News Detail

Great Season Ends With OT Loss In Small School Championship

3/4/2018

The #4 seed, New Hampton Huskies traveled to St. Anselm College in Goffstown, NH to play the #3 seed, Lawrence Academy in the Prep Small School Championship this afternoon. The Huskies upset the number #1 seed, Winchendon School in a back and forth hard fought 3-2 game to earn themselves a place in the Championship Game. While Lawrence Academy defeated the #2 seed, Gunnery School, 3-2 in an overtime thriller to earn their place in the Championship. Both teams have played solid hockey to earn their places in the Championship, setting up a Championship Game between two teams playing great hockey. New Hampton came out a little tentative to start the game and Lawrence immediately put pressure on the Huskies. Matt Sayles made some big saves early, to keep the score, 0-0. Six minutes into the game, Lawrence capitalized off a lapse in New Hampton’s defensive zone coverage, to take the early lead. The Huskies responded two and a half minutes later. Lukas Uhler found Steven Ardagna open at the point. Ardagna find a low hard shot from the point, that Michael Kane tipped past the Lawrence goaltender to even the game. Lukas Uhler’s assist on the play was his 100^th point as a Husky! New Hampton fell asleep on the ensuing center ice faceoff and Lawrence scored eleven seconds later, to take back the lead. The final nine minutes of the period saw both teams settle down a bit and was pretty evenly played with neither team scoring. Any early jitters the Huskies may have had went away during the first period. New Hampton came out flying to start the second period, quickly getting in on the Lawrence defense and applying pressure. A minute into the period, the hard work of Joe Dunlap created a turnover in the Lawrence zone. Lynden Breen picked up the puck just above the goal line, circle out toward the net and ripped a shot, short side over the Lawrence goaltender’s shoulder, tying the game at two. Four minutes later, Lawrence scored on the power play to take back the lead. During the next ten minutes, the Huskies dominated the play, pounding shots at the Lawrence goaltender, trying to tie the game. With three minutes remaining in the period, New Hampton finally evened the score. Lynden Breen scored his second goal of the game, Joe Dunlap and Thomas Albert assisted on the play. The second period ending with both teams locked up at three goals apiece, setting up a huge third period. Lawrence scored a minute into the third period to take an early lead. Lawrence’s goal did not phase New Hampton, only caused the Huskies to work even harder to try and score their fourth goal. Seven minutes in the third period, Zak Lanoue picked off a pass from a Lawrence defensemen, skated in all alone on the Lawrence goaltender and ripped a shot top corner, to knot the game at four. The rest of the period, saw back and forth action with both teams playing strong in front of their goaltenders, not wanting to give up what could be the game winning goal. New Hampton had a chance to end the game in the final minute, but neither team was able to score after Lanoue tied it for the Huskies. Both teams headed to the locker rooms after the third period, tied at four, waiting for sudden death overtime. New Hampton did not look nervous to start overtime and came out strong, putting pressure on Lawrence early on. Despite their efforts, the Huskies were unable to end the game in the first five minutes. Seven minutes into overtime, just as Lawrence looked to be running out of gas, the Huskies took a penalty, giving Lawrence the man advantage. About a minute into the power play, Lawrence scored on the rush to end an unbelievable game between two great teams. Not the way New Hampton would have liked to end their season, but they should be extremely proud of how hard they fought today and the excellent season they had! New Hampton would like to thank the graduating Seniors and PG’s for their hard work and dedication to the hockey team and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.

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