GUT CHECK TIME

      In a game that will go down as probably the toughest for the Marauders this season, the Concord Crimson Tide game into a crowded Campion Rink on Tuesday afternoon and dismantled Hanover 6-0.  With the win, the Crimson Tide took over the first place tiebreaker in NHIAA Division 1 with a 14-2 record, while Hanover falls to 14-2 in league play.

 

      For Hanover, this game started off just as it did in the round robin game at the Manchester Holiday tournament – a very even first period.  In fact David Lehmann had the best early chance for either team when his backhander from the low slot went off the mask of Concord senior goalie Spencer Burgess.  However, Concord is a strong senior-laden team, and a blue line turnover at 12:41 led to freshman Mike Stoddard’s takeaway and beating Harris LaRock for a 1-0 lead.  It was all they would need.  Even the usual ferocious Hanover powerplay to end the first period came up with nothing as the teams retreated to the locker rooms.

 

      Any hope that Hanover had to even the score was dashed early in the second when senior Drew Livingston took another neutral zone turnover in to beat LaRock at 3:38.  This was followed two minutes later when Concord’s Shane R….oh you know what, I don’t want to write any more of this.  Hanover got their butts kicked on their home ice.  It was bad.  It was demoralizing.  There were no positives.  No one gets their picture in the blog today.

 

      But…this wasn’t the playoffs, this wasn’t the end to the senior’s hockey career and sure as heck this wasn’t what this team is all about.  The best part too is that in less than 24 hours, these two teams will meet again in Concord.  Hanover has the chance to stomp the Crimson Tide just like they did in December.  A strong effort Wednesday erases today's game result in an instant.  No excuses. No time to be timid.  See you tomorrow at Everett.