Chipping Away

Chipping Away – December 20, 2025 – Rochester Ice Arena.

– Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey –

 

So we must not grow tired in doing good, for in due time we will gather the reward, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

 

 

 

Above is a list. It is sorted by class, then by last name. Sheets are great for lists and sorting. Sheets can last for a long time, perhaps forever. The names on the list, they last for as long as our Creator allows. The years that we are gifted with in order to watch these names play, work together to achieve, and change right before our very eyes; these years are shorter in time than most.

Part of chipping away, is ridding ourselves of limiting beliefs, societal expectations, past traumas, doubt, distractions, etc. These things are not done just for the doing but to reveal the most authentic version of ourselves. Perhaps the version of ourselves that God intended for us as creations in His image.

A long, long time ago, there was a large block of marble that other artists had deemed unusable. But one artist started chipping away the marble. From 1501 to 1504, Michelangelo chipped away ‘the parts that weren’t David’. He found ‘David’ inside the marble. This process is a reminder of removing the things that hinder us from our true selves. The sculpture, ‘David’ is one of the most famous and iconic sculptures of all time. It took chipping away the things that weren’t ‘David’ to bring out the real deal.

Last night, the Grizzlies did some chipping away of their own. They fired 24 shots on net, chipping away at that which was the goaltender. Their 25th shot hit the net, getting through a small space that had formerly been ‘goaltender’. They chipped away at disbelief. As disbelief fell away one shot at a time, confidence started to show itself. It shone like a ray of light that was worth revealing. And soon, rays of light were dawning on the whole group. Like tiny bulbs on a Christmas tree, shining in the dark night.

Somewhere around shot #43 the Grizzlies found another chunk formerly occupied by ‘goaltender’. It was in the top corner of the goal. The puck flew through that little space and became the game-winning-goal. AJ Hill scored the goal on the power play. Owen St. Onge had sent a pass to Corey Beland at the right point. Beland quickly slid the puck along the blue line to Hill. Hill stepped in and fired the puck into the open space. Goal!!!!!

Goffstown’s first goal had also come on the power play. The Grizzlies were enjoying some possession time in the offensive zone when St. Onge made a pass from behind the net to Zack Tarrier. Tarrier was near the corner, and deemed a pass to be a better option than a shot. He slipped the puck back to the point. Jackson Horne stepped toward the middle just a bit, and ripped a low shot that found the net. First goal of the season.

Imagine if Michelangelo had agreed and that large block of marble went unused, with the famous and iconic ‘David’ trapped inside. None of us are beyond growth and the best version of ourselves. We all have things about us that require being chipped away.

I look forward to where this 2025-2026 Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey Roster takes us from here. I am going to try and enjoy it as much as I can, being present and engaged, watching the kids be kids. Living their best scholar athletic selves.

 

Game four Monday night. The Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey team plays host to Nashua North-Nashua South, Sullivan Arena, St. A’s. 7:00pm.

 

 

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Goffstown Grizzlies at Somersworth-Coe-Brown Bearcats.

Rochester Ice Arena, Rochester, NH.

NHIAA Hockey: Game three.

Saturday, December 20, 2025.

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NHIAA Hockey:

Scoring:
Goffstown Grizzlies: 00 – 01 – 01 = 02

SCB Bearcats: 00 – 00 – 01 = 01

Shots on goal:
Goffstown Grizzlies: 15 – 26 – 12 = 53

SCB Bearcats: 08 – 04 – 06 = 18

 

Goffstown Grizzlies Penalties:

• Wilkinson – 2:00 – Tripping.
• Hill – 2:00 – Interference.
• Tarrier – 2:00 – Roughing.
• Tramontozzi – 2:00 – High Sticking.
• G. Matatall – 2:00 – Hooking.

Goffstown was 2-for-8 on the power play, while the SCB Bearcats were 0-for-4.

• Goffstown Grizzlies – Jake O’Neil (Jr.) made 17 saves on 18 shots (.944). (His 2nd career win)
• SCB Bearcats – Maddox Messier (Jr.) made 24 saves on 25 shots (.960).
• SCB Bearcats – Joshua Bayko (Jr.) made 27 saves on 28 shots (.964).

Here we go.

1. 1. 2nd 6:49 – Goffstown Grizzlies – PPG – Jackson Horne low shot finds the net through some traffic. From Zack Tarrier and Owen St. Onge. Goffstown’s 1st goal of the season, and Horne’s first career goal. 1-0.
   2. 3rd 1:03 – Goffstown Grizzlies – PPG – AJ Hill ripped a shot in the nearside top corner. Set up by a crossing pass from Corey Beland (First career point) and a dish from St. Onge. 2-0. GWG.
   3. 3rd 1:49 – SCB Bearcats – Even Strength – Ryan Toussaint from the half wall on a push pass from Patrick Norris. 2-1.

 

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

 

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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.