-Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey-

OT Winner Into a Snow Day – February 05, 2025

The Kings showed that their future is bright, and the Grizzlies hockey team turned an OT winner into a snow day.

 

 

Wednesday night was a special night because I think a lot of us felt like kids again. A snowstorm was about to touch down before this Wednesday night would end. Goffstown had already called for ‘an old fashioned snow day’ on Thursday, about an hour before the opening faceoff. Other school districts were doing the same. I had the next day off, and so did several other folks I heard talking around the rink.

There was that mini-Christmas excitement reverberating through the student section. You know, that glorious surprise gift that snow storms sometimes deliver. Like a weight you didn’t know you were carrying was lifted for at least 24 hours. Anyways, yes, I still love real winter’s and I am still a kid sometimes at least. My wife might say I am a full time kid, but I was probably as excited as the kids were.

The incomparable Al St. Louis blessed us with the National Anthem before opening faceoff, and we were ready for some hockey to take us into a snow day. Nashua South-Pelham scored first. Goffstown tied it. NSP scored again, taking a 2-1 lead. Goffstown tied it, 2-2. Then, the Grizzlies took a 3-2 lead. The Kings tied it, 3-3 in the third period. The game went to overtime. You can read about the goals further down this recap.

I fast forward to the post game. I do so, because I think these things matter, even the things that are not on the ice, but all around it. Working, volunteering in the booth, I get to interact with a lot of different folks that are within the Goffstown Hockey family, and many who are not. But every time, we all come together to put on a hockey game where kids, young men and women play a sport they love, among people they love and are loved by.

This is critical to remember. It is in fact, THE ONLY REASON we are all there together on some February Wednesday night where, for the moment, all else in our lives is on hold. It’s game night. And the performers are not paid professionals, they are kids. They are living life like we did, learning, sometimes awkwardly, sometimes beautifully. And we should lift them up, as we all undoubtedly were lifted up in our youth, whether we recognize it or not.

The post game cannot come without a game. And a Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey game doesn’t come off at Sullivan Arena without a host of creativity, effort, teamwork, and the best volunteers you can find. For many, many years I have spoken highly of the efforts that our high school, out booster club, our coaches, our teams, and our hockey families have poured into the hockey program that represents Goffstown High School.

 

 

What is indescribably beautiful to hear is the feedback that I am so fortunate to hear from opponents, officials, opposing coaches, and fans from other team’s hockey families, as well as our own. I know others get similar feedback as well.

So, post game, I make my way to the visitor’s locker room area to hand a copy of the gamesheet to their coaching staff. I always try to share an encouraging word or to pick out a positive thread from the game regardless of the outcome. I think it’s the right way to engage our opponents.

I told one of the Kings coaches that I was impressed with the team’s speed and their level of effort for 45 plus minutes of hockey. He was very cordial and seemed delighted that despite an OT loss and a losing season, that someone else noticed how hard they worked. He loved that his team’s effort was confirmed from outside of their room. He knew their effort and commitment, but it’s always nice to hear that from someone outside the group as well.

And this is why I share this story. Because it reflects on all of us. And I would like to believe in the truest sense of team that any one of us, each of us would be worthy of outside confirmation regarding the efforts we put in.

So, when the coach mentioned the national anthem and the announcing of lineups, goals and assists, I swelled up a bit for all of us. When people approach me and talk about how attentive our volunteers are to any needs or questions at the rink, I smile. When they notice that we have people singing the anthem live, or that our game programs are professional looking and informative, they tell me it’s like going to a pro or college game. They notice that the clock is run correctly, penalties are on the clock, and that there is music during stoppages. And so on.

Of course the venue we are blessed to use doesn’t hurt. St. Anselm College, and Sullivan Arena have been very good to us from the beginning.

So remember, when you are working the door, or a penalty box, or whatever it might be; people notice. They notice that the officials jackets and key card are handled with care. They notice that a fresh game puck is ready to replace one that sailed out of play. They notice when our penalty box attendants engage the players serving their time. They notice you. You, lifting up the kids. Lifting up the program. Lifting up the experience for friend or foe. The efforts around the ice matter just like the efforts on the ice. Thank you.

 

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Goffstown Grizzlies vs. Nashua South-Pelham Kings

Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH.

NHIAA Hockey: Game fifteen.

Wednesday, February 05, 2025.

 

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NHIAA Hockey:

Scoring:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 01 – 02 – 01 – 01 = 04 

NSP Kings: 01 – 01 – 01 – 00 = 03

 

Shots on goal:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 05 – 14 – 07 – 01 = 27

NSP Kings: 06 – 10 – 09 – 00 = 25

 

Goffstown Grizzlies Penalties: 

• T. Lessard – 2:00 – Hooking.
• T. Lessard – 2:00 – Hooking.
• C. Chapman – 2:00 – High Sticking. (Matching).
• AJ Hill – 2:00 – Slashing.
• Zack Tarrier – 2:00 – Roughing.

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

• Goffstown Grizzlies – Kyle Bennett (So.) made 22 saves on 25 shots (.880).
• NSP Kings – Ethan Robinson made 23 saves on 27 shots (.852).

 

The Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey team fell behind twice. The Kings came from behind to tie it in the 3rd. Goffstown walked it off, an OT winner into a snow day.

1. 1st 10:58 – The Grizzlies gave up a goal just 128 seconds into the game, Dan Byrne from the point, Andrew Byrne tapped the rebound home. The Grizzlies worked to tie it and finally did. Brock Bennett relieved the pressure in the defensive zone by lifting the puck up the wall and off the boards. The puck dropped out in front of Tyler Lessard who controlled it, and fled the zone. Lessard carried the puck up ice but the Kings had 3 skaters back and forced Lessard to the corner to retrieve his own puck. Lessard got the puck to Dylan Ellbeg along the half wall. Ellbeg drifted out to the top of the circle while fading back and to his right. Ellbeg lifted a wrist shot toward the net. As the puck left his stick on what seemed like a minor threat, a couple things happened. First, Zack Tarrier skated right through the shooting lane which undoubtedly caused a distraction for Ethan Robinson to track the puck. Second, a King’s defender was to Robinson’s left, on the edge of the shooting lane. He wasn’t screened by the defender but the viewing window was small. Third, the shot wasn’t traveling as fast as a wrister that Ellbeg might lean into and rip. Robinson definitely had traffic to see through, but he reacted like he was looking for a fastball, got a change-up, and then decided to swing, too late. The puck went over his shoulder and into the net. Ellbeg’s reaction tells the same story. Arms raised above his head in a shrug of the shoulders kind of way, like he was saying, ‘well I didn’t think that was going in, but I’ll take it. Let’s celebrate’. Even – Ellbeg (5) from T. Lessard and (11) B. Bennett (9). 1-1.
   

   (Photo by Meagan Tarrier)

2. 2nd 5:58 – The Grizzlies were behind again, after another early goal from the Kings. Kaden Cruz from Andrew Byrne and Dan Byrne. But a beautiful 200 foot play led to a Goffstown goal. Griffin Wilkinson electrified the crowd with a spinning backhand pass behind the net in the D zone. The puck slid to his D partner, Austin Campbell. Campbell, an excellent skater, was moving backwards into the corner, with the puck. A Kings forechecker went with him. The angle to make an outlet pass to Zack Tarrier slightly improved with this movement toward the corner. The pass connected with Tarrier. Tarrier sprinted up the ice with Lessard on his left and Dylan Ellbeg on his right. The one defender to beat came across to take Tarrier out of the mix. When this happened Tarrier slid a perfect pass over to Ellbeg just outside the crease at full speed. Ellbeg swept the puck into the net for the goal. Great breakout. Great fast break. Excellent pass and finish for the goal. Even – Ellbeg (6) from Tarrier (12) and Campbell (6). Tied at 2.
3. 2nd 13:26 – Once again Wilkinson started the goal sequence and this time he got an assist for it. Wilkinson took a deflected clearing attempt off of a Kings’ skate. He quickly fired the puck through Ellbeg’s attempted redirection of the puck. The puck slid to the end boards behind the net. Tarrier was there to grab the puck and wasted no time, making a quick pass from Gretzky’s office to the slot. Gavin Diodati was in the open slot all by himself and he fired the puck past Robinson for the goal. The Grizzlies took the lead, 3-2. Even – Diodati (5) from Tarrier (13) and Wilkinson (2).
   

   (Photo by Meagan Tarrier)

4. OT 0:19 – The only goal scored in the 3rd period was the tying goal by the Kings. It was also an early goal, just 3:19 into the period. As so often happens in hockey, a clean breakaway by Tyler Lessard was saved by Robinson. The puck remained in play and went the other way. Brendon Doughty had a breakaway of his own and Kyle Bennett made the save. The rebound went behind the net in the wake that was Doughty’s speed. Doughty got the puck and centered it from behind the net. Gavin Asimakopulos ripped the shot from the slot into the net and the game was tied 3-3. It appeared that the Grizzlies trying to be gracious hosts, nearly gave the Kings the win. They’ve done that before. Goffstown took back to back penalties late in the third. Fortunately, Kyle Bennett turned away a few Grade A chances or this game would have ended in a regulation loss for the Grizzlies. It would stay tied through the end of the third period. Then in OT, after a shot by the Kings that went wide, the Grizzlies worked the puck up the ice. Lessard ahead to Tarrier, quick pass to Cooper Chapman in the middle. Almost a tremendous play to set up a glorious chance but Chapman just couldn’t get the puck settled. The Kings were poised to clear the zone. As they looked to clear, Chapman picked the puck off a Kings’ stick and quickly fed a pass to Lessard who was the third man high. Great pass. Lessard gathered and shot from the top of the circle and caught Robinson just as he was sliding from left to right. The shot was inside the far post, where Robinson had slid from. Great play to set up the shot, and the shot was right on target. Even – OT GWG – T. Lessard (19) from C. Chapman (18). Grizzlies win it, 4-3! 

 

 

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

Crazy stat that I noticed: Wednesday night was the second game in a row that the Grizzlies allowed exactly 6 shots on goal in the first period, 10 shots on goal in the second period, and 9 shots on goal in the third period.

And there you go. Including the pictures below, that is how on one night in February, 2025, the Grizzlies hockey team turned an OT winner into a snow day at Sullivan Arena. Sleep well kids.

 

Click on the galleries. Open the pictures, and have a look around. Enjoy!

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Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey

Tarrier’s Treasures – (Thank you Meagan)

 

 

Remember that night way back when we were young. 

You know, that overtime winner at home or was it the other one.

Celebrating together on the opponent’s ice was unreal.

But those ones at our house, those were really special. 

Remember how we all crowded together in celebration.

Yes! Against the glass in front of GTown Nation!

That’s right and someone always skated in and jumped the pile.

Man, I remember. Haven’t thought about that in awhile.

Those nights were awesome! Looking up at all our friends.

They’d go crazy, arms in the air, that party never ends.

Remember that night we won in OT and stayed up all night.

Ya, they called a snow day and we hung out til it was light. 

I can’t believe it’s been so long since back then.

Right? Never thought I’d sit back saying, remember when.

It’s always so good to see you, so much fun.

Remembering those hockey nights when we were young.

 

 

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More Grizzlies hockey pictures

 

 

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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.