Bulldogs Top Marauders in Holiday Tournament Championship

Hanover's Luke Ratliff makes a save on Bedford's Jacob Rioux

After reeling off four straight wins – three in the tournament – Hanover headed back to JFK Coliseum for a snow-delayed Manchester holiday tournament championship game against defending tournament and state champions, the Bedford Bulldogs.

Bedford graduated a number of stars off their championship team, but still returned a solid and deep squad, including two all-state players and one of the top goaltenders in the state. Hanover, however, seemed to be getting stronger every game, and was ready for their toughest challenge of the season in their final game of 2016.

The early play was centered largely on the neutral zone, with neither team generating many quality scoring chances. The first near-goal came at 5:28, when Hanover tender Luke Ratliff made a quick snag on a drive that seemed harmless, yet took a late deflection upward on his doorstep.

Bedford's Eric Flynn got the Bulldogs on the board at 11:50 of the first period. Linemate Nathan Musgrave circled behind the Marauder goal, and Flynn was left unmarked as he drifted down into the left slot and then one-timed Musgrave's feed into the back of the net. The 1-0 Bedford lead would hold up for the remainder of the period.

Hanover had more opportunities in the second, and their rapidly improving power play got a chance to go to work when Bedford's Jay Roberto picked up a tripping penalty only 43 seconds into the second. The Marauders had a number of chances, but none could solve Bedford netminder Eric Voloshin.

Gagne doubled the Bulldog lead at 7:51 of the second period on an individual effort. The eventual tournament MVP collected a loose puck behind the Hanover net and circled back to attempt to stuff it home on the near post. Ratliff made the initial save and looked to have secured the puck, but Gagne banged in the rebound for the 2-0 lead.

A 2-0 deficit against Bedford and Voloshin – who had only given up two goals in the tournament – would seem insurmountable to most teams, but the Marauders were undeterred heading into the third period and played their best hockey of the game in the final frame. Jake Acker had one of the best scoring chances of the night with a wrist shot from the slot, But Voloshin once again denied the Marauders a tally.

A puzzling charging call at 4:47 put the brakes on the Hanover counterattack. Bedford scored the backbreaker on the power play at 5:57. Colin Voloshin, the twin brother of the Bedford goaltender, backhanded a rebound inside the right post for the 3-0 lead, which would hold up through to the final whistle.

Ratliff and defenseman Patrick Logan were named to the all-tournament team.

“We got a lot better as a team,” said Hanover head coach Dick Dodds. “That was the goal.” Assistant coach Dean Cashman was equally positive in his assessment, noting that Hanover has yet to reach its potential and will be a decidedly different team by the time playoffs roll around in March. Cashman singled out the play of forwards Casey Starr and Owen Stadheim in particular as players who improve every game and will have an increasing impact on Hanover's game play in coming weeks.

Ratliff, who made 37 saves in the loss, was named the top tournament goaltender in postgame awards. He was joined on the all-tournament team by Marauder defenseman Patrick Logan. Hanover joined Bedford as the only two teams with more than one player on the all-tournament squad, with Colin Voloshin being named as a forward and Gagne tabbed as the MVP. Matt Chorlian, Concord defenseman, and forwards Tyler Chipman of Trinity and Doug Champagne of Bow rounded out the team.

With the win, Bedford improves to 5-0-1. Hanover's four-game win streak was snapped as they drop to 4-3. The Marauders return to league action in the new year when they travel south to Conway Arena to take on Nashua North-Souhegan on Wednesday, January 4 with a 6:10pm start.