Hockey: Goffstown 5 vs. Spaulding 1

From Sullivan Arena in Goffstown, NH – January 26, 2019:

It’s always good to be home. Last night the Goffstown Grizzlies hockey team returned home after completing a hard-fought road win less than 24 hours earlier. And it was apparent early that Goffstown definitely had a bit more jump in their step. The Grizzlies erased an early 1-0 deficit and skated with pace and resolve to a 5-1 win over Spaulding.

Goffstown came out flying and started getting scoring chances right from the first shift. At first, though, the bounces didn’t go their way. Or maybe some of them did. At 3:27 of the period, Grizzlies freshman goaltender, James Amorelli, made a huge left arm save on a point-blank chance by the Red Raiders. More chances came to the Grizzlies, but Spaulding struck first. Ryan Ellis cruised in and scored the first goal of the game, set up by Brady Blaisdell at 8:36. Goffstown answered right back with an unassisted goal from Colin Burke at 9:16. Then a little more than a minute later Lucas Ouellette put his own rebound past Brendan Stanley and the Grizzlies had a 2-1 lead. The play was set up when the puck was worked back to Jacob Noonan at the left point and he worked it to Luke Chase. Chase moved through the slot and passed to Ouellette who massaged the puck into the net with Alex McCarthy on the doorstep just in case. Then the Grizzlies paraded around the ice like it was popular to spend time in the sin bin. They took 11 minutes in penalties over a span of 2:08 game time. Somehow they killed off more than 3 minutes of being down a pair of skaters.

And the Grizzlies are off and running on home ice. 1 (Photo by Charron)

Griffin Cook starts the rush up ice against Spaulding. 2 (Photo by Charron)

This has been a theme all season. Cook with the puck in the slot. 3 (Photo by Charron)

Cook puts another puck into the back of the net. 4 (Photo by Charron)

In the second period, after finally enduring the last of the penalty blitz, the Grizzlies got back to the offensive pressure. Actually, Griffin Cook took things to another level, and before the period was done, he had his fourth hat trick of the season. First, Cook scored at 3:24 on a faceoff win from Colby Gamache. Then on a gorgeous passing play from Colby Gamache to Sebastian Beal who was behind the net, Beal made a backhand pass from behind the net to Griffin Cook in front of the net. Cook buried the shot and Goffstown had a 4-1 lead at 6:18. Then it was Cook again, from Gamache and Beal at 9:00. So, in 5:36 Cook netted three goals, and Goffstown led 5-1. The Grizzlies played outstanding and fired 14 shots on goal during the period while allowing just 5 shots. Goffstown stayed out of the penalty box and dominated play throughout.

Chretien hunts for shot opportunities like he’s spent three lifetimes tracking wild game. (Photo by Charron)

Colby again, like he’s in the back of a convertible on some cliff clinging highway in California at 65 mph. Watch the jersey wave in the breeze. Quiet on the set. (Photo by Charron)

James Amorelli made 14 saves en route to the 5-1 win against Spaulding. (Photo by Charron)

A picture is worth a thousand flakes of snow that a moment ago were just a mere sheet of ice. (Photo by Charron)

The voice of the Grizzlies and the rest of the crew. Thanks to Matt for all the camera work, and his phone which had this photo trending before anyone even saw it. (Photo by Charron)

The Big E gives the okay for Luke to pass through this contended area. (Photo by Charron)

This photo is for educational purposes. See foreground, see also, background. (Photo by Charron)

Off to the races. One way to go. (Photo by Charron)

Sometimes the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Sometimes folks dangle. (Photo by Charron)

Alex and the boys head up ice, making double time. (Photo by Charron)

Stephen Provencher sneaks up the left wing boards. (Photo by Charron)

The Big E looking out over his domain. (Photo by Charron)

The final period went quickly, with no scoring, despite the Grizzlies killing 3 more penalties and another minute or so of two skaters down. In the end, the Grizzlies held on to a 5-1 victory. The entire team played with some good energy and plenty of teamwork and they were rewarded for their efforts. Goffstown improved to 8-2-1 on the regular season. The Grizzlies play host to a very dangerous Kingswood squad on Wednesday night, January 30th.