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…