

These are the first things I thought of when I watched the video of the game against Mon-Fall Mountain-ConVal, and heard commentary from others about tempo, energy, pace, etc. Add to the lack of daily structure or regiment, and the tap dancing schedule that falls in and out of the ideal time of day, a game that starts at 9pm on a Saturday night after delays.

The scenario went something like this. The athletes got to the school for a 530 pm bus ride out to Keene. Ice time was slotted for 810 pm to begin warm-ups. The puck drop to begin the game happened at 856 pm. The game was played, and the team’s shook hands to end the ice time at 1o37 pm. GHS parents got home at midnight. The athletes got home after the bus ride back to the school between 1240 am and 100 am Sunday morning.

These things happen sometimes. A tough win was earned on the road during a 7-hour round trip. Abundant credit to all the parties involved. Seriously, that’s a pile of what if’s and excuses that were set aside and a team effort victory was secured for the Goffstown hockey program. That is impressive.

 

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Of note, the Grizzlies actually took a 2-0 lead in the first period. Even more notable, both goals were scored on the power play. The Goffstown hockey team took a 2-1 lead to the first intermission. Then they scored a shorthanded goal and an even strength goal in the middle period, on their way to a 4-1 win out at Keene Ice.

Alex Veary got the win in net and even assisted on the first goal of the game. So, that’s pretty awesome!

 

 

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Let’s get to the Goffstown Grizzlies goals, shall we.

 

1. The visitors get on the board first – Power Play Goal – For as many things that seemed out of sync on Saturday night, the Grizzlies special teams were on point. The Huskies cleared the puck out of their defensive zone and sent the puck the length of the ice. Alex Veary played the puck to the side of his net and settled for Zack Tarrier who was racing back to retrieve it, and reset the power play set up. Tarrier circled his own net and then skated the puck up the ice. As he met resistance, he hit the blue line with speed and a couple of slick moves. Tarrier busted through the barricade like a ghost through a wall. After doing so, he dished a perfect pass to his left where Dylan Ellbeg was wide open. Ellbeg, clearly was thrilled to receive such a wonderful gift, and he smacked the one-timer into the open side of the net. Just like two boys on a backwoods pond would have done a thousand times in their younger days of hockey dreams and enjoying the great outdoors. PPG – Ellbeg (5) from Tarrier (12) and Veary (1). 1-0.
2. Nothing but net – Goffstown had an offensive zone face-off as a result of a power play opportunity. Then like one might draw it up, the Grizzlies scored on the power play, and it went something like this. Tarrier won the face-off to Sam Chapman right at the edge of the circle. Chapman moved the puck quickly with a backhand pass across the zone to Tyler Lessard at the left point. Lessard was ready, and immediately fired a shot that rose quickly but precisely through a gathering of traffic in front of the netminder. The puck found the twine on the far side top corner of the goal. It was a great play and a long shot that found nothing but net. PPG – Lessard (14) from S. Chapman (9) and Tarrier (13). 2-0. GWG.
3. Goffstown doubles their lead with a shortie – The Grizzlies made a simple play to clear the puck out of their own end while killing a penalty. Then Lessard and Andrew Skora pursued the puck on the forecheck. They were able to create a puck moving disturbance along the half wall. This led to a steal by Skora who then dropped a pass low to Lessard who turned toward the net at the bottom of the circle. Lessard fired the puck from a less than desirable angle, but for all the Grade A chances in a season that don’t find the net, there are these ones that do. Making good hockey plays. SHG – Lessard (15) from Skora (6). 3-1.
4. The Goffstown hockey team caps the scoring on the night – Austin Campbell and AJ Hill were back on defense and they captured the puck, then moved it with a D to D pass. Hill spun and fired a pass through center ice in hopes that Skora and his speed would skate onto the line of the pass. There were two defenders between the passer and the receiver, but Skora got there in time to grab the puck as it bounced off of the defense. Skora then sped into the zone and on the right side of the slot he let a shot fly. Skora’s shot was accurate and it found the net for the goal. Skora (1) from Hill (1) and Campbell (8). 4-1.

 

 

 

Despite the delays, the late night start, and a terribly long round trip, the Goffstown hockey team earned a win on the road, and improved to 7-5. They sit in 6th place in the standings currently. The 4th through 7th place teams in D-II are separated by only 0.4359 points, or less than half a point by the rating system.

Goffstown plays #2 Merrimack at Tri-Town tonight, then again at West Side Arena on Saturday. They play #7 Alvirne-Milford on Wednesday night at St. A’s. Wednesday night is a huge game for a number of reasons, most importantly, it’s the 2nd Annual Charity Hockey Game. Hopefully, a lot of money will be raised for the Doug Flutie. Jr Foundation for Autism Inc. through this effort. In between all of this, Goffstown plays at Nashua North (D-I) on Friday afternoon.

 

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NHIAA Hockey:

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Keene Ice – Keene, NH.

Scoring:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 02 – 02 – 00 = 04

Mon-Fall Mountain-ConVal Huskies: 01 – 00 – 00 = 01

 

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NHIAA Hockey:

Shots on goal:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 07 – 15 – 09 = 31

Mon-Fall Mountain-ConVal Huskies: 06 – 06 – 06 = 18

 

Goffstown Grizzlies Penalties:

1. Caldwell (2:00-Hooking) PPGA.
2. Hill (2:00-Cross-Checking) SHG.
3. Lessard (2:00-Boarding)
4. Ellbeg (2:00-Roughing)
5. S. Chapman (2:00-Roughing)*
6. S. Chapman (10:00-Misconduct)*
7. Diodati (2:00-Unsportsmanlike)
8. Diodati (10:00-Misconduct)

 

Goffstown was 2-for-3 on the power play, while Mon-Fall Mountain-ConVal was 1-for-3.

• * –  I listed these penalties on Chapman based on what the ref told the GHS bench. This was also what I thought the call would and should be based on watching the video several times from different angles. This is not what was written on the game sheet though. I don’t know if the ref gave different direction to the score booth or if the writer of the sheet wrote their own interpretation.
• Mon-Fall Mountain-ConVal Huskies – Matthew Coburn (Sr.) made 27 saves on 31 shots (.871).
• Goffstown Grizzlies – Alex Veary (Sr.) made 17 saves on 18 shots (.944).

 

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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.