Late on Wednesday night from Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH – February 13, 2019:
By the time the game started the other night, it almost seemed like an afterthought. There was no public address announcing. There was a surprise playing of the National Anthem (we did stand and honor the playing of it). There were no starting lineups announced. Then finally, the puck dropped at 9 pm. Given all of that, the Grizzlies started the game like their shin pads were on fire. They came out flying, cycling and circling like an old western war party, taking the game to the Warriors. The Grizzlies took a 4-0 in the first 5:46 of the period, and never looked back.
More Goffstown hockey history was made when Goffstown took their 4-0 lead in the first period. Griffin Cook scored the goal on a set up from Sebastian Beal and Colby Gamache. On the play, Cook notched his 111th career point, as did Beal. At 111 points apiece, they passed a Grizzlies legend, and former linemate, Noah Charron who had held the scoring record with 110 points (60g-50a).
The Grizzlies are all on the same page while the Warrior coaches all seem to be daydreaming separately. (Sage photo)
Last night was a good night to be a Grizzlie, for the most part. Goffstown’s Alex McCarthy, Stephen Provencher, Theo Milianes, Isaac McGregor, and James Amorelli all did not dress for the game as a result of sickness, leaving the team, etc. The players who did dress all played, and they played a lot. As the game wore on and the deficit widened the Warriors did take some runs at Goffstown’s first line players, but the Grizzlies escaped unharmed with a 9-0 victory that removed any doubt as to which team was the better team. These two teams played a thriller earlier in the season when Goffstown hosted Winnacunnet and beat them 6-5 in overtime after trailing 4-2 after two periods.
These three contemplate the complexity of the play drawn up behind them. Or they’re just waiting for the next bus, hard to tell. (Sage photo)
Part of me doesn’t really like games like these because as the game plays out the whole things seems to become a rush to exit stage left. As it was, there were few of the normal game presentations that give a fan a sense of structure. The faceoffs were rushed, with the puck being dropped without checking the teams and where they were lined up. The more this kind of thing is allowed to play out the more it takes away from the game. This wasn’t the 3rd grade after school contest that encourages kids to be active while parents are afforded another hours’ time to get done their day and pick up their kids. This is supposed to be a high school varsity hockey game in an area of the country known for hockey. Do it right. Respect the reason we are all gathered at some ice glazed concrete sanctuary after 9 pm on a school night in the first place. Okay, maybe a big part of me doesn’t really like games like these.
Brett Lassonde gets the puck deep into the offensive zone in front of the bench. On another note, which one of the sticks in the background does not belong? (Sage photo)
Hockey happens. There are rules. There are measurements. There are timelines and sequences that should be allowed to run their course, and when they are shunted, everybody loses, or at least those of us considered purists or ‘old school’. Here’s a tidbit, if a team is serving a 5-minute major penalty, the penalty shouldn’t come off the clock until the penalty is served. Then when it is taken down by some error, there’s a scoresheet that tracks the time the penalty began, and simple math allows the time left to be reconstructed, and the error corrected. If getting through the game as fast as humanly possible is the theme, then schedule it at a better time, or get someone more responsible to officiate the game. There were several faceoffs started before players on either side had even reached the circle. We were already there, and these are varsity athletes whose careers go by fast enough. Play the game. Do it the right way. Anything less is just an indictment on those in charge.
Madeline Sage saved every shot she saw en route to a shutout win at Winnacunnet. (Sage photo)
While we’re at it, I was a competitive athlete for most of my life, and yes, I hated to lose. I know Winnacunnet wasn’t happy about getting their doors blown off right out of the gate, but they are a varsity team too. They have been a competitive team all season and they even took this same Goffstown team to overtime back in December. So, slow down, do the game right. These guys weren’t going to give up, and they shouldn’t give up. But for crying out loud, call penalties when you see them, even if it takes more time. Calvin leads the charge as the others await his signal to continue forward. (Sage photo)
I have noted before that the adrenaline rushed competitive teenager facing adversity on the fly while skating at top speed in a suit of armor would rank pretty low on the list of folks properly equipped to police themselves fairly. Call the game, we’ll wait. Coach, lead your team, set an example that is within the framework of the game. If a player is out for blood, sit them down. It doesn’t belong, I don’t care what time it is, or what the score is. I am not sure why there needs to be running time in the 3rd period of such games unless it’s just an obvious confession that the powers that be have no ability to manage a lopsided situation. This is varsity high school hockey. In a few short years from now will these, then young adults, find themselves in a lopsided situation and be able to speed up the clock so they can go home from a tough day? I hope not. There are always opportunities to learn.
Maddie stares down the puck and directs it to the corner with her mind. (Sage photo)
Then there is Winnacunnet’s goaltender, Jack Ellis, who has been nothing short of a mystery for the Grizzlies over his first two varsity seasons. He has been sensational in net. Wednesday night I was shocked to see Goffstown net four goals in the first 5:46. Goffstown tore through the Warrior defense with precision though, creating 21 shots on goal in the period, and forcing Ellis to be looking left and right all night. At the other end, Madeline Sage made 11 saves in the opening period and kept Winnacunnet off of the board. This might not sound like much in a game that ended up 9-0, but it was quite instrumental in the construction of a shutout win. Winnacunnet’s chances were turned aside, and their best efforts were met by saves from Sage. After one period, Goffstown led 4-0 and outshot the Warriors 21-11.
Grady comes to a halt and I can hear Veronica Corningstone (Anchorman) saying, “and thanks for stopping by”. (Sage photo)
In the second period, the wheels just about came off of this contest. There were 31 minutes in penalties handed out and there probably should have been more. On ice bullying and taunting made me want to get up and leave. Players being allowed to take shift after shift even they were acting like 3-year olds fighting over a single truck in the sandbox. Again, coaches and officials, take control. There was just one goal scored in the period, and only 14 shots combined. Most of the period was spent avoiding cheap shots or trying to ‘one-up’ one another.
Colin demonstrates with textbook form how to use your legs properly when lifting something heavy. (Sage photo)
The third period was running time. My favorite. The Warriors kept skating, but many were skating, it seemed, just to try and take someone’s legs out, or some other thing that is not related to hockey really. So Goffstown spent the period trying to get 3rd and 4th line players some points. I did love seeing Devin Cote, Eric Purcell, Calvin Sage, Melanie Riendeau, Sean Hunter, and Luke Ouellette get all kinds of ice time. Winnacunnet removed Jack Ellis from the net with 6 minutes remaining in the game, after making 28 saves on 35 shots. Naish Kelly came in for the Warriors and made a great glove save on Brett Lassonde at 13:06. The few Warrior fans cheered loudly, as did their bench, and so did the Goffstown fans. That was a pretty cool moment. Colin and Sebastian celebrate while Coach Josh let’s Colby know that his time will come. (Sage photo)
The scoresheet for this game was written exceptionally neat but I am honestly conflicted on reporting the goals and assists because I believe they are fairly inaccurate. In a rush to do anything, we rarely do our best work, and the whole night seemed like a rush. Well, except for the Grizzlies offensive barrage. They were sensational right from the opening faceoff.
Goffstown got out of town with a win that propelled them to an 11-3-1 record in league play, and a solid hold on 3rd place in the standings. The Grizzlies play host to Oyster River on Saturday night. The Grizzlies and Bobcats skated to a 3-3 tie out in Durham back in December, a hockey lifetime ago. Oyster River recently went on a 7-0 run where they outscored their opponents 32-14, but have gone 0-2-1 in their last three. They lost to Kingswood at home last night, 6-3. Kingswood plays their last four games at home and they could leapfrog some teams in the standings.
Melanie and Sean took a moment between shifts to grab a quick picture at the rink photo booth. (Sage photo)
Maddie doesn’t seem the list bit distracted by the red, white, and blue opposition. (Sage photo)
Kyle exhibits how the goalie’s pads are fastened to the goalie’s skates but pretends not to be involved. (Sage photo)
Devin works the boards at Phillips Exeter Academy. (Sage photo)
Eric wonders aloud, “Hey Grady what do you think is over there?” (Sage photo)
Madeline Sage did sweep the podium in the joke telling portion of the program. Kyle can hardly contain himself while Brett listens in. (Sage photo)
School
W
L
T
Points
Rating
1) St. Thomas Aquinas
13
2
0
54
3.60000
2) Dover
12
3
0
48
3.20000
3) Goffstown
11
3
1
46
3.06670
4) Alvirne-Milford
8
5
2
37
2.46670
5) Keene
8
5
0
32
2.46150
6) Merrimack
8
6
1
35
2.33330
7) Oyster River
7
5
2
32
2.28570
7) Kingswood
8
6
0
32
2.28570
9) Lebanon-Stevens-Mount Royal
7
7
0
28
2.00000
10) Portsmouth-Newmarket
6
7
2
29
1.93330
11) Winnacunnet
4
11
1
18
1.12500
12) Somersworth-Coe-Brown
3
10
1
14
1.00000
13) Spaulding
3
12
0
12
0.80000
14) Timberlane
3
13
0
12
0.75000
Grady leads the charge at Winnacunnet. (Sage photo)
Sebastian out for an excursion in the offensive zone, his hunting territory. (Sage photo)
Colby Gamache sends a message via telepathy as Coach transcribes the message back on the bench. (Sage photo)
Luc Ouellette works the power crossover step while changing direction. (Sage photo)
Colby looks down for the puck as Sean says, “Colby it’s not down there, the ref hasn’t dropped it yet”. (Sage photo)
Maddie placed a disappointing 4th in the high hurdles competition between periods. She did ace the degree of difficulty though. (Sage photo)
Maddie sees her weighted scores posted for degree of difficulty in the hurdles event and cannot contain her joy! (Sage photo)
Grady doesn’t seem to notice that Mrs. Sage is skating a shift on the ice while taking this picture. (Sage photo)
