Huskies Open Season with Win!

New Hampton took to the road this afternoon to start the 2018-2019 regular season off against the Wapiti of Winchendon. The game started with both teams trying to figure one another, neither team wanting to do too much. As the period went on the Huskies gradually started to take control and create some quality scoring chances. Nine and a half minutes into the game, Cory Morris blocked a shot just inside New Hampton’s defensive blue line, out worked the Winchendon defenseman to the puck and then slide a nice pass to Isaac MacLeod. MacLeod made no mistake one-timing the puck through the Winchendon goalie’s legs to score his first goal as a Husky. After scoring to go ahead, New Hampton started to relax and took a couple penalties, giving Winchendon a chance to gain some moment and get back in the game. The period ended with the Huskies still leading by a goal, but on the penalty kill. Thirty seconds into the second period, Winchendon scored on the power play to tie the game at one. The next fifteen minutes saw back and forth action with both teams battling hard, but neither able to find the back of the net. Just under three minutes remaining in the period, Winchendon scored to take the lead. However, New Hampton remained unphased by the Winchendon goal, scoring a minute later to tie the game at two. Cory Morris scored his first goal of the season, banging home a rebound off Isaac MacLeod’s shot. Tied at two after two periods of play, both teams came out flying, trying to take the lead at the start of the third period. Midway through the third period, the hard work of the Huskies, resulted in a power play. Thirty seconds into New Hampton’s power play, Winchendon capitalized on a Husky mistake, scoring to take a 3-2 lead. Despite giving up a short-handed goal and not scoring on the power play, the Huskies continued to put pressure on Winchendon. With seven minutes remaining in the game, New Hampton drew another penalty, and this time would not be denied. Fifteen seconds into the power play, Cory Morris deflected Alec Grace’s shot to score his second of the game, evening the score with Winchendon. Two and half minutes after Morris’s game tying goal, Jack Ring picked up the puck just outside New Hampton’s defensive blueline. Ring skated down the ice, made a pretty one-on-one move around the Winchendon defenseman and then slide a backhand shot just inside the far post to give New Hampton back the lead, with around four minutes left in the game. Isaac MacLeod scored an empty net goal to ice the game with just under thirty seconds remaining. Matt Sayles was solid in net, making several key saves in when the Huskies got into penalty trouble and stopping 25 of the 28 shots he faced. New Hampton will look to build off this afternoon’s victory as they take on Brunswick at 4:00pm this Saturday, December 1^st in a neutral site game at Philips Exeter.