-Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey-

 Can Hope Be Shutout? – December 15, 2025 – JFK Coliseum.

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say; in the way you live… 1 Timothy 4:12

 

 

 

It was opening night at JFK Memorial Coliseum on Monday night. Manchester led 1-0 after the first period. By the end of two, it was 4-0. The Grizzlies were shutout in their opener, 6-0. Manchester was the better team from the opening face-off until the final whistle.

Two things really stood out to me during this game:

1. Manchester skated hard and fast all night. They simply outworked and out-hustled the visitors. They may have more talent as well, but the work ethic and hustle carried the evening regardless.
2. Goffstown showed their youth. The period that was the closest was the first period (1-0), but Goffstown tried to break the puck out of their own end and looked like they were skating against a legion of fore-checkers. The Grizzlies entered the game with only four players having appeared in more than 40 career NHIAA Hockey games.

 

Now, the good thing is that the season is not made up of one night. There is hope. There will be 17 more League games to learn, grow, and impose the collective will of this Grizzlies team, the 26th in program history.

Last season, 24 players appeared in games for the Grizzlies. This season, 9 of those players (37.5%) are no longer on the team. There were nine players that registered 12 points or more last season, seven of those players are gone. So, it’s a young team with a lot of new, young faces. But, this team gets to write its own history in the record books. Don’t forget, the players get to choose how this will look, Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young.

Choices. Choose good nutrition. Choose early bed times to maximize recovery, growth, and rest. Choose full speed practice. Choose to work on your game when not with the team. Choose good manners, respect for all, and a positive attitude. Choose to learn the game, the places to be, and the places where the puck goes. Choose to listen to your coaches and apply the lessons. Choose to learn your teammates and embrace their strengths while filling any gaps without judgement, but with ‘we’re in this together, warrior level effort’. Choose responsible shift lengths. Choose hustle and help over glory and personal agenda.

The 6-0 shutout loss was the worst opening night shutout loss in program history. In 2011, Bedford beat Goffstown, 5-0 on opening night which had been the previous mark. That 2011-12 team did make the playoffs that season despite the opening night affair.

The Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey team has made the playoffs 18 years in a row. But that doesn’t mean anyone is going to hand it to this year’s group. These must be earned, each in their season. That’s how it should be. There are a lot of young players on this team. What are they made of? Are they hungry to learn? Are they just itching to compete and let their careers stand prominently in Goffstown Hockey history? Do they want to get better week by week and change the course of their collective careers?

We shall see.

Game two tonight. Home against St. Thomas. 7pm. Sullivan Arena.

 

---

Goffstown Grizzlies at Manchester Kings.

JFK Memorial Coliseum, Manchester, NH.

NHIAA Hockey: Game one.

Monday, December 15, 2025.

 

---

NHIAA Hockey:

Scoring:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 00 – 00 – 00 = 00

Manchester Kings: 01 – 03 – 02 = 06 

 

Shots on goal:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 05 – 10 – 12 = 27 

Manchester Kings: 10 – 12 – 10 = 32

 

Goffstown Grizzlies Penalties: 

• St. Onge – 2:00 – Head Contact.

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

• Goffstown Grizzlies – Kyle Bennett (Jr.) made 26 saves on 32 shots (.813).
• Manchester Kings – Cam Roberge (Sr.) made 27 saves on 27 shots (1.000).

 

Here we go.

1. 1. 1st 6:29 – Even Strength – Will Sloper tremendous tip in front of the net on a shot from Ty Adams. 1-0.
   2. 2nd 4:07 – Even Strength – Jonny Nassoura unassisted. 2-0.
   3. 2nd 7:16 – Even Strength – Cameron O’Clair with a sweet backhand shot set up by Frank Tessier, great speed on a hustle play and dish. 3-0.
   4. 2nd 10:56 – Even Strength – Ryan Boylan from Frank Tessier. Hustle. Outskated the Grizzlies. 4-0.
   5. 3rd 0:17 – Even Strength – Frank Tessier shot got through Bennett. From O’Clair and Adams. 5-0.
   6. 3rd 12:22 – Even Strength – Frank Tessier skated in like he was set to fast-forward while everyone else was at 0.5 speed. Tap in rebound from Tyler Cantin and Cade Tripp. 6-0.

 

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

---

 

 

 

 

---

---

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.