Looking Back – Goffstown Hockey

– Looking Back – Goffstown Hockey –

– Goffstown vs. Timberlane – Sullivan Arena – St. Anselm College –

It was Senior Day, and everyone did some looking back over the last four years. It was the last day of the regular season. Goffstown hockey celebrated their seniors and then a 7-1 win to finish the regular season with a 9-7-2 record. While we were looking back it was hard not to look to the future as well.

Looking back and celebrating seniors on Senior Day, 2024. (Photo by Meagan Tarrier)

Saturday was about celebrating the four senior players who will be graduating this June. It was also about the senior team manager, and four years of commitment to excellence in and around hockey, beyond the classroom. While this was happening, the future of Goffstown hockey boldly stepped into the spotlight during the game.

As I entered the numbers from the game sheet into the season spreadsheet, I couldn’t help but notice this little section from the game against Timberlane. The points scored on the day were led by the freshmen, then sophomores, and so on. I think that is pretty cool.

It’s also cool that the seniors all played a major role in the victory. Nick Caldwell, Owen Matatall, and Andrew Skora each had an assist in the game, while Alex Veary got his 4th win of the season in net for the Grizzlies.

(Photo by Meagan Tarrier)

On Saturday afternoon we honored the seniors and their families. We looked back at some memories, and celebrated this group’s contribution to the program. Then the Goffstown hockey team wrapped up the 2023-2024 regular season with a 7-1 win against Timberlane hockey.

I did not go to my son’s playoff hockey game on Saturday afternoon. I covered the Goffstown hockey team. I hope, honestly, that I did justice to the seniors, their families, the program, and the GHS Hockey community.

I did catch my son’s SemiFinal and Final game on Sunday, his team won both games. I got home late on Sunday night from the playoffs in Rochester, NH. Then early Monday morning I was on the road, picking up my Mother, and driving to Hartland, NB for three days. We gathered with family to honor my Mom’s youngest sister, my awesome Aunt Barbara. I got back late on Wednesday, and starting writing, watching video, and catching up on the five hockey games over the weekend.

So, it took me awhile to get to this.

I will get to the details of the Grizzlies goals shortly.

Timberlane scored as an Owls penalty expired and Slater O’Connor grabbed a loose puck in the D zone and hit Jack Mottram who had just stepped out of the penalty box, for a breakaway goal. It was the only goal that Alex Veary allowed in the game.

I do believe this play was offside. But it counted on the board anyway. (Photo from Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey FB Live Broadcast)

Chapman had a big day for the Grizzlies. (Photo by Meagan Tarrier)

Before I get to the descriptions, I have to mention Cooper Chapman. He is a freshman at GHS. He scored a hat trick on Saturday, and added 2 assists as well. That’s 5 points in a single game, a new school record* for freshman. The first freshman to score 5 points in a single game. Congratulations!

He didn’t get called for a penalty in the game, but his family did (they threw hats on the ice after the hat trick goal). His Dad was next to me at the game, and he laughed when he realized what had happened. He wouldn’t have expected anything less. Personally, I loved it.

* – The previous record was shared by Craig Fournier and Craig Nault, each with 4 points in a game during the 2000-2001 season. Fournier did it twice that season, against both Souhegan and John Stark. Nault’s 4 point game came against Timberlane in the same season.

Here is how the Goffstown hockey team scored their goals on Senior Day.

1. The first goal of the day came on the power play for the Grizzlies. Tyler Lessard ripped a shot that glanced off of the shoulder of Jakobi Sanseverino and hit the boards behind the net. Cooper Chapman skated down the rebound and sent a pass to his brother, Sam Chapman who was also below the goal line. Sam poked a pass right back at Cooper as he circled the side of the net. Cooper shot the puck into the net just as his stick blade past the plane of the goal post. PPG – C. Chapman (3) from S. Chapman (11) and Lessard (9). 1-0.
2. This play started with a chance from Zack Tarrier to C. Chapman for a shot that was saved and cleared by the Owls. Except, it wasn’t cleared. Will Hamel made a nice play at the point to keep the puck in the zone, tipping it slightly forward to C. Chapman. Cooper fired a shot from the slot and the puck went right through a defenders legs in front of the net, and into the net, for the goal. C. Chapman (4) from Hamel (2). 2-0. GWG.
3. AJ Hill moved the puck over to C. Chapman, and Cooper made a great stretch pass to Tarrier racing up ice. Tarrier carried the puck in and got a good shot on goal. Sanseverino made the save, but S. Chapman was there to put the rebound into the net. S. Chapman (14) from Tarrier (18) and C. Chapman (1). 3-0.
4. The Goffstown hockey team scored their 4th goal on a play that started way back in their own end. Timberlane’s shot was wide of the net. Cole Stratford grabbed the rebound and made a quick pass up the wall to Lessard at the blue line. The puck was poked away from Lessard, but Griffin Wilkinson was right there to pick up the loose change and he made a great backhand pass back to Lessard now at center ice. Lessard carried the puck to the blue line and drew the defense to him just as he slipped a pass over to Dylan Ellbeg on his right. Ellbeg skated in tight and was able to beat Sanseverino with a backhand shot that head just the right touch. Ellbeg (8) from Lessard (10) and Wilkinson (2). 4-0.
5. This goal gave Cooper Chapman the hat trick, and his family a memory for all-time. The Grizzlies were regrouping with the puck after Timberlane had cleared the puck out of their end. Nick Caldwell made a slick skating maneuver and nice pass across to his D partner, Gavin Matatall back at their defensive blue line. With his head up, Gavin hit C. Chapman with a pass at center ice. With some space to skate through, Cooper crossed the blue line and cut back from right to left. As he did, he fired a shot through a screen in front of the net and hit the top corner on the far side with his shot. It was certainly a worthy play for the hattie. Hat Trick Goal – C. Chapman (5) from G. Matatall (1st Career Assist) and Caldwell (2). 5-1.
6. This play began on Tarrier’s stick and ended with the puck flying off of Tarrier’s stick. Tarrier slammed a rocket of a shot high and wide of the net. The rebound came all the way out to the point (blue line) where G. Matatall kept the puck in the zone while taking a hit for his troubles. The puck hit off of Tarrier’s skate and went to Andrew Skora. Skora started a move but lost the puck toward the corner. No problem. Owen Matatall took the puck in the corner, looked up, and made a gorgeous pass to the slot where Tarrier was able to smash a one-timer into the net. Tarrier (8) from O. Matatall (6) and Skora (7). 6-1.
7. Again, good hockey plays from anywhere on the ice can turn into goals. Tarrier won a D Zone face-off right to AJ Hill. Hill tried a few shake and bake moves (he learned from Ricky Bobby) in the corner and then sent a pass up ice and out of the zone. The pass was offline and hit an Owl defender. But the puck bounced right to Tarrier as he was speeding through center ice. Tarrier crossed the blue line and dropped a pass to C. Chapman. Cooper stopped and spun before sending a pass to Hill at the left point. Hill stepped into the circle and let a shot fly. The puck was on net with Sam Chapman right there. Sam may have tipped the shot, but either way, Sanseverino made the save, but left a rebound after stopping the Grade A chance. Sam scooped the rebound into the net for the goal. S. Chapman (15) from Hill (4) and C. Chapman (2). 7-1.

(Photo by Meagan Tarrier)

NHIAA Hockey:

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Sullivan Arena – St. Anselm College.

Scoring:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 02 – 03 – 02 = 07

Timberlane Owls: 00 – 01 – 00 = 01

NHIAA Hockey:

Shots on goal:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 18 – 13 – 16 = 47

Timberlane Owls: 05 – 10 – 05 = 20

Goffstown Grizzlies Penalties:

1. Skora (2:00-Roughing). Matching.
2. Hill (2:00-Holding).
3. Lessard (2:00-Interference).
4. Bench Minor (2:00-Delay of Game-Too many hats on the ice).
5. Desruisseaux (2:00-Roughing). Matching.
6. St. Onge (2:00-Roughing). Matching.
7. Stratford (2:00-Roughing). Matching.
8. Skora (2:00-Hooking).

Goffstown was 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Owls were 0-for-4.

• Timberlane Owls – Jakobi Sanseverino (Jr.) made 40 saves on 47 shots (.851).
• Goffstown Grizzlies – Alex Veary (Sr.) made 17 saves on 18 shots (.944).
• Goffstown Grizzlies – Jake O’Neil (Fr.) made 2 saves on 2 shots (1.000).

The #7 Grizzlies play at #2 Oyster River tomorrow morning, at 830 am. The Whittemore Center in Durham. NHIAA Quarterfinal hockey action.

(Photo by Meagan Tarrier)

Thank you Meagan, as always. Thank you. These pictures are 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.