-Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey-

Breaks and Bounces – February 22, 2025.

The breaks and bounces went the War Hawks way during a three-goal second period 68 days earlier on December 16th. On Grizzlies Senior Night, the breaks and bounces went Goffstown’s way en route to a 3-0 win.

 

 

 

Pregame went something like this: With a lot more emotion, smiles, and photo opportunities. Plus the wonderful words shared from the 8 Seniors being honored on Grizzlies Senior Night.

Introduction – “Welcome to Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey Senior Night. Tonight we honor 6 players and our 2 managers…

In rinks all around New Hampshire there are Senior Days and Senior Nights taking place this month. To me, these events are a two-way street. One way is the program honoring the Senior participants. The other way is the Seniors honoring their time in the program and recognizing their support systems.

Tonight, as you listen to the words that our 8 Seniors have written for this celebration, listen with a grateful heart. I like this definition of grateful: Having an awareness of kindness and support received from another, acknowledging it, and doing something about it.

Alright. Let’s get to it, shall we.”

It was Merrimack vs. Goffstown, always a good game. For years and years, it’s been a good game. Example: 21-22 season, GHS earned a pair of 3-2 wins in the same week. 22-23 season, GHS won 2-0 and 2-1 thanks to Jake Webber making 49 saves on 49 shots in those two games while Ethan Santoro was 12 for 13, as the best tandem I’ve seen split one of the games. Merrimack won the QF game, 3-0 (empty netter). 23-24 season, Merrimack won the first meeting, 2-1. They tied, 2-2 in the second game. On it goes, in either direction.

Goffstown played well enough to get some breaks and bounces to go their way. A first period goal held up. But the goal that gave the Grizzlies Hockey team a 2-0 lead in the third, that goal allowed the home fans to breathe again.

The first period was a big deal for the Grizzlies. They held the War Hawks to just 4 shots on goal in the opening 15 minutes. They did this while putting 11 shots on James Brew in net for Merrimack-Hollis-Brookline-Derryfield School. Brew can be very tough to beat, so keeping him busy while allowing virtually nothing the going the other way is a pretty good recipe. Goffstown took a 1-0 lead to the locker room.

 

 

During the intermission, a couple of us, not betting men, discussed and would have wagered that the War Hawks would throw everything they could on net in the second period. And they did. The War Hawks outshot the Grizzlies 14-10 in the second period. 24 total shots on goal in the period. James Brew and Kyle Bennett combined to stop all 24 shots.

In the final period, the Grizzlies had 11 shots (only 10 on Brew) and the War Hawks managed 6 shots which also included four minutes of power play time. Goffstown scored on the a brilliant redirection and later added an empty net goal to win it, 3-0. Another great battle between these two teams.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see these two teams meet in the playoffs, like in the Quarter Finals.

Goffstown has two games left in the regular season, both on the road. They play at Brady-Valley on Feb. 26th at Tri-Town Arena. Then they travel to Phillips Exeter to finish the season at Winnacunnet on Sunday, March 2nd.

The War Hawks have one more game, a home date with Somersworth-Coe-Brown at West Side Arena on Wednesday afternoon, 2/26/25.

 

 

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Goffstown Grizzlies vs. Merrimack – Hollis-Brookline – Derryfield School

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

NHIAA Hockey: Game nineteen.

Saturday, February 22, 2025.

 

 

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NHIAA Hockey:

Scoring:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 01 – 00 – 02 = 03 

MHBDS War Hawks: 00 – 00 – 00 = 00

 

Shots on goal:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 11 – 10 – 10 = 31 

MHBDS War Hawks: 04 – 14 – 06 = 24

 

Goffstown Grizzlies Penalties: 

• S. Chapman – 2:00 – Unsportsmanlike.
• S. Chapman – 2:00 – Slashing.
• Ellbeg – 2:00 – Delay of Game.

Goffstown was 0-for-2 on the power play, while the War Hawks were 0-for-3.

• Goffstown Grizzlies – Kyle Bennett (So.) made 24 saves on 24 shots (1.000). 4th shutout of the season.
• MHBDS War Hawks – James Brew made 29 saves on 31 shots (.935).

 

The Grizzlies hockey team finally relaxed sometime after the final horn sounded. That’s how much respect there was for the opponent.

1. 1st 14:36 – Late in the first period, the Grizzlies were first to get on the board. Gavin Diodati came flying through center ice and collided with a War Hawk defenseman. This broke up the play and sent the puck to the middle of the ice. Cooper Chapman was tagging up from the O zone. As he circled, he picked up the puck and made a move to the offensive blue line. Diodati got to his feet and made sure he was onside. Chapman sent a soft pass to open space just over the blue line. Sam Chapman hit the throttle and skated into the zone, reaching the puck just before the defense did. Sam skated down the middle and fired on net. James Brew made the first save. Sam was still alone beside the net but moving fast. He fired again but partially whiffed on the shot. He had begun a turn to avoid Brew and the post. He was skating, fading past the post when the puck hit his skate blade and went in. Brew still wasn’t over there and the puck slid into the net for the goal.  Even – S. Chapman (18) from C. Chapman (22) and Diodati (5) – GWG. 1-0.
   

   (Photo by Meagan Tarrier).

2. 3rd 7:47 – Cooper Chapman made a hustle play to keep the puck in the zone at the left point. The puck rimmed around the boards to Tyler Lessard behind the net. Lessard reversed direction and hit Zack Tarrier with a pass in the circle. Tarrier quickly moved the puck with a backhand pass to Jackson Horne at the same point where Cooper had saved the possession. Horne smartly drifted along the blue line toward the middle. It was just enough to get a shot past the defense out high. The puck was low and right down the middle of the slot. Sam Chapman was there, boxing out a defender to get the first touch on the puck. That he did. He tipped the puck just as Brew dropped to the butterfly, splayed pads, stick down, hands ready. The puck flew over the glove hand and into the top corner for the goal. Perfect deflection. Which is what you need to score on Brew. Even – S. Chapman (19) from Horne (4) and Tarrier (19). 2-0.
   

   That split second when you realize that those countless tips you tried on the backyard rink or in the basement, just happened for real, perfectly. On Senior Night. (Photo by Meagan Tarrier).

3. 3rd 13:34 – Empty Net – The Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey team was leading, 2-0 late in the game. The margin of that lead was far narrower than the two goals themselves. Back on December 16th, the Grizzlies had lost to the War Hawks by the slimmest of margins, 3-2. This time, MHBDS had pulled Brew from the net. They were in the offensive zone with six skaters trying to set up a possession and scoring chances. The puck went behind the net where Jackson Horne grabbed it and ripped a clearing attempt toward the blue line. Caleb May stuck out his skate to keep the puck in the zone. He got his skate on it but it was coming too fast and the puck glanced off of his skate right to Sam Chapman in the zone. Scoring an empty net goal is exciting but not necessary. The first priority is to get the puck out of the zone. Sam cleared the zone. As he slid to his left. He was still behind the red center ice line. He fired the puck at an angle, between two defenders, and hit the net dead center from one hundred feet away. Goal. Hat trick. Grizzlies Senior Night. Game over.  Empty – S. Chapman (20) from Horne (5). Hat Trick Goal. 3-0.
   

   The roar is real. The hugs and smiles are real. And all those broadcasts you did in your head while scoring this goal or that goal, in all of those early years, all arrive together in the arms of your teammates. At the bench, the friendly fortress.They celebrate you. You, well you, smile, and keep thinking, ‘team’. ‘It’s all about team’. (Photo by Meagan Tarrier).

 

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

 

 

 

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)

Oh yes, I wrote these words, from my heart, from me to you.

It’s not just the games, it’s my friends, knee hockey, and pasta parties too.

Mom and Dad, my grandparents and sister too, Supporting me everywhere, memories along the way.

Tying the Saints to end their streak, and a one-timer at Dover to finish a great play.

Words don’t make relationships, time spent and guidance shared, in moments grand and bland.

The trust in smiles and respectful hugs tell it all, no words needed, we understand.

Family in all its phases and various forms, thank you all.

My brother, thank you. Your example lets me dream, and stand so tall.

Lifelong friends made pursuing priority all my life, they are with me now.

Dad, and family thank you. Time and effort. Coaching me, thanks for showing me how.

Take up a new sport, work real hard. They all said this would be worth the try.

Thanks for letting me try something new. One assist I’ll not forget. That goal, not a dry eye.

Thanks Dad, always there. Pushing me to give all that I had into everything I do.

Coaches, thank you for pushing me on the ice, and in the rest of life, too.

My biggest supporters, my parents. Time spent together win or lose. All the things others don’t see.

I wouldn’t be the person I am today without your sacrifices and unwavering belief in me.

I, the reader of the words once too, did play alongside my brother, my best friend.

He and I, to be together again, oh I can see it still. Together we sat hand in hand until the very end.

And, I, the counter of things. The facts and the figures. A lifetime of measuring just for fun.

23 mentions of thanks in their words, but just look at the pictures, thanks shows up in every single one.

 

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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.