MANCHESTER, NH – The Hanover Marauders are near the pinnacle of New Hampshire high school hockey this season while the Crusaders of Manchester Memorial are at the opposite end of the standings.
So, it is understandable why Monday’s 6-0 Hanover victory at JFK Coliseum felt like a mere inevitability at times.
Memorial held Hanover scoreless throughout most of the first period despite significant pressure and limited offensive opportunities of their own.
The chance for that moral victory heading into the first intermission was dashed as David Lehmann gave Hanover its first goal 13:10 into the contest.
“We’ve been having a habit of giving up late period goals, but I think we started out okay,” said Memorial head coach Mark Putney. “They’re a strong team, I don’t think we were aggressive enough. We were losing a lot of one-on-one battles and races to the puck.”
Lehmann’s goal would be all the visitors would need, but that didn’t stop them from adding to the tally.
Cameron Woods and Rowan Wilson added goals in the second period while Matty Garoner and Charlie Plottner also found the back of the net in the third along with a second goal just seconds before Plottner’s score.
Garoner, Tono Correa, Elias Zinman and Silas Oberting each had two assists for the Mauraders while Lehmann, Wilson and Joseph Goff also recorded assists.
Wilson’s goal and Lehmann’s second goal came on the power play, another area where Memorial tried its best, but just fell short.
“With a team the caliber of Hanover, you commit a penalty and they’ll make you pay,” said Putney.
Hanover outshot Memorial, 57-12 with Memorial goalkeeper Matthew Scott ending with 30 saves and Hanover goalkeeper ending with 11 saves.
Memorial (1=5) travels to Conway Arena in Nashua on Saturday to face Nashua North/Souhegan while Hanover (7-1) also plays on Saturday with a road contest against Bishop Guertin.