The trip over to West Side Arena didn’t take very long for the Goffstown hockey team to make, but getting through the afternoon affair seemed like it took several hours. And that didn’t even have anything to do with the pregame ceremony to recognize Merrimack’s senior players.
The Grizzlies traveled to Nashua to play in the home opener for Hollis-Brookline-Derryfield School (HBDS) last night, looking for their first win of the season. It didn’t turn out the way that they would have liked it to, in a tough 5-4 loss to the HBDS Warriors.
From Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – Monday, January 25, 2021
Trinity scored later than earlier but quite often en route to their first win of the season at Goffstown. At least I think it’s their first win because getting accurate information on anything that is NH high school hockey this season is not easy. The Grizzlies kept coming at the Pioneers, but the combination of Anthony Dizillo and Quinn Booth in the 3rd period alone, was too much to overcome.
From Tri-Town Arena, Hooksett, NH – Saturday, January 23, 2021
After an overtime affair just three nights earlier, it surprised nobody that Goffstown and Bishop Brady played another tight, one-goal game on Saturday night.
Yesterday afternoon the Flames hosted the Cyclones at the West Side Arena where we, very thankfully, can still play hockey games, and actually watch them in person. As it usually is, the game was tight and intensely contested.
From Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Honestly, I smiled walking into Sullivan Arena on the St. Anselm Campus last night, despite the masks, and thermometer, forms, and protocols. It was good to be back there for high school hockey. Not only that, it turned out to be a really good game.
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.
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.
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.
Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – March 7, 2020:
In a game which featured two teams that prove to be about as evenly matched, as evenly matched gets defined each season, the outcome was decided, 4-0. Goffstown was 13-5 in league play while the Bobcats from Oyster River came in at 12-5-1, and these two teams had split 10 goals, 5-5 in their two meetings during the season. Oyster River won the game, 4-0 but dare I say that the game was closer than the score indicated.
Well folks, the time has come for some high school playoff hockey here in New Hampshire. There are three divisions in NH high school boys hockey and all three brackets are shown below. There is one division in NH high school girls hockey and that bracket is here too. Please check back to the school’s websites to make sure of times, bus departure times, and any other details that may be necessary.
From Thomas F. Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – Friday, February 28, 2020
It’s that time of the year again, when the regular season winds down and teams honor their seniors while jostling to improve their tournament seeding. Friday night was Senior Night for the Grizzlies and they honored the four seniors that will be graduating from the program in a few months. On the ice, Goffstown electrified the home crowd en route to a convincing win, 8-3 over the Admirals.
Every year, the Goffstown Hockey team selects a charity of choice and this year they raised money for the ALS Association of Northern New England. In addition to that, over the last three seasons, they…
From the Whittemore Center, UNH, Durham, NH – Saturday, February 22, 2020
In what turned out to be, maybe, the best game of the season so far, the Grizzlies found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-2 count. Both teams played excellent hockey, especially the goaltenders. The game was tied after the first, tied after the second, and one goal in the third was the difference.
From Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – Wednesday, February 19, 2020
For the second time in four days, the Grizzlies came out and more or less shut down an opponent for the first period. In doing so against Portsmouth-Newmarket on Sunday, and then against Winnacunnet on Wednesday night, Goffstown built 1-0 leads in each game and set themselves up for eventual victories. Goffstown ultimately pulled away in the 3rd period and beat the Winnacunnet Warriors, 7-2.
What a nice surprise the addition of Drew O’Brien has been to the Grizzlies program this season. (Sage Photo)
From Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – Sunday, February 16, 2020
Perhaps the best thing about the shellacking that the Grizzlies took out in Keene on Saturday night was that they had less than 24 hours to think about it as they had to return to the ice for another game. Yesterday afternoon, at Sullivan Arena, Goffstown welcomed the Clipper Mules of Portsmouth-Newmarket for the only game in Division II hockey. Goffstown held their opponents to one shot on goal in the first period. Then scored five goals over ten minutes in the middle period to go on and earn a much needed 8-5 victory when all was said and done.
From Keene Ice, Keene, NH – Saturday night, February 15, 2020
On Saturday Goffstown traveled to Keene for another senior night out at Keene Ice as the Black Birds bid their seniors, as well as Goffstown’s seniors a farewell. Keene’s offense was jumping early and often as they scored 4 goals in the first 12 minutes of the game and ran to a 7-1 victory.
From Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – Wednesday night, February 12, 2020
Goffstown finally returned to their home ice after 32 days away from Sullivan Arena. They played host to John Stark – Hopkinton (JSH), one of the better teams in NH high school hockey. The Grizzlies fell behind 3-0 and clawed back to tie things up, sending the game to overtime. Ultimately, the visitors won the game, 4-3 in another instant classic between these two programs. The Battle of 114. I will try to tell you a little bit about it. I hope you enjoy.
