From Dover Arena, Dover, NH – Saturday, January 16, 2021
It was the season opener on Saturday, and for the most part, it took place almost completely under the radar. Unfortunately, for the kids, it will be something like that all season, I fear. The silver lining of course is that, at least there are games being played.
Well the rain finally stopped falling and this morning the wind was blowing but the sun was playing hide and seek with remaining clouds. The Flames showed up in a cold parking lot on the banks of the Merrimack River and started to run around like 10-year olds.
With the skies opened and dumping downpours of rain, there was no team warm-up outside before this morning’s game. It was an 8:20am ice time too, which can be tough to rise for on a dark, gray, weekend morning. That, and the fact that every week seems to be longer than the week prior over the last year, seemed to contribute to a sluggish start.
They say that there are at least two sides to every story.
But so many only see what they see in some sort of self glory.
After a wild battle on Saturday, the Flames went to Nashua to play the NE Edge at Conway Arena. The Flames got their offensive game in gear and skated north with an 8-0 win.
With no league games on the schedule for the weekend, the Flames played host to the undefeated Granite State Wild team on Saturday at JFK.
Following a resounding loss at Lakes Region yesterday afternoon, the Flames were down in Hudson, NH by 730am this morning trying to bounce back from defeat.
The Flames went north to Laconia to open the new year, and for about fifteen minutes of hockey they looked like they might have a chance to be competitive in the game against Lakes Region. That didn’t last much longer though.
On a cold December afternoon, a mix of clouds and sun in the sky
We went over the river and into the woods, just the twins and I.
After a loss on Saturday to a very good Concord team on the road, on the morning following Christmas day, the Flames returned to home ice for a game with Lakes Region. Lakes Region is another solid team in the same division, and the Flames had all they could handle.
After a spirited win against the Cyclones in one of the more intense scrimmages I have seen, the Flames had to play a tough Rochester team early the following morning.
Once upon a time, there was a year when facts and fears were so hard to separate,
And a health hazard gained so much attention, boys and girls couldn’t even ice skate.
In a day and age where the act of serving seems to be wound tightly around some agenda, hope of reward, or personal recognition, I share this morning’s devotional (from Dec. 15).
With interstate hockey shut down due to health concerns, the New Hampshire teams have been solely playing each other for the last several weeks. Then, to help fill a potential gap in schedules for virtually every youth hockey team in NH, the 2020 Turkey Shootout tournament came along.
As I sat in the woods this morning, talking silently with my Creator, under a peaceful, gentle, soaking rain, I was filled with Thanksgiving.
On a drive, just passing through some of New Hampshire’s north country, above the notch, I had a chance to take a few quick pictures. It was a gorgeous, late fall afternoon and the mountains were calling. Enjoy.
Jefferson, NH sunset. It was a few hours until Veteran’s Day but I was thinking about those who have served, and still do. Thank you.
While many places are not allowing travel hockey between states, the 2010 Flames loaded up on New Hampshire competition over the weekend. The Flames played a pair of games on Saturday and did it again on Sunday.
The ride out to Rochester was a lot of fun as my son and I shared many laughs along the way. We generally have a pretty good time together on these rides to hockey rinks all over New England. Once we arrived at Rochester Ice Arena it was time to be herded through protocols.
Most all go along with the rules set in place by authorities either because they wrap their heads around the rule and conform as such. Or they follow because the sacrifice of following is worth the result gained to the vested individual. Either way, the hockey community were good little performers, jumping through hoops, overcoming obstacles, balancing on thin lines, and doing what was necessary to allow healthy families to participate in teamwork and exercise after they were banned for two weeks.
Maybe all games at West Side Arena should be played on such beautiful days in the autumn. Sunday afternoon was another gorgeous day to be outside, even if the players used the warm afternoon air to loosen up and get dressed for another hockey game.
It was a gorgeous autumn morning and the only folks heading south from the foliage, pumpkins, and warm spicy concoctions throughout New Hampshire to the busy routes of Massachusetts were likely going to Ristuccia Memorial Rink. The Flames and their partial families arrived in the parking lot with smiles and lots of energy on this sunny Saturday morning.
Today, I was fortunate enough to take my Mom on a little foliage tour in New Hampshire. We drove some 175 miles before we got home. I am sharing some pictures here, but they really don’t do justice to the displays we saw all over our ride today.
It might have been eight or more weeks ago that I started thinking about this piece. It has likely changed its form within my wandering brain several times since then, but finally I arrived at some words to put down. Random thoughts, lyrics, lines of poetry, and words have surfaced during long drives and sleepless hours in the early mornings.
Flag Day Sunset Sawyer Lake New Hampshire, USA 8:31 pm June 14, 2020
There were no morning announcements at Goffstown High School on Friday morning, but the day ended with a celebration nonetheless.
My personal favorite artist, God, paints again.
Many of you in the Southern New Hampshire area have probably already heard about this project but I have been sitting on this for awhile now. The project is the The Front Steps Project for…
Most April’s greet all of us hockey fans a whole lot different than this one did. With all that is going on in the world lately, it has been hard to focus on this hockey season, or any season for that matter. At least for me. In my head, I have been writing this piece for several weeks, or maybe it’s months by now. Actually, I guess I have been writing this piece in my head for at least five or more years. Another high school hockey season has come to an end, well sort of. The 2019-2020 high school hockey season ended for Goffstown on the ice as it did for most others, but the State Tournament semifinalists’ were left wondering what could have happened.
Just when the hours were no longer fitting into each day. And many nights found me weeping, head in my hands. Thoughts were reactive and words seemed only for display. All creative energy was emptied just meeting demands.
Finishing a youth hockey season that lasted for more than 6 months, it was remarkable to witness the progress. Even though this team still struggles with spacing, structure, and strategy, I think that is okay for 9-year-olds. The personal growth and development per individual skater is obvious.
Forward – Zach Stimeling – Merrimack
Forward – Jerred Tattersall – Keene
Forward – Grady Chretien – Goffstown
Defense – Declan Daubney – Oyster River
Defense – Brendan Tersolo – St. Thomas
Goalie – Claden Daubney – Oyster River
