-Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey-

Road Raids – January 8, 2025

The Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey team traveled to Lebanon, NH for a midweek road game. The visitors fell behind, 3-1 but rallied to win it, 4-3.

 

 

The visiting Grizzlies scored four goals in their win up in Lebanon, NH on Wednesday night. Dylan Ellbeg and Tyler Lessard each had a pair of goals, the result of great shots during Grizzlies road raids.

Raid is defined many ways. One such definition is a sudden attack. Another is a surprise attack as in to commit a theft. Several sudden attacks, and even a surprise attack led to opportunities for the Goffstown Grizzlies hockey team. They cashed in on just enough of them to skate away with a 4-3 win.

After a disappointing game against Dover on Saturday nobody knew quite what to expect on a Wednesday night trip to Lebanon, NH to play the Raiders. The outcome of the Dover game was akin to having a super party planned only to have it cancelled at the last minute with no backup plan whatsoever. The Grizzlies took 8 penalties, or they were whistled for 8 penalties at least. The Raiders were whistled for just two infractions.

Despite falling behind 3-1, Goffstown kept skating and killing penalties. They killed the last five penalties they were called for. With less than 18 minutes left to play in the game, the Raiders had a two goal lead and Mason Ballard had a hat trick.

First, Goffstown was down 1-0. Then this happened.

• 1st 9:38 – A foray into the offensive zone. Owen St. Onge won an offensive zone face-off with a shot right on goal that was swatted to open space in the left wing circle. Dylan Ellbeg raced over to the loose puck and fired a shot on goal. The shot was kicked out by Aiden Snow. Daniel Calderon ended up with the puck on the end boards and he wrapped the puck along boards to clear the zone. The Grizzlies were on the power play but time was running out. Brock Bennett made a great play, barely keeping the puck in the zone. He tipped it forward to Ellbeg. Ellbeg wasted no time and ripped a shot from the top of the circle. The puck found a slice of open space between Snow’s right shoulder and the post. Great shot. Power Play Goal – Ellbeg (2) from B. Bennett (5). 1-1. 

Ballard and the Raiders scored the next two goals and had a 3-1 lead. The Raiders scored a pair of goals on the power play. They were two for three on the power play when they took the 3-1 lead. Then, they had 3 more power plays in the second period. After killing two more penalties while trailing, 3-1, Goffstown scored a power play goal of their own.

• 2nd 12:40 – Surprise attack to commit a theft. The Grizzlies were on the power play and not much was happening for them. In fact, the Raiders had the puck in their defensive zone when Cooper Chapman deftly picked a Raider pocket and the puck went directly to Tyler Lessard. Lessard got rid of a quick shot, firing a fantastic shot into the top corner, inside the far side post. Steal, shot, score. Power Play Goal – T. Lessard (11) from C. Chapman (8). 2-3.

In the final period, the Grizzlies had their cylinders firing. They scored two goals in the first three minutes of the period and took the lead. They only allowed 3 shots on goal in the period even though they took two more penalties after taking the lead. On back to back shifts Goffstown went from one down, to tied, to one up.

• 3rd 2:44 – Sustained attack. Goffstown had the puck in the offensive end and they were cycling the puck and circling like a Comanche war party. Then Tyler Lessard centered the puck from behind the net. The pass found Owen St. Onge in front, but the puck bounced over his stick nullifying a shot opportunity. He left the puck for Lessard who was circling toward the slot. Lessard slipped the puck down low. Gavin Diodati fed a pass back to Lessard in front and Tyler buried the shot to tie the game at 3-3. Even – T. Lessard (12) from Diodati (2) and St. Onge (3). 3-3.
• 3rd 2:47 – Sudden attack. Cooper Chapman won the center ice face-off to his brother Sam after the Lessard goal. Sam Chapman entered the offensive zone with the puck and dropped it to Dylan Ellbeg who was trailing him. Ellbeg pivoted to his forehand and ripped a shot from the top of the right wing circle. The puck flashed past Snow and into the net. Even – Ellbeg (3) from S. Chapman (5) and C. Chapman (9). GWG. 4-3.

 

One of the beauties of NHIAA Hockey is the unpredictability. From a home loss that felt like a kick in the stomach to a road win on a Wednesday night after being down by two goals more than half way through the game. You just never know.

 

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Goffstown Grizzlies at Lebanon-Stevens-Mascoma Raiders.

James W. Campion III Rink, Lebanon, NH

NHIAA Hockey: Game eight.

Wednesday, January 8, 2025.

 

NHIAA Hockey:

Scoring:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 01 – 01 – 02 = 04

LSM Raiders: 01 – 02 – 00 = 03 

 

Shots on goal:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 17 – 08 – 12 = 37

LSM Raiders: 08 – 14 – 03 = 25 

 

Goffstown Grizzlies Penalties:

• C. Chapman – 2:00 – Hooking.
• St. Onge – 2:00 – Hooking. PPGA.
• C. Chapman – 2:00 – High Sticking. PPGA.
• Ellbeg – 2:00 – Slashing.
• S. Chapman – 2:00 – High Sticking.
• T. Lessard – 2:00 – Roughing.
• Diodati – 2:00 – Tripping.
• T. Lessard – 2:00 – Roughing.

Goffstown was 2-for-2 on the power play, while the Raiders were 2-for-8.

• Goffstown Grizzlies – Kai Tupper (So.) made 22 saves on 25 shots (.880).
• LSM Raiders – Aiden Snow made 33 saves on 37 shots (.892).

 

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You can find news, video, updates, and all kinds of interesting tidbits involving Goffstown Grizzlies hockey here, Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey.

 

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The thoughts and opinions expressed here are those of the individual contributors, mostly mine. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the leagues, schools, coaches, players, or characters listed in any of these blog posts. Or, maybe they do. Either way, you would have to ask them directly.