The situation was all too familiar to the Kearsarge-Plymouth ice hockey team this early in the season.
Another tight game tied after the second period that looked as if a single goal would be the difference-maker. The Cats had already fallen twice in one-goal games, and knew something had to change as the team sat in the locker room during the second intermission.
“We told them to remember who you’re playing for and look around this room. The fight starts now. It’s a brand new game, it’s all tied up so they took it to heart and really appreciate playing alongside each other,” Kearsarge-Plymouth Coach Dave McKenney recalled telling his players. “Coming off two one-goal losses, they really didn’t want to have a third one and they went out there and put the puck in the net.”
Senior captain Jakob Arnold certainly got the message, completing his hat trick with two goals in the third period as the Cats poured in four total to knock off ConVal-Conant, 6-3, Wednesday night at Proctor Academy.
Arnold finished his night with three goals and two assists, highlighting a balanced effort for the Cats (1-2) in their first victory of the season. Kearsarge-Plymouth also received third-period scoring from Doug Breault and senior Bert Prince, who scored his first goal of the new season.
“To have a victory tonight was nice,” McKenney said. “It was nice to play against ConVal-Conant. They came off a big win to start their season and they are a well-coached team … It was such a battle all night long.”
Early on before the Cats’ offense took over, it was the two goalies between the pipes stealing the show. Kearsarge-Plymouth’s Cody Rowe turned back 15 shots while McKenney said ConVal-Conant goalie Chance Kirby “played outstanding.”
Rowe kept the Griffins off the scoreboard in the first period and watched as teammate Tony Velez deposited the first goal of the night off assists from Arnold and junior Alex Nangle. ConVal-Conant found some success against Rowe in the second period with a pair of scores, but Rowe rebounded when it mattered most and held the Griffins to a single goal in the third.
“He definitely kept us in it,” McKenney said. “He’s a senior and has leadership and the team in front of him really loves playing for him.”
Arnold scored the lone goal for the Cats in the second period as they entered the third tied up at two apiece where the first-line found its footing on the offensive attack. With one assist under his belt already, Nangle continued to make plays for Kearsarge-Plymouth, dishing the puck to Arnold for his hat trick in the third to put the Cats on top, 5-3.
Nangle is only a junior, but is regarded highly enough to wear the ‘A’ on his chest as the alternative captain.
“He’s a real spark plug out there and makes a lot of things happen,” McKenney said. “It paid off today with a couple of points for him.”
McKenney also shed some praise for Marissa Pickman, Alex Swords and Emma Tryder for their work on the forecheck as Kearsarge-Plymouth tries to keep its momentum going through the holiday break when it faces John Stark-Hopkinton on Jan. 4.
“We don’t want to deflate them. We have a little bit of momentum shift here with at least our first win so that feels good,” McKenney said. ‘We want to do what we can to carry that into the week after New Years.”
(Jay McAree can be reached at 369-3340, jmcaree@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @JayMcAree.)
Concord 4, Manchester Central 0
Key players: Concord – Derek Kelleher (goal), Alex Marceau (goal), Andy Cole (goal), Devin Philbrick (assist), Matt Chorlian (assist), Colin Kastle (assist), Ethan Donlon (assist)
Highlights/key moments: The Tide used goals from four different players to grab its first win of the season. In his first start, Spencer Burgess recorded a shutout in goal with 12 saves.
Coach’s quote: “It was good to get the win. We got goals from three lines tonight.” – Concord’s Dunc Walsh
Records: Concord 1-1; Central 1-1
Hanover 10, Concord 0
Highlights/key moments: The Crimson Tide had a hard time slowing down Hanover’s offense and were blanked for its second straight loss. Hanover edged Concord in shots on goal, 34-3.
Records: Concord 0-2; Hanover 2-0
Concord 57, Salem 18
Key players: Concord – Sam Wagner (113, pin), Jake Linquata (120, pin)), Liddon Ling (145, pin), George Tarwo (195, pin), Alex Buteau (220, pin)
Highlights/key moments: Concord managed five wins by pin and had Forest MacKenzie, Chris Munnell, Jayson McDonald-Davis and Sean McCready all win by forfeit. Nick Brunch won his match at 132 pounds in overtime, 10-8. The Tide also had Jake Pickard wrestle tough in a 9-4 loss at 152.
Coach’s quote: “We need to get better.” – Concord’s Ham Munnell
Records: Concord 3-0; Salem 1-2
Newport 63, Bow 18
Key players: Bow – Michael York (113, pin), Zach Anderson (120, pin), Alex Boufford (152, pin)
Highlights/key moments: The Falcons gave Newport a hefty head start due to forfeits, but still managed three pins in the loss.
Coach’s quote: “We knew they were going to be a tough team going into it, so we looked at it as a good measuring stick to see where we need to be.” – Bow’s Brock Hoffman
Records: Newport 3-0; Bow 3-1
Winnisquam 42, Pelham 29
Key players: Winnisquam – Michael Mitchell (106, forfeit), Caden Remillard (195. forfeit), Hunter Finemore (113, pin), Tyler Langill (152, pin), Mason Lacasse (170, pin), Damian Donahou (182, pin), Tyler Moran (pin)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears picked up five victories on the mat via the pin on the way to a strong all-around performance at home.
Coach’s quote: “It was good to see the boys pull together and come out on top. We still have a lot of work to do and have a long road ahead of us.” – Winnisquam’s Paul Hrycuna
Kearsarge 52, Plymouth 27
Key players: Kearsarge – Taylor Mattos (27 points, 11 rebounds), Tom Johnson (16 points, 7 assists), Jordan Bryk (5 points, 5 rebounds), Joe Storozuk (7 rebounds, 4 steals)
Highlights/key moments: It was the defense for Kearsarge that took center stage, holding Plymouth to six first-half points en route to a 29-6 lead at the half. Sam Kulacz and Kyle Hernon both contributed with solid work at the defensive end.
Coach’s quote: “I think our defensive intensity has really picked up which has been huge.” – Kearsarge’s Nate Camp
Records: Kearsarge 2-2; Plymouth 0-2