Solid Start

 

Having been 319 days since their last competitive ice hockey game, the Hanover Marauders finally took the ice to kick off their NHIAA Division 1 season in a rare mid afternoon dust-up with Concord at Everett today.  And while they ended up on the wrong end of a 4-0 decision, there were plenty of positives to take away from today.

Consider…

1.      We were playing a stacked, defending state champion team in the Crimson Tide that looked like it had been put together by Nick Saban himself

2.      Playing your first top drawer Division 1 NHIAA game after your youth hockey career is a little like being in Drivers Ed and getting on the highway for the time – you quickly realize you aren’t driving 25 mph down Lebanon Street anymore.  But once you have been exposed to the speed, it becomes much easier the second time around

3.      We have the best goaltender in the state

Luke Ives - BEAST

So in we rolled to Everett to take on the Crimson tide for the first of the away and away series.  And while the Livebarn feed from Everett made it look like you were watching the game through a fish bowl, nothing better than seeing the Marauder boys get on the ice for warm-ups.  And as the always do, the Everett music crew did not disappoint, with no fewer than four head-splitting AC/DC songs to set the tone during warm-ups (BTW – how many minutes do you think it would take the Campion Arena neighbors to register a complaint after hearing Thunderstruck playing at volume 12 on a Monday afternoon?...but I digress)

And with the puck drop a little before 2:00 pm, the 2020-21 season began for the Marauders, and a little bit of normalcy finally poked its head back into all of our lives.  For the next two hours, the players and coaches could focus on the game, the parents could do their best to pretend to work while following the feed, and probably most importantly, all of those grandparents and friends of the program could tune in remotely to watch those boys play a game we all love.  Not enough thanks can be said to all of those who put the kids first to make this happen and happen safely – the NHIAA, the Hanover school administration and athletic director, and coaches Dodds, Cashman and Alex Dodds.

And really, this game was a lot more competitive than the 4-0 final score, especially given the injuries facing the Marauders.  While it could be said that Concord had a little bit better of the play and had the better finishing ability, this one was hard fought throughout.  Going up 2-0 just over 5 minutes in was probably more indicative of the Hanover rust than the Crimson Tide dominance.  Goaltender Luke Ives who faced 31 shots on the day and at least three in-the-crease checks, was magnificent and stood on his head repeatedly.  Especially in the second period when he shut down 15 of the 16 chances he faced, the junior was the MVP of the game for the Marauders.

We also got to see the grit and toughness of the team that did not back down and made it a game throughout.  The Marauders are generally big boys and the bodying, especially along the boards, really seemed to slow down the Tide and neutralize their speed.  Multiple rushes in the offensive zone, especially by alternate captain Curtis Rice and freshman Wyatt Seelig, kept the pressure up on the Concord D.  While we were outshot 16-5 in the second, the first and third were pretty even with Concord owning only a 15-11 shot advantage.

Hanover also looked good on the kill, shutting down each of Concord’s four power plays, most notable a 5-3 early in the second.  Take away those rusty first five minutes and this one was pretty even – an excellent sign for the locals moving forward.

There aren’t too many positives that can be attributed to the pandemic, but the Division 1 NHIAA hockey schedule is one of them.  Not only will every one of the 12 games be competitive, the away and away game sequence allows these teams to face each other again right away - kind of like the NHL during the days of the original 6.  And with every team making the post-season tourney, all of these games are a warm-up for the big event in March.

So, with this confidence-building game one against the defending state champions under their belt, Hanover vs Concord part II will take place this Saturday night.  So study hard this week Marauders for finals and remember that an Ivy philosophy degree is not worth what it used to be so relax and focus on the big picture, pick C on the multiple choice if you don’t know the answer, and get plenty of rest.  And parents, we don’t want to see any of you getting caught trying to sneak into Everett on Saturday night.

See you at the rink…

PLAYER PROFILE: CAPTAIN TOM LYONS

Bloggers Note: Players will be profiled throughout the season starting with the seniors.  Blogger bears no responsibility for content.

Grade: Senior

Number: 21

Position: Defense

Hometown: Hanover

Youth Hockey Association: Hanover Wild

Best Youth Hockey Moment: Bantam state champs with Alex Dodds

Best High School Hockey Moment: Shutting down Trinity three times in a row last year to give them over half of their losses

Best Hair on the Team and Why: Nick Lee - that s..t flows . He has the best hair flip too. I'd like to think I've edged out Hank for best beard, but he does have a nice goatee. 

