An Awesome Year

This is a tough one to write.

 

Not because of the 6-2 loss. The better team won today in this NHIAA state quarterfinal match-up between the 14-6-1 and fourth-seeded Hanover Marauders and the 12-5-1 fifth-seeded Trinity Pioneers.

 

But it hurts. It hurts badly.  Because it hurts for the six seniors who played in their last meaningful hockey game and their underclassman teammates who gave such a strong effort this year.

 

It hurts because of the awesome year they had. Starting back in early December through tryouts, the Keene jamboree, incredible wins over Pinkerton and Concord, a trip to see the Devils and having most of all the opportunity to play and compete for the legend of New Hampshire hockey Dick Dodds as well as his incredible coaching staff of Dean Cashman, Patrick Doherty, Alex Dodds and strength coach Wayne Burwell.

 

There is not really too much to say about the game except none of these boys will make a career out of playing hockey.  However, they will make a career based on the characteristics embued in them while playing hockey, especially in games like this one.  We can be very proud of how they handled themselves throughout the year in both victory and as with today's game, in defeat.

 

So we say goodbye to six wonderful players who embodied and perpetuated the Hanover tradition. Charlie Plottner, Hans Williams, Duncan Bailey, Sam Seelig, Will Laycock, and Joey Goff - thank you.  Thank you for committing yourselves to Hanover, thank you for being role models for the younger players not only on the team but for the Youth Hockey Association players who come to watch you, and thank you for giving us so much joy in watching you during your Hanover careers.

 

It is too premature to speak about next year because it hurts so badly this Sunday morning.  But that is why all of us are so invested - the emotions that this game triggers and the lessons it teaches that will go well beyond the hockey rink.

 

Thank yous go to coaches Dodds, Cashman, Burwell, Alex Dodds, and Doherty and thank you to the players, managers, POCs, fans and everyone else who made this an incredible year.

 

We will see you soon at the next rink.