Christmas Tournament Success

Coming into Saturday’s final game of Round Robin action in the Brian C. Stone Christmas Hockey tournament, Dick Dodds’s Hanover Marauders sat at 1-1 in pool play with two close games against two very good opponents – a 2-1 loss to Bedford and a 4-3 win with Trinity.  Both of these teams are firmly in the hunt for the NHIAA Division I state championship, so the result for the Marauders can only be seen as very, very encouraging and no matter what the result, a very successful Christmas tournament. 

So into the fray they went for the early game this afternoon facing a Goffstown Grizzlies team that is leading NHIAA Division 2 with a gaudy 4-0 record, although had come up short in their first two games of the tournament.  As the puck was about to drop, most of the Hanover partisans spent the time trying to figure out the chance of moving on to Sunday, and the tiebreakers involved there-in.  Head-to-head, most wins, fewest goals allowed, quickest goal scored, coin toss, prettiest uniforms, nicest bus driver, loudest fans, ugliest facial hair – so we will at least have the advantage on the last four.

A Spencer Lawe blast from the point on a rebound to John Hill screening at 5:01 opened the scoring to make it 1-0 on Goffstown netminder Madeline Sage. Ben Plottner in net faced a surprising number of good Grizzlies attempts and a cross-check put the locals down midway through the first. However it was Cam Woods on an aggressive forecheck behind the net finding Patrick Daley in front at 8:33 to make it 2-0. Second assist to Jack Gardner. Then at 12:46 Augie Oberting picked up an errant puck in the neutral zone for a five-hole against Sage to make it 3-0, assists from Gardner and Nick Lee.  Rolling all four lines Hanover outshot the Grizzlies 12-7…and we started really paying attention to the tiebreakers.

The second period opened with Hanover scoring quickly as Daley got his second on a nifty cross into the slot from Woods and Spencer Lawe at 30 seconds.  However, it was Goffstown on a dipsy-doo right off of the faceoff by Jack Wilkinson that cut the lead to 4-1 at 6:47. And it was really the Grizzlies who owned the better of play for several minutes mid period as Hanover appeared to take the pedal off of the gas, including a crossbar late that almost cut the lead to two goals. But it was Casey Graham bailing out the locals on a rebound to make it 5-1 at 14:11 off assists from Gardner and Lawe.  Period shot total Hanover 15 and Goffstown 3.

With the Concord Crimson team gazing downward like choirboys from the West End stands, the third period opened with the first Hanover man-up of the game. Despite some shaky offensive zone, play Woods scooped up an errant puck in his defensive end and roofed it on Sage at 3:16 to make it 6-1.  Assistant to Daley and Jack Stadheim.  Almost immediately thereafter Rowan Wilson got on the board with a gloveside wrister assisted by Lee and the clock starting running with the six goal lead. With a crossbar as their best chance with five minutes left, Goffstown didn’t threaten again.  Final Saves 13 for Plottner and 36 for Sage.

So with the 7-1 win, the Marauders go to 4-1 on the season (2-0 in NHIAA Division 1 play).  We await the results of the 4:00 pm Trinity/Bedford game to determine if we get to make the Queen City four-peat, or instead get to breathe some clean air tomorrow and stay in the Upper Valley.  If nothing else, the annual Bishop Guertin grudge match awaits on Saturday afternoon at Campion.  Vegas odds has the over-under at 6 on both the number of recruited Mass players on the BG roster this year and the number of times the net will mysteriously come off its stanchions when the Marauders are about to score.

See you at the rink…

 

Total Team Win

If the 2019-20 Hanover Marauders boys hockey team goes deep into the NHIAA Division 1 playoff this year, today’s 4-3 win over the Trinity Pioneers in the second game of the Brian C. Stone Christmas tournament might just be seen as the turning point.  Because after yesterday’s 2-1 loss to defending champion Bedford, the sense for some was that although Hanover outplayed the Bulldogs, they maybe fell victim a little bit to the Bedford mystique and came out a little sluggishly.  So today was going to be an interesting match-up against a vaunted Trinity squad that featured one of the state’s best offensive players in junior wing Anthony Dizillo, had come off a 5-1 pummeling of Goffstown in their opening game, and had little Santas sewn on their uniforms - how cute.