Pump Up Song: Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus (mostly a joke) 

Least Favorite Drill: (Anything with) stick handling

Unknown Non-Hockey talent: Eating a lot of food

First thing I Will do the Day the Pandemic Ends: Play a home hockey game

2020-21 Season Preview

Game on… 

It’s hard to fathom how much times have changed since we last saw the Hanover Marauders boy’s competitive ice hockey team take the ice. Who could believe that since last year’s early March 7-0 defeat at the hands of the Pinkerton Astros in the state prelims our world would have been so upended…Chara leaves the Bruins, a team from Florida wins the Cup, and Bayreruther gets traded to Columbus. Crazy times we live in. 

Fortunately, nothing has derailed the Marauders this year as they seek the 10th NHIAA Division 1 state title in program history (most of all New Hampshire schools) under 39th year and New Hampshire Legend of Hockey coach Dick Dodds. Joining Dodds behind the bench again this campaign will be former Hanover captains Dean Cashman running the offense and Alex Dodds on the D. Strength coach Wayne Burwell will also be a critical part of the campaign. The anti-hockey playing lobby was notably left off the coaching staff this year, as their plate was already too full with zoom meetings trying to save the world from their respective basements. 

Fortunately, sanity prevailed and the Marauders will be kicking off the 2020-21 season January 18th with an away tilt against the defending state champion Concord Capitals. It will be the first of many for the locals, as current guidelines necessitate that Hanover play all its 12 games at away rinks, lest the virus sully the pristine Upper Valley environs. But Dodds and his staff are ready. With social distancing in full effect, locker rooms closed down and masks as ubiquitous as bad hair on the boys, it has been a different type of pre-season for the veteran coach. “I am really excited about this group and the camaraderie that has already developed” said Dodds. “This is a solid group with lots of experience. It is nice combination of kids who have played a couple of years and new skilled players that have moved in. I can really tell that this group is going to keep improving.” 

After a December of up-tempo tryouts, Dodds chose a roster this campaign smaller than the usual 20, going with 10 forwards, five blueliners and 2 goalies due to the pandemic. “We have smaller numbers than we usually do due to the limitations of COVID-19. It was the smart thing to do, but there were definitely kids on the JV who could have made this team.” 

Leading the Marauders this year will be power defenseman captain Tom Lyons. A three year varsity veteran, it will be Lyons’s duty to promote the cohesiveness that is so critical to the team sport of competitive ice hockey. Said Lyons “We can’t have locker rooms and can’t have team dinners because we are being really safe with Covid. But I am really excited and we are working hard.” The captain sees the strength of the team being depth and the ability to move the puck. While wearing a mask makes it tougher to play, “we have adapted and are really looking good so far.” 

Rounding out the leadership team will be alternate captains Curtis Rice and Jack Stadheim. Rice, with his monster wrist shot, will be switching to forward this season to anchor a power scoring line of fellow juniors Casey Graham and Alex Rockmore. All three have explosive power and toughness. The best of the brothers in the Lyme family hockey dynasty (no offense Owen and Seth), sophomore Stadheim will be a shifty scoring threat whenever he takes the ice. Senior Ben Wagner will anchor a beefy, big scoring line with junior wingers Jackson Fisher and Matt Walsh – both of whom can fly. Freshmen Angus Frew and Wyatt Seelig should see plenty of time paired with scoring machine junior John Hill.   

On the blue line will be veterans across the board. Joining Lyons will be offensive-minded scoring threat junior Spencer Lawe, best flow on the team nominee junior Nick Lee, please give me the opportunity to check you sophomore Jack Gardner, and newcomer sophomore Satch Bowie. Hank Trimble, Jack Lawson, Ethan Derksen and Jack Wilkinson should also see some action as swing players. 

Forget Paul Newman, the patent on the Cool Hand Luke name is owned by junior goaltender Luke Ives, who will be returning for his third season and looks to be one of the top goaltenders in the state. Joining him in the net will be junior Dill Eisendrath. Dodds is very high on his netminders “We have two solid goaltenders. Luke is very solid and Dill is a breath of fresh air who brings a great attitude.” 

The pandemic has wreaked havoc all over the NHIAA landscape, and the boy’s hockey schedule is no exception. Rather than the usual 18 game season, this year the locals have a 12 game schedule. However, unlike in the typical season, there will be no stats-padding tilts. This year every game figures to be a dogfight, with home and homes (well I guess they now are away and…aways) against the likes of Concord, Exeter, Salem, Windham and evil-empire BG. Just to make sure complacency isn’t an issue, coach Dodds scheduled Pinkerton and Bedford for a few how-ya-doins to compete the season. As of press time, the state tournament is ON, so a 2021 NHIAA Division 1 hockey champion is expected to be crowned. So there it is. 

An experienced skating core, exquisite goaltending, and the best coaching staff your son will ever have. It’s hockey time in Hanover again and it couldn’t come soon enough. Sell those gold cards, set your alarm for 4:30 am, and tend to your lettuce…good luck you beauties. 

See you at the (away) rink…