EVERY WIN MATTERS



Three points for Sy Oberting

     In a game that was 3-0 only 3:55 into the opening period, the Hanover Marauders got off to a blazing start and finished off Nashua North 7-1 on Wednesday night to start the new year and match their season win-loss record.  With the win, Hanover remains as one of three undefeated teams in Division 1 league play as they begin a four game stretch of away games starting this weekend.

      This game was really over before the partisans were settled in as in rapid succession, Silas Oberting (unassisted) Owen Stadheim (from David Lehmann) and Charlie Plottner (from Braxton McNulty) had starting Titans goalie Robbie Morel pulled early.  His replacement, sophomore Eren Labonte, was able to stem the barrage, and even allow Nashua to make it 3-1 when a Hanover defensive lapse led to a Nashua breakaway goal by Matty Eskensas at 5:15.  However, Hanover kept pressing and second Oberting and Stadheim goals (Lehmann and Matty Gardner assisting) in the frame’s final minute on the man-up had the home team up 5-1 as the horn sounded.

      With who would be the 50-50 raffle winner linger as the night’s only outcome in question, Hanover put in two more goals – both by Lehmann – in the second and third frames respectively on assists by Stadheim and Oberting.  The sophomore duo’s three-point night set the team standard and once again the Lehmann-Stadheim-Elias Zinman line powered the offense.  In a reversal of what had been the norm recently for the Marauders, they started very strong, only to seemingly coast a bit in the game’s final two frames.

      Hanover continued to be very smart in regard to penalty avoidance with only one trip to the box deep into the third period.  Conversely, Nashua had three trips to the sin bin, all in the first period, with the Marauders converting on two out of those three chances.

      As the Titan bus warmed up for the long trip back to Nashua, the only question remaining was the 50-50 winner, which was still was in doubt as the crowd funneled out of a cold Campion rink.  With the conspiracy theories abounding as to what happened to the money, rumor had it that rink announcer Richard McNulty was seen later that evening pulling out of White River Toyota in a new Tundra.

      Harris LaRock was virtually untested in the net as the Marauders dominated in the shot column 41-7.

      With the win, Hanover goes to 4-0 in league play to lead Division 1.  This Saturday they travel for a 7:15 game with 1-3 foe Exeter.  The record is deceiving, however, as Exeter suffered only a 3-2 loss to undefeated Pinkerton late in December.  Hanover keeps stacking wins – all essential with playoff seeding so critically important.