And the first period didn’t start off as the Marauders had hoped, as after a dubious interference call put the locals on the man-down, Trinity’s Cadin Booth beat Hanover goalie Luke Ives in the scrum to go up 1-0 at 9:37.  But unlike yesterday’s game, Hanover played with sense of urgency throughout the first period and hammered the Pioneers netinder Ryan Brewitt with 8 quality shots in the period.  One could tell there was something different in the Marauders today – a swagger really – and they went in to the first intermission having outshot the Pioneers 8-4 and on the man-up coming out in the second.

And in the second they played there most consistent period of the year with the piece de resistance being a Rowan Wilson short-handed slot wrister at 4:53 with an assist from Brendan Brigham to knot it up at 1-1. And that’s when the Pioneers let their aggression get the best of them, and they started racking up the penalties.  And it was Spencer Lawe manning the quarterback positon at the point on the power play whose blast from the red line sailed over the goal, rebounded back behind Brewitt and off his skate into the goal – 2-1 Hanover at 6:40. 

And this is when Hanover really came into its own, because although Trinity tied it up just 42 seconds later on a scrum in front, the Marauders were dominating.  And it wasn’t based on one single player, but based on a total team chemistry and work ethic.  A crushing forecheck, disruptive backcheck and smart D-to-D work by the defenders kept Trinity guessing, Hanover for the first time this year looked like a skill team with a ton of effort being put forth.  As the horn sounded 2-2 at the end of the second, Hanover had again outshot the Pioneers 8-4.

And in the third Hanover just crushed it, with help x 3 for Ives from the post.  Just 2:31 it was your captain Toño Correa netting the all-important tiebreaker on a feed from Augie Oberting to make it 3-2. Right on its heels at 4:33 was Curtis Rice getting a kick out in the mid slot and his eventual game winner beat Brewitt glove side.  With rush after rush coming at him, Cool Hand Luke turned away it all.  It was only on the 6-5 with 51 seconds left that the Pioneers were able to draw within one.  But Hanover maintained a staunch defense and with the horn Dick Dodds and the locals went to 3-1 on the young season. Final shots 23-15 Hanover.

So a huge team win for the Hanover in which they were smarter, more physical and excelled in both zones.  But before we start going through the tournament tie breakers, it is critical that Hanover takes care of Goffstown tomorrow at noon.  Then we wait and see.  Four boiled hot dogs in four days? Nothing would taste any better.

See you at the rink…

 

 

Old School Hockey

The organizers of this year’s Brian C. Stone Memorial Christmas Tournament know what they are doing.  Holding the tournament in one of the true great barns in New England where there is still a sign on the West End stands threatening a $50 fine for bringing in any “intoxicating beverages” and an 8 foot wide neutral zone is one.  Maintaining the tradition of free hot dogs for each player after each game is number two.  And scheduling the first game of the tournament between the last two New Hampshire Division I state champions in Hanover and Bedford just completes the trifecta.

So to the Queen City for the first time they went this 2019-20 version of Dick Dodds’s Hanover Marauders to face off against the Bulldogs for the first of three this year.  With two games under their belt – a surprisingly close 2-1 victory over Bow and then a blowout of Manchester Central – we really didn’t know what to expect from the locals going in.

What we came out with was a close 2-1 loss, in an absolutely great, clean, hard-fought game that made the post egg nog hangover much more tolerable.  This was a fast game with limited whistles and a heckuva a lot of back and forth.  You know it’s a well-played game when there are more goals than icing calls...and there were only three goals.

So into the fray they went as the puck dropped at 2:00 pm on a Thursday (c’mon parents is there absolutely anything you would rather be doing than this?) and it was the Bulldogs who had the first early opportunity as a trip had Hanover facing the man-down just 2:09 in.  The locals killed it, and nearly scored on a short-handed rush.  There was back and forth throughout the period, with Bedford controlling better in their offensive zone, but the Marauders better on the transition and breakout.  However, all of the rushes, the most dangerous by senior Rowan Wilson, were turned away by the wily Bedford veteran netminder Shea Guimont.  And as the clock ticked down, it was Connor Labrecque on a one-timer coming off an end board rebound that beat Ben Plottner to make it 1-0 at the first intermission.

While an impartial observer would say that Bedford owned the better of the play slightly in the first, the second was dead even.  Plottner and Guimond were stellar as each faced down good chances on the rush.  Hanover had a lot of chances on their only man-up of the game, but it was a post by Hanover late in the period being their best chance as the horn sounded keeping it 1-0 moving into the third.

Now if Bedford had the advantage in the first, and the teams were pretty even in the second, Hanover certainly carried the play in the third.  Unfortunately for the locals, it was Guimond’s day, as he stared down shot after shot from the local forwards with Patrick Daley, Cam Woods, Brendan Brigham and especially Casey Graham having great opportunities.  Unfortunately Bedford was able to convert on one of their few third period opportunities on an absolute rifle writer from the slot from Owen Roberto to make it 2-0 at 5:55. 

But rather than go into the hole, Hanover responded with sense of offensive urgency that has been missing thus far this season and played their best five minutes of hockey this year.  They absolutely hammered Guimond and the Bulldogs defense with rush after rush until MVP thus far for Hanover this year Brigham loosed up another puck and fed Toño Correa in close for a one-time to make it 2-1 deep with less than two minutes to go. Unfortunately, the furious Hanover push over the last 43 seconds with Plottner pulled could not equalize and the locals were left on the short end.  Final save total 23 for Plottner and 30 for Guimond.

So what to take from this game?  For one, Bedford is beatable this year, and Hanover was the better team today.  For two, once Hanover can start to finish in close, look out NH Division I.  For three, the Hanover defense, which had question marks coming in with the loss of two All- Staters, looks very solid through three games.  For four, Ben Plottner is really good.

So, there you have it.  Lots of positives from today – again this tournament is all about getting the experience of playing great competition in JFK arena.  Oh, and also eating free boiled hot dogs.

See you at the rink tomorrow for Trinity, and their nasty nasty first offensive line, at 2:00 pm.

Holiday Time

Not much to say about this afternoon’s 12-0 Hanover Marauder win over Manchester Central/West except it was certainly good to see the boys come out firing against a clearly overmatched opponent.  Lots of scoring to go around, with hat tricks to Brendan Brigham and Cam Woods, as well as first time goals for Nick Lee, Augie Oberting and Will Fichman.  The brakes were put on midway through the second or it might have been a football score. 

I started putting all the goals in the blog but frankly, no one really needs that so I have enclosed the game sheet in a photo below.  Ben Plottner finished with 5 saves to preserve the shutout.

With the win, Dick Dodds’s 2-0 Marauders earn for their troubles a holiday break 6 am practice tomorrow morning – would have hate to have seen the practice time had they put up less than a dozen.   

Looming on Thursday is one of the true highlights of the year – the Manchester Holiday tournament which has the Marauders playing Bedford, Trinity and Goffstown back-to-back-to-back.  Nothing like going out of the frying pan and into the fire.

See you at the rink…

The Two Jacks

Everyone knows there are certain expectations that come with being a freshman.  You can expect to get the worst locker. You can expect your 8^th grade girlfriend to dump you for the older guy with the car.  You can expect your mom to still want you to kiss her goodbye when she drops you off at school in the morning in front of your friends.  Lots of expectations.

But what is not expected is for you to make the varsity hockey team, especially one as senior heavy as the 2019-20 edition of Dick Dodds's Hanover Marauders.  And if you make it, you’re not supposed to contribute much, let alone get any playing time.  And if you do play, you’re not supposed to be the best player on the ice in your first varsity game and score the team’s first goal of the season or bail your team out from a tough tie with the game winner with under a minute left.

But if tonight’s game against the 1-0- Bow Falcons is any indication, freshmen Jack Stadheim and Jack Gardner, the two Jacks, have come this year to defy expectations.  Throw in stellar performances from sophomore defenseman Spencer Lawe and senior forward Brendan Brigham, and you’ve got the Marauders 1-0 on the season with a closer-than-expected 2-1 victory at Everett tonight.

This is an improved Bow team from a year ago, and with a large Concord-based crowd on hand, the first period showed the rust on Hanover, with this being their first game of the season after a Tuesday snow cancellation.  While the Marauders came close several times, especially from senior Patrick Daley and sophomore Augie Oberting, the locals could not find the back of the net.  In fact Bow had the best chance from the mid slot at 6:40 but sophomore stud goalie Ben Plottner slapped that attempt away easily and Lawe was a beast moving from the defensive to the offensive zone, and the period ended in a 0-0 tie with Hanover outshooting the Falcons 11-4.

The second period belonged to Stadheim, as his double dangler rush (never saw Seth or Owen do that!) finishing with a backhander in close was just barely turned away at 4:49.  But you knew it was coming, as on Hanover's only man-up of the game the freshman kept pushing and pushing until at 7:41, Cam Woods’s pass from behind the net met the oncoming freshman in the mid slot whose wrister put Hanover on top 1-0.  Second assist to Daley.  The locals would finish the period up in shots 22-11 but clinging to the 1-0 lead heading into the third.

And might I digress for one second from the game.  I don’t know if there is something they teach the people in charge of the music at Everett, but they consistently have the best of any arena. And it doesn’t even matter what home team is in charge.  Spectacular.  Great variety, all the hockey favorites and nothing written after 1987 – perfect.

But Bow came out of the locker room hoping to avenge last year’s 5-1 loss to the Marauders, and at 4:47 Jake Mielcarz picked up an errant clear at the blue line and walked in alone on Plottner to make it 1-1.  Each team then battled back and forth throughout the period, with a post for Bow and a crossbar for Hanover keeping the tie intact.  As the clock clicked under a minute, Hanover pressed again down low in the offensive zone and it was Brigham, as he had done all night, winning an all-out hustle battle behind the net and loosening the puck so that it came out to Gardner poaching at the left circle.  The freshman stepped up for the one-timer slapshot from about the Hopkinton town line and rifled it off the Bow goalie’s blocker at 14:10 into the back of the net for the game winner.  Yes Mrs. Gardner, having to redo the sheetrock in the basement because of all of the errant puck shooting practice was worth it.

With a dangerous last fifty seconds to play it was Plottner who saved the day with a key save on Mielcarz from the point and with the horn, the boys start their march to March 1-0 on the season.  Killing 3 penalties, rolling the lines and the aggressive play from the newcomers all keyed the victory.  Plottner had 18 saves with the locals outshooting the Falcons 39-19.

However, the 1-0 Marauders won’t get much rest, as in about 17 hours, Manchester Central comes to town for a mid-Sunday tilt at Thompson.  So welcome to the big show two Jacks, enjoy first place Marauders, and Bow I hope you won’t have too many nightmares about #3 tonight.  Always good to pull out of Everett with a win.

See you at the rink…

2019-20 Season Preview

      Ok…here we go.

      It’s been a long year since the anguish of March 2nd, 2019 when the fourth-seeded Hanover Marauders (14-7-1) lost a killer against the fifth-seeded Trinity Pioneers on a dank Saturday night at Campion.  We watched Bedford win their third title in four years later that month and thought “We were so close to a repeat” if it weren’t for a little more puck luck going our way. 

      But the anguish of that night, especially in the talented and deep junior class, lit a fire.  And all summer there was a lot of weight room time, a lot of skating, and a lot of bonding which has this year’s senior-laden team (eight of them) ready to bring the NHIAA Division 1 crown back to Hanover for the second time in three years.

      Leading the charge again this year will be NH Legends of Hockey 38th year coach Dick Dodds and his veteran staff of Dean Cashman (“Best assistant in all of NH hockey” per Dodds), Pat Doherty (Yes, he is THAT St Lawrence superstar) Alex Dodds (Make-a-wish game MVP senior year) and strength coach Wayne Burwell (Always kind not to laugh at your dad bod).  The five of them will be gunning for Hanover’s 10^th state championship – the most of any New Hampshire Division 1 school - and looking to put the thorn in the proverbial Bedford powerhouse come March.

      However, Dodds sees NHIAA division 1 as the most competitive ever in his tenure.  “Top to bottom the league is great this year.  The upper echelon teams have gotten stronger, the middle tier teams have improved…there are at least ten teams this year who could win the title.” Dodds sees this as a huge plus.  “Playing these caliber teams night in and night out will only help us to improve.”

      Leading the team this year will be the senior veterans, many of who got that taste of a state championship back in 2018 when Hanover came out of nowhere to beat Bedford in a 2-1 thriller.  However, Hanover isn’t sneaking up anymore on anyone, and as last year’s campaign showed, every Hanover game is a big one for the opponent.  Dodds believes the strength of this year’s team is the unbelievable work ethic of his senior veterans and the team cohesiveness that has been built throughout the fall captain’s practices and early season skates.

      “We don’t have superstars this year, which I think helps us.  We have established a really strong team dynamic which is so important and great participation and work from everyone.  Out strength will be down the middle with three talented centers, powerful wing play and two strong goalies.”

      Captaining this year’s team will be veteran forward Toño Correa who Dodds describes as “smart, strong, responsible and athletic.  He has taken the leadership role seriously and puts in the work off of the ice.  He will be a big part of our success this year.”  Joining Correa in leadership roles at forward will be assistant captain Rowan Wilson (“Brings speed and excitement and is an excellent defensive center. His shot has improved a lot over the last year”) and Cam Woods (“The premier power forward in the league - big, strong, fast and physical.  He is going score a lot of goals this year”). 

      Scoring duties will additionally fall heavily on classmate Patrick Daley, who was the leading forward point scorer last year prior to a clavicle injury which ended his season early.  Dodds describes Daley as “really smart, good with the puck, and really knows how to work the walls.” Another veteran senior is Brendan Brigham who Dodds characterizes as “a great athlete and pound for pound the strongest hockey player I have ever coached”.  Senior Carter Auch, who should be back shortly from a wrist injury, has Dodds excited about his “hard shot and ability to play different positons for us.”  And the last of the seven senior forwards, Archer Judd, is a “big body who can park himself in front of the net and can create lots of problems”.  The lone senior on the blue line will be Will Fichman who “has size and strength and has grown into a solid defenseman who will help to teach the younger guys.”

      The only junior on the squad is defenseman Tom Lyons, who will be joined on the blue line by returning sophomores Curtis Rice and Spencer Lawe. Newcomers sophomore Nick Lee and freshman Jack Gardner will round out the defensive corps.  Sophomore Casey Graham is back at forward and will be joined by new teammates sophomores John Hill and Augie Oberting as well as freshman Jack Stadheim. 

      In goal will be two veterans of last year’s campaign, sophomores Ben Plottner and Luke Ives – both of whom saw all of the action for last year’s team.  Said Dodds “I feel really confident about our goalies this year.”

      This year’s schedule opens on Tuesday, December 17^th with a home tilt against Manchester at 7:15 at Thompson and then cranks up all the way until March.  In case you thought the regular season was going to be easy, guess again – the Marauders face Trinity three times, Bedford twice, Concord twice, Exeter twice…and how about a little Salem, Londonderry, Pinkerton and oh yeah BG for good measure.  Freshman, you aren’t playing Tier III against the Storm anymore.

      A hungry senior-laden team, incredible team chemistry, and an awesome Christmas tournament all tied together with the best coaching staff your son will ever have – let’s get at it Marauders for number 10.  So sell your gold cards (I hear Concord coach Dunc Walsh is a big fan of our blog and might consider buying a few gold cards to support the Marauders), wake up with joy when the alarm goes off for practice at 4:15 am, and when you win the state championship try not to dance too hard on the roof of Mr. T’s bus because it’s hockey time in Hanover again.

      See you at the rink…