From J.F.K. Coliseum in Manchester, NH:

Goffstown played their third and final game of the Christmas Hockey Classic Tournament in Manchester on Thursday night against the defending Division II State Champion Bow Falcons. The Falcons are not what they were last year, but neither are a lot of teams. Goffstown pounded the puck at the net out shooting Bow 48-18 en route to their 6-2 victory.

The Grizzlies got things going in a hurry when Colby Gamache scored his first goal of the season just 1:27 into the game. Brett Lassonde made a nice play and was credited with the assist on the goal. Goffstown generated shot after shot and one chance after another which would end up being a trend for the entire game. From a Goffstown perspective, it was nice to see the Grizzlies swarm the offensive end of the ice shift after shift. There is still work to be done on conversion rates, but there is promise. At 4:34 of the opening period Grady Chretien scored for Goffstown after being set up by Brett Branscum and Theo Milanes. Goffstown also had the benefit of receiving the first two power play chances of the game but could not score. To make matters worse for their power play, they actually allowed a shorthanded goal when Ryan Tobeler made a brilliant move to get a perfect shot past Madeline Sage in net for Goffstown at 9:02 of the period. Goffstown did score one power play goal when Noah Charron ripped a shot into the back of the net, but the goal was waved off when the official called Goffstown for being in the crease. The Grizzlies led 2-1 after one period, and outshot Bow, 14-5.

The Grizzlies gather before taking on the Bow Falcons. (Photo by Charron)

In the second period Goffstown came out flying as if to prove that the first period was no fluke. Sebastian Beal scored on his third shot of a quick flurry in front of the net at 0:26 of the period. Noah Charron and Colin Burke assisted on the goal. Just to make sure that Goffstown didn't run away with the game, Bow scored the next goal of the game at 5:18 of the period. Jake Mielcarz buried a shot from the slot just after Goffstown's defense had parted like the Red Sea exposing plenty of space to get a great shot away directly in front of Maddie Sage in goal. Dillon D'Allesandro got the assist on Bow's second goal. For the next several minutes the game was still just a 3-2 game even though the margin seemed much larger based on the offensive pressure the Grizzlies continued to mount. Then at 13:31 Noah Charron scored on a nice play set up by Colin Burke to give Goffstown a 4-2 lead. Half way through the period, the Falcons made a change in goal when Jason Howe (21 of 24 saves) was pulled and Nate Carrier (also 21 of 24) came in to finish up. Carrier wasn't in the game very long before he was asked to make saves at a semiautomatic rate.

Brett Branscum gave Goffstown a 3 goal lead when he just flat-out hustled defenders while he was killing a penalty and found himself with the puck beside the net. Branscum, with the help of a Bow player who tried poke checking the puck from him, flipped the puck up and over Carrier in net for the shorthanded unassisted goal. At 5:47 of the final period the MGM line capped the scoring when Max Lajeunesse scored on a nice rush up ice set up by successive passes from Michael Fortin and Colby Gamache. Maddie Sage (12 of 14) would come out of the game with 4:48 to play, and Ethan Smith finished the night for Goffstown making 4 saves on 4 shots. Goffstown finished the Christmas Hockey Classic winning one game, and losing two. Bow ended up going 0-3.

In earlier action, Bedford blanked Manchester Memorial, 7-0. By virtue of their win, Bedford advances to the tournament title game tomorrow night at 6pm. Trinity hung on to beat Manchester Central/West 8-6. In the 6pm game Hanover looked very good, and capitalized on power play chances, on their to beating Concord 4-2. Hanover will play Bedford in the final for the second year in a row tomorrow night.

Goffstown next plays on January 3rd out at Rochester Arena against Spaulding High School.

Today's Paper:

Goffstown 6, Bow 2: Grady Chretien, Colby Gamache, Sebastian Beal, Noah Charron, Brett Branscum and Max Lajeunesse each scored for the Grizzlies in the win.

Ryan Tobeler and Jake Mielcarz scored for Bow, which also got 21 saves apiece from Jason Howe and Nate Carrier, who split time in goal.

Madeline Sage (12 saves) and Ethan Smith (four saves) split goaltending duties for the Grizzlies.

Christmas Classic:

Updated records.

Bow (1-5) @ Goffstown (4-3)

JFK Coliseum, Manchester, NH
December 28, 2017. 8:00PM Start:

Summary:

Goals:

Bow: 1-1-0 = 2

Goffstown: 2-2-2 = 6

Shots:

Bow: 5-5-8 = 18
Goffstown: 14-18-16 = 48

Scoring:

1st Goffstown at 1:27. Even. Colby Gamache (1) from Brett Lassonde (3).

1st Goffstown at 4:34. Even. Grady Chretien (4) from Brett Branscum (3) and Theo Milanes (1).

1st Bow at 9:02. SH. Ryan Tobeler unassisted.

2nd Goffstown at 0:26. Even. Sebastian Beal (4) from Noah Charron (3) and Colin Burke (6).

2nd Bow at 5:18. Even. Jake Mielcarz from Dillon D'Allesandro.

2nd Goffstown at 13:31. Even. Noah Charron (6) from Colin Burke (7).

3rd Goffstown at 1:50. SH. Brett Branscum (2) unassisted.

3rd Goffstown at 5:47. Even. Max Lajeunesse (4) from Colby Gamache (3) and Michael Fortin (1).

Special Teams:

Bow Power Play: 0 for 4.
Goffstown Power Play: 0 for 3.

Saves:

Bow: Jason Howe 21 of 24.

Bow: Nate Carrier 21 of 24.

Goffstown: Madeline Sage 12 of 14.

Goffstown: Ethan Smith 4 of 4.