RETURN TO THE QUEEN CITY

      Making their sixth trip to Manchester’s JFK arena this season, Hanover came away with a 7-2 victory against host Manchester Central in a Saturday afternoon game to raise their Division 1 leading record to 12-1 (15-2 overall).  With the host Little Green (1-11 on the season) posting congratulatory flyers around the rink and announcing coach Dick Dodd’s recent 500^th victory over the PA system, it almost felt a little like a home game for the visiting Marauders as they continued their dominance in the Queen City.

Four points for Sy

      However, as the game got underway, Manchester Central wasn’t the only group that was a little green to start, as the Hanover partisans in attendance might have felt some mild nausea with the hosts taking the early lead on a goal from Manchester senior captain John McNichole at 3:12.  However, Patrick Daly, a recent JV call-up to replace the injured Hans Williams, answered for the Marauders just over a minute later with his first varsity goal to tie the score at 4:21.  From then on, Hanover was in complete control, scoring three more goals in the period – Sylas Oberting and two from David Lehmann – versus allowing one more Manchester tally to finish the period up 4-2.  Assists  going to Braxton McNulty x 2, Rowan Wilson, Cameron Woods, Owen Stadheim, Matty Gardner and Oberting.

      The second and third featured more of the same dominance for Hanover, with two goals in the second (Woods and Toño Correa (first varsity goal) with assists Oberting x 2 and Zinman) and one in the third from Charlie Plottner (assisted from Duncan Bailey and Wilson).  Harris LaRock (16 saves) stood tall in net to record his 15^th victory – earning every second of time this year between the pipes.

First varsity goal for Correa

      This game was one of those where there was lots of playing time to go around, and a chance to get experience for all the players in the rink in which the New Hampshire Division 1 state tournament semifinals will be held.  Uncharacteristically, for the first time this year, Hanover had no opportunities on the power play, and saw themselves in the box three times.  Fortunately, the Marauder penalty kill was up to the challenge in fending off any of the Little Green’s man-up opportunities.

      Said Dodds “This was our 6^th time playing at this rink.  Hopefully we can make it back here for the semifinals. It feels like we have spent more time here than at Campion.”

      This Wednesday, Hanover faces off against third place Concord who only has one loss on the season in Division 1 (3-2 to Pinkerton).  It will be the first of two match-ups in Divisional play between these longtime foes.  The 4-1 Marauder win against the Crimson Tide in the Holiday tournament semifinals feels like a century ago and playoff seeding will become increasingly important as the march toward the playoffs continues.  Game time is 7:00 pm at Campion.