Goffstown Hockey Brings Community Together On Ice

 – Goffstown Hockey Brings Community Together On Ice –

February 04, 2026 – Sullivan Arena.

– Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey –

 

 

 

 

2026 Charity of Choice Game – Best Buddies – Brings Community Together

Of course, the night of the game was the key fundraising opportunity of the entire week leading up to opening face-off. On this occasion, it was all about how Goffstown Hockey Brings Community Together. Especially seeing those kids together wearing their custom hockey jerseys

On the ice, members from the Goffstown High School chapter of Best Buddies participated in a ceremonial puck drop. Grizzlies Alternate Captains, Jackson Horne and Owen St. Onge, both are also a part of Best Buddies club. They met at center ice before the teams warmed up and took the ceremonial face-off. Even so, the teams, the coaches, and the fans were all there to see it as well as to cheer them on. It was undeniably a wonderful moment during a long season. 

 

1st Intermission

After one period, the Grizzlies were trailing 1-0 on the scoreboard, but the energy was still elevated and contagious.

It must be said, in fact it should be shouted – a huge thank you to everyone who came out to support the Goffstown Grizzlies Hockey Team and the amazing cause they chose for this season’s Charity of Choice: Best Buddies International!

Wednesday night wasn’t just about hockey. It was about community. Best Buddies creates one-to-one friendships and inclusive opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dozens of kids are a part of this partnership at Goffstown High School.

 

2nd Intermission

By the time the second period ended a lot of things in the Goffstown world of hockey had seemingly righted themselves. The Grizzlies scored a pair of goals after killing off a 5-minute major penalty and they led the game, 2-1. That was good news from the ice.

Off the ice, the Goffstown Hockey world now included the Best Buddies. This program is not just a local program. It’s a global movement in all 50 states and 49 countries, with over 3,300 school chapters creating spaces where every student feels welcomed, accepted, and valued.

Not only that, but the fundraising numbers were coming in fast and furious. The dollars were multiplying.

 

Goffstown Hockey Brings Community Together – What team is all about:

 

By the time the final horn sounded the Grizzlies and Best Buddies had SMASHED their fundraising goal for the evening! To all of the folks online, in attendance, and those who scanned the QR Code, or dumped dollars and cents into the buckets: Thank You! A HUGE THANK YOU. Above all, the evening brought in well over $2,500 for the Best Buddies Program.

In other news, the Grizzlies won, 2-1.

Kyle Bennett earned his 23rd career win guarding the Grizzlies Den. He now holds the All-Time Wins Record for a Goaltender in Goffstown Hockey History. Congratulations, Kyle and teammates present and past.

 

 

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Goffstown Grizzlies vs. Merrimack-Hollis Brookline-Derryfield School Warhawks.

Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH.

NHIAA Hockey: Game fourteen.

Wednesday, February 04, 2026.

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NHIAA Hockey:

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

MHBDS Warhawks: 01 – 00 – 00 = 01 

Shots on goal:

Goffstown Grizzlies: 09 – 14 – 06 = 29 

MHBDS Warhawks: 03 – 07 – 11 = 21 

Goffstown Grizzlies Penalties:

• 1st – Beland – 2:00 – Elbowing.
• 2nd – Horne – 5:00 – Charging.
• 2nd – Hill – 2:00 – Unsportsmanlike.
• 3rd – Eames – 2:00 – Interference.

Goffstown was 0-for-0 on the power play, while MHBDS Warhawks were 0-for-2.

• Goffstown Grizzlies – Kyle Bennett (Jr.) made 20 saves on 21 shots (.952).
• MHBDS Warhawks – Liam Gagne (Jr.) made 27 saves on 29 shots (.931).

 

 

 

Buckle up. Here we go. All the points were scored by our kids:

1st Period

1. 1. 1st 5:26 – MHBDS Warhawks – Even – Colin Hamlin from Ben Hazard and Tyler Allen. – While the Grizzlies were getting the better of the shots and chances early on, nobody had scored. Until, that is, when the Grizzlies were caught watching the puck without having possession of it in the offensive zone. No sooner had Alex May and Tyler Allen won the puck up the wall to Ben Hazard when Colin Hamlin sprinted out to center ice. All of a sudden the puck was on Hamlin’s stick, after a sensational outlet pass from Hazard. Hamlin did the rest. For one thing, he can really skate. As a result he was completely alone and racing toward Kyle Bennett in net. Hamlin fired and scored. By the time the defense was back Hamlin had ripped a shot inside the post for the first goal of the game. Great team play leads to a breakaway goal. 1-0.

2nd Period

1. 1. 2nd 8:24 – Goffstown Grizzlies – Even – Owen St. Onge from Zack Tarrier. – By the time the Grizzlies scored the game was more than half over. Regardless, there was plenty of time left. Furthermore, their first goal had tied the game. In any case, the Warhawks had the puck in their own end. Although, that changed rather quickly. Tarrier picked off a clearing attempt and took the puck to the goal line. Also, he cut in from the corner a little bit to get rid of a quick shot. When he did, the puck approached the net, goalie, and defender from an odd angle. Basically, a bad angle to score from. You can’t score if you don’t shoot the puck. The puck hit the defender as Owen St. Onge was skating toward the crease. Owen nudged the puck toward the nearside of the net with his backhand. Meanwhile, all the players, goalie included, were moving toward the far post. The puck slid into the net, and the Grizzlies had tied the game. 1-1.
   2. 2nd 13:40 – Goffstown Grizzlies – Even – Connor Bernard from Zack Tarrier. – GWG. – It was late in the second period before Goffstown scored again. At first, it looked like Liam Gagne had made a great save on a point blank shot. Once in a while breaks go your way. This time the break favored Goffstown. Connor Bernard’s shot somehow got through Gagne and into the net. Although Gagne nearly pulled off a tremendous save. Tarrier had won the face-off in the offensive zone. As soon as the puck came off Tarrier’s stick, Bernard snagged the puck before anyone else could control it. He made a move around one defender and simultaneously moved toward the slot. As a result he was moving across the slot when he fired the puck. Instead of shooting in the direction he was facing, he shot back in the direction from where he had come. This action exposed a significant point often overlooked which is getting the goalie to move side to side. As Gagne barely moved to get a good angle for a shot from where Bernard was headed, that tiny movement probably kept him from making the save. Bernard’s shot was low and back toward the nearside post. Gagne reached back, and down to glove the puck absolutely getting a piece of the puck. That little slide toward Bernard’s path undoubtedly effected his ability to make a clean save on the play. As I have said many times, a simple hockey play made the difference. It’s important to realize that even a simple, good hockey play is defined in the details. Connor’s first goal of the season was the game-winner. 2-1.

 

3rd Period

No Scoring.

 

 

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.