Goffstown Shocks Spaulding
The Grizzlies were outshot 12-3 in the first period. The Red Raiders of Spaulding had the better of the shots, chances, time of possession, and won most of the face-offs. Given these points it was not very hard to see why they had a 9-3 record coming into the game. With this in mind, there was still no score after one period.
Play In School
Goffstown Grizzlies Senior Zack Tarrier returned to play his final season of high school hockey. He didn’t decide to come back and play until just days before tryouts. He entered this season with 23 goals and 53 assists, totaling 76 career points. Clearly, the milestone of 100 career points seemed to be in reach.
With goal scorers like Max Ouellette, Sam Chapman, and Tyler Lessard over the past three seasons, Tarrier was not only content to set up other players for scoring chances, he was very good at it. On Wednesday night in Rochester, Tarrier made no mistake about reaching the milestone. He recorded his first career hat trick and added his 70th career assist for good measure.
Tarrier became only the 5th Grizzlies player to reach 70 career assists when he set up Connor Bernard’s second goal of the game in the final period. Congratulations Zack Tarrier – the 8th player in Goffstown Hockey history to reach 100 Career Points!
From Zero to Wild
Despite a scoreless first period, the crowd was treated to a goal early in the second period. In fact, the Red Raiders scored on the power play, Brayden Comeau from Colton Niven and Tyler Jean at 0:13 of the period. Surprisingly, their lead lasted for just 12 seconds. Certainly all Goffstown eyes were on Tarrier. Especially since he was sitting on 99 (30g-69a-99pts). Then he ripped a shot from center ice that beat Mayo in net. Bernard kicked the puck off of the side wall, and Tarrier just turned and fired the puck from center ice. There was no warning, and this was not a typical place or time for a shot on goal. Nevertheless, the shot was true, and Tarrier had his 100th career point as Goffstown tied the game.
Goffstown scored again, 12 seconds later. Yes, that’s right, goals at 13 seconds, 25 seconds, and at 37 seconds of the opening minute in the second period. Connor Bernard scored his first of the night on a sweet set up from Owen St. Onge, and the Grizzlies led, 2-1.
Holding On
At 3:33 of the period Spaulding tied the game at two. Evan Trepanier dug the puck out of the corner and worked it back to Colton Niven for a shot from the top of the circle. Kyle Bennett made the save but Tyler Jean grabbed the rebound at a tough angle and fired it past Bennett to tie the game.
While there were three goals scored in the opening minute of the period, lastly there was a goal scored in the final minute of the period as well. Goffstown broke the tie while on the power play. Tarrier eased the puck back to AJ Hill at the left point. Without delay Hill whipped a pass over to Jackson Horne at the right point. Horne threw a shot toward the net. The shot went by St. Onge in the slot and found Tarrier alongside Mayo at the top of the crease. The puck was just wide of Mayo and hit right off of Tarrier’s stick blade. The redirection was perfect, like a shoehorn easing a heel into a fine fitting shoe. Grizzlies took a 3-2 lead to the 2nd intermission.
Three Lines For Three Periods
To be sure it is hard to determine exactly how much value there is in playing three lines over the course of a game. Although I can unquestionably tell you this, the Grizzlies have been a different team since they started using more of their roster every game. Wednesday night might have been the most compelling evidence of this so far this season.
Three Goals in the Third
The first thing to remember is that Spaulding is a really good team. Of course, they were a good team all night. They are still a good team. Goffstown was outshot in the final period, 9-7. The big key was that they scored three goals on those 7 shots. The first came in the opening minute of the period. Spaulding had a great scoring chance but the shot was blocked by Jaden Booth. What’s more is that Booth directed the puck right to Connor Bernard, out of harm’s way. Bernard calmly looked up and hit Tarrier with a pass that sent Zack in on a breakaway. Hattie on Hundred Night was what I wrote next on my notepad. Of course, Tarrier buried the breakaway bid, and the Grizzlies led, 4-2.
Obviously the game was far from over, with more than 14 minutes left. It stayed that way until the final minute of the game. Tarrier made an expert pilfer of the puck on the fore-check in front of the net. Zack then quickly slid the puck across to Bernard in front of the net for the tap in goal. Just 23 seconds later, after a great save by Bennett, freshman Corey Beland raced up the left wing and pulverized a shot under the crossbar for the final goal of the night.
Again, Booth tapped the rebounded puck ahead, this time to Cam Desruisseaux. Desruisseaux made a one-touch pass to Beland and he took it from there.
Finish Strong
Overall Goffstown got better as the game went on. To that end, they scored six times in the final two periods. While this may be true, Spaulding still pounded the zone with chances, and the net with shots. Kyle Bennett made the saves he needed to, and his teammates cashed in on good chances when they had them. To conclude, the Grizzlies scored twice in the final minute. The Red Raiders could not get Mayo pulled for an extra attacker because the Grizzlies kept making plays down the stretch.
Goffstown Grizzlies at Spaulding Red Raiders.
Rochester Arena, Rochester, NH.
NHIAA Hockey: Game sixteen.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
NHIAA Hockey:
Scoring:
Goffstown Grizzlies: 00 – 03 – 03 = 06
Spaulding Red Raiders: 00 – 02 – 00 = 02
Shots on goal:
Goffstown Grizzlies: 03 – 12 – 07 = 22
Spaulding Red Raiders: 12 – 08 – 09 = 29
Goffstown Grizzlies Penalties:
- 1st – Bernard – 2:00 – Tripping.
- 1st – Hill – 2:00 – Interference.
Goffstown was 2-for-3 on the power play, while the Spaulding Red Raiders were 1-for-2.
- Goffstown Grizzlies – Kyle Bennett (Jr.) made 27 saves on 29 shots (.931).
- Spaulding Red Raiders – Cash Mayo made 16 saves on 22 shots (.727).
Buckle up. Here we go. All the points were scored by our kids.
Enjoy every single second. Remember every second doesn’t have to be about you or your kid to be equally enjoyed. Choose joy.
1st Period
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- No scoring.
2nd Period
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- 2nd 0:13 – Spaulding Red Raiders – PPG – Brayden Comeau from Colton Niven and Tyler Jean. 0-1.
- 2nd 0:25 – Goffstown Grizzlies – Even – Zack Tarrier (100th Career Point) from Connor Bernard. 1-1.
- 2nd 0:37 – Goffstown Grizzlies – Even – Connor Bernard from Owen St. Onge. 2-1.
- 2nd 3:33 – Spaulding Red Raiders – Even – Tyler Jean from Colton Niven and Evan Trepanier. 2-2.
- 2nd 14:32 – Goffstown Grizzlies – PPG – Zack Tarrier from Jackson Horne and AJ Hill. 3-2.
3rd Period
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- 3rd 0:40 – Goffstown Grizzlies – Even – Zack Tarrier (Hat Trick) from Connor Bernard and Jaden Booth. 4-2.
- 3rd 14:05 – Goffstown Grizzlies – PPG – Connor Bernard from Zack Tarrier. 5-2.
- 3rd 14:28 – Goffstown Grizzlies – Even – Corey Beland from Cam Desruisseaux and Jaden Booth.6-2.
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