Hanover's Hannah Gardner (3) bottles up Bishop Guertin's Jenna Lynch in front of goalie Katelyn Smith during the teams' frst regular season meeