Merrimack hockey

Tournament Hockey: Goffstown 0 vs. Merrimack 3

by Steve Beal Sr.
March 3, 2019March 4, 2019

Sullivan Arena, St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH – March 2, 2019:

There are a time or two maybe, if any times at all, that I have seen a hockey game that played out like the last Quarterfinal to start in the D2 Tournament on Saturday night. Goffstown carried the play for virtually the entire hockey game but was unable to get a puck past Ben Hardy and the Tomahawks. The Grizzlies fell, 3-0, after Merrimack added a pair of desperation, long distance, empty net goals late in the 3rd period. The #3 seed, the Grizzlies were shut out for the first time since Feb. 4th, 2017 (51 games) at Oyster River, on a night when they outshot their opponents 31-12 and lost 2-0.

Tournament Hockey: Goffstown 0 vs. Merrimack 3

Another Look – Merrimack at Goffstown

by Steve Beal Sr.
January 24, 2019January 28, 2019

Players are held accountable by parents, coaches, ADs, and officials. Coaches are held accountable by ADs, officials, and parents/boards. Officials are not held accountable, and when they’re bad, they make a mockery of the game… Another Look – Merrimack at Goffstown

Hockey: Goffstown 2 vs. Merrimack 4

by Steve Beal Sr.
January 17, 2019January 18, 2019

From Sullivan Arena in Goffstown, NH – January 16, 2019:

It is said that all good things must come to an end. Last night Goffstown lost on home ice for the first time in the regular season since February 8th, 2017 (Keene). That’s right, almost 2 full calendar years, and 14 straight home wins later, the regular season home streak is over. Merrimack just kept playing their game and got solid goaltending from Ben Hardy en route to a 4-2 win.

Hockey: Goffstown 2 vs. Merrimack 4

Hockey: Goffstown 10 @ Merrimack 5

by Steve Beal Sr.
December 13, 2018January 30, 2022

From West Side Arena in Manchester – December 12, 2018

As I sat down to write this recap, I literally removed my baseball cap and sat in silence for 22 seconds to honor Hunter Burke and the Burke family as I had done with the crowd at West Side Arena yesterday afternoon.Hockey: Goffstown 10 @ Merrimack 5

Hockey: Goffstown 2 at Windham 5

by Steve Beal Sr.
February 25, 2018March 1, 2018

Goffstown ended their spectacular regular season in Salem against a very strong Windham Jaguars team on Saturday night. Despite dropping their final two contests, the Grizzlies did win 14 games in the regular season for the first time in their program’s history. Windham jumped out to a 4-0 lead and the hole was too deep for the Grizzlies to climb out of and overcome, but that’s not the whole story.

click to enlarge — Brett Branscum and Grady Chretien line up against the Jaguars. (Photo by Charron)

Hockey: Goffstown 2 at Windham 5

Hockey: Goffstown 2 at Keene 8

by Steve Beal Sr.
February 21, 2018February 22, 2018

One of the beauties of sport is that competition brings opportunity where something has to give. People can talk, stats, results, and personnel can be compared on paper, but in truth, it’s only after having contested in the sport that we really know. Last night out at Keene Ice, the Keene Blackbirds hosted the Goffstown Grizzlies on Keene’s Senior Night. It was NH Hockey’s Division II #1 vs. #2 in a last week of the season matchup. Something had to give.

Hockey: Goffstown 2 at Keene 8

Hockey: Merrimack 4 at Goffstown 5

by Steve Beal Sr.
February 19, 2018February 20, 2018

Last night on the hilltop, as some say, the Grizzlies hosted their final regular season hockey game of the 2017-18 season. It was also Senior Night, a chance to recognize Goffstown’s 5 seniors on this year’s varsity squad. The opponent was Merrimack, a team that these senior’s had never beaten (0-4) coming into their final regular season home game.

Hockey: Merrimack 4 at Goffstown 5