From Pop Whalen Ice and Arts Center, Wolfeboro, NH – Wednesday night, February 5, 2020
In one of the more odd hockey games you might ever see, Goffstown traveled to Kingswood to play an always tough opponent on the road. Goffstown dominated the execution of scoring chances for the first 29:55 of the game, taking a 5-0 lead. Then, Kingswood scored 5 goals over a span of 7 minutes and 34.3 seconds to make this a 5-5 game with half a period to play. The Grizzlies managed get their switch flipped back on and won it, 6-5 with Grady Chretien’s fourth goal of the night at 12:31 of the third period.
On Wednesday night, February 12th, 2020, Goffstown hosts John Stark-Hopkinton in NHIAA varsity hockey. This is going to be a big night! Please join us! All proceeds from the gate will be donated to the…
From Rochester Ice Arena, Rochester, NH – Saturday night, February 1, 2020
Two weeks removed from something resembling winter and just as long since their last hockey game, the Goffstown Grizzlies roared into the new and improved Rochester Ice Arena for a tilt with Spaulding. Goffstown showed no signs of rust on their game jumping out to a 5-1 lead after one period and skating to a 10-4 win.
After a week off from game play, the Goffstown Grizzlies returned to the ice to play the Admirals of Alvirne-Milford (AM). The Admirals came into the game with a record of 2-4 while Goffstown was 7-2. In the end, the Grizzlies managed a 7-3 win on the road.
From Thomas F. Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – January 11, 2020
Goffstown battled undefeated Dover on Friday evening, winning in the end, 5-3. Then they quickly had to turn around and play another game just about 17 hours later. The Bearcats from Somersworth-Coe-Brown (SCB) came to Sullivan Arena for a Saturday noon game against Goffstown. The Bearcats were ready though, they came out flying, and counter-punching like well trained assassins.
From Thomas F. Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – January 10, 2020
For the third time this week Goffstown played an afternoon home game after school. Undefeated Dover (5-0) came knocking on Friday afternoon to take on the Grizzlies who were coming off of a tough 4-3 loss to Keene on Wednesday.
From Thomas F. Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – January 8, 2020
The Grizzlies welcomed the Keene Blackbirds to Sullivan Arena on Wednesday night for a contest with one of the top teams in Division II hockey. Goffstown scored first and then gave up 4 straight goals in the second and third periods. A pair of Keene’s goals were scored on power play opportunities, they were 2 for 2 with the extra skater. The Grizzlies stormed back but could not score on their power play chances, and fell 4-3.
From Thomas F. Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – January 6, 2020
Monday night Goffstown hockey was back at it again, and playing their fifth consecutive Division I opponent. It was the Saber Titans from Nashua North-Souhegan (NNS) that came calling on the Grizzlies at Sullivan Arena. This time the home team moved the puck efficiently and erupted for four goals on their first eleven shots on goal on their way to a 7-1 victory.
From Thomas F. Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – January 3, 2020
The student section for the first game back after the break. (Jen Webber Photography)
Friday night Goffstown returned to league action after the holidays and played host to a Division I team, Windham. Windham entered play with an 0-3 record in Division I so far. They seem to be getting better with every game though.
From J.F.K. Coliseum in Manchester, NH: Goffstown 1 vs. Hanover 7.
Today was a gorgeous sunny day near 50 degrees in the city. The first game of the day at the third day of the Brian C. Stone Memorial Christmas Hockey Tournament was Goffstown vs. Hanover. The crowd was smaller but the rink was bright and the festive sense of the holidays was evident.
From J.F.K. Coliseum in Manchester, NH: Goffstown 0 vs. Bedford 7.
It was another fun night at the rink, the JFK Coliseum rink. I do enjoy seeing the families in attendance as kids come home from school and come home for Christmas. It’s really a fun place to be. I still have fun, even when a game goes the way that it went tonight. I will get to the game shortly.
From J.F.K. Coliseum in Manchester, NH: Goffstown 1 at Trinity 5.
I always enjoy attending the Brian C. Stone Memorial Christmas Hockey Tournament at JFK Coliseum in Manchester, NH. It’s good high school hockey during a festive time of the year with families in attendance and crowds coming and going all day. Tonight was another fun trip to the rink amid a holiday atmosphere and the excitement of opening night. However, for the Grizzlies faithful, Goffstown fell short in their first tournament game, 5-1 to a very deep Trinity team.
From Thomas F. Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – December 23, 2019
Monday night the Grizzlies hosted an always well coached team from Lebanon in their fourth and final game before Christmas. Goffstown exploded for 4 goals on their first 8 shots of the game and skated to a 7-3 win to improve their record to 4-0 so far this season.