8 Games In 14 Days – Goffstown Hockey

– 8 Games In 14 Days – Goffstown Hockey –

– Goffstown at Merrimack – West Side Arena – Manchester, NH –

After trudging through a 37-day span where they played only 3 league games, the Goffstown hockey team just finished an often heart-stopping stretch of hockey with 8 games in 14 days. Talk about a balanced schedule.

Lining up. Grizzlies one and all. (Photo by Meagan Tarrier)

8 games in 14 days. Four of those games were played in six days last week. Overall, 2 wins, 4 losses, 2 ties. 19 goals scored, only 17 goals allowed. 17 goals allowed over the 8 games, which averaged extra time, left the Grizzlies with a stellar 2.025 Goals Against Average over the 8 games. The Goffstown hockey team went 0-3-1 at home (one game was at Tri-Town), and 2-1-1 on the road in those 8 games. They played 377.5 minutes of hockey over the 8 games.

The last 3 games of this stretch were played in 4 days, and averaged 50+ minutes per game, as all 3 games went to overtime. In those 3 games, the Goffstown hockey team had a Goals Against Average of 1.77 goals per 45-minute game. That is outstanding!

During the 8 game run, the Grizzlies played the #5 team, D-I Team, #2 team, #12 team, #1 team, #6 team, D-I Team, and #1 team, again.

The last of the 8 game stretch was played against #1 Merrimack, at West Side Arena, on Saturday afternoon. Merrimack scored first, Conor Dunn on a slick move and a tremendous shot early in the first period. Late in the opening period, Sam Chapman scored to tie the game, 1-1.

Merrimack scored the only goal of the second period, Warrington, after a great save by Bennett (in front of the net), from Rattunde and Monte while there was a delayed penalty being called on the Grizzlies.

Sam Chapman scored in the 3rd period, to tie the game again, this time at 2-2. The remaining 6:36 of regulation and full 8:00 of overtime were scoreless, thanks to other worldly goaltending from Kyle Bennett and James Brew.

It takes everyone. It truly does. (Photo by Meagan Tarrier)

Here is how the Goffstown hockey team scored their two goals.

1. Cooper Chapman skated by the Merrimack player attempting to disrupt the breakout out of their zone. With Chapman now at center ice the player made a breakout pass across the middle. With Chapman leaving the zone he obviously didn’t see Zack Tarrier come into the zone. Tarrier picked off the pass and since the puck never left the zone, Sam Chapman was still onside, down in the circle. Tarrier carried into the slot and dished a pass to Chapman in the circle. Sam made a nice move to the front of the net and scored on the backhand. S. Chapman (11) Tarrier (16). 1-1.
2. Goffstown’s second goal was an example of why, on every single shift, you must give your best effort. Tyler Lessard and Sam Chapman were loosely pressuring the puck at center ice while on the power play. Chapman picked his spot and sprang to take the puck off of the Merrimack player. He did steal the puck, and skated for the circle on his right. He had Lessard on his left going to the net, so the two defenders had more than one option to think about. Chapman got to the face-off dot and ripped a shot past Brew for the goal to tie the game, again. PPG – S. Chapman (12) unassisted. 2-2.

Brew and Bennett, the goalies, made players wonder if they’d ever score again as they both shut the door at their ends of the ice, for the remainder of play.

20 seconds after this picture was taken, the score was tied. (Photo by Meagan Tarrier)

NHIAA Hockey: OT

Saturday, February 17, 2024

West Side Arena – Manchester, NH.

Scoring:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 01 – 00 – 01 – 00 = 02

Merrimack Tomahawks: 01 – 01 – 00 – 00 = 02

NHIAA Hockey: OT

Shots on goal:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 08 – 10 – 09 – 03 = 30

Merrimack Tomahawks: 11 – 10 – 13 – 03 = 37

Goffstown Grizzlies Penalties:

1. C. Chapman (2:00-Hooking).
2. Campbell (2:00-Tripping).
3. Hill (2:00-Elbowing).
4. C. Chapman (2:00-Embellishment) (This should have been called on Sam as he was the one taken down)

Goffstown was 1-for-4 on the power play, while Merrimack was 0-for-2.

• Merrimack Tomahawks – James Brew played all 53 minutes and made 28 saves on 30 shots (.933).
• Goffstown Grizzlies – Kyle Bennett (Fr.) played all 53 minutes and made 35 saves on 37 shots (.946).

There are only two regular season games left. The Goffstown hockey team is hoping to finish in the top 7, and avoid playing in the Prelim round on 2/28.

The #7 Grizzlies (7-7-2) play at #9 Somersworth-Coe-Brown-Northwood (7-8-1) on Wednesday night in Rochester at 7PM. Then they finish the regular season on Saturday, 2/24 against Timberlane on Sr. Night. Time is to be determined.

You can play with anyone. It’s up to you. (Photo by Meagan Tarrier)

Live and in person, I thought Sam’s leg was clipped from behind. Watching video, I thought maybe I was wrong. Looking at this. You decide. (Photo by Meagan Tarrier)

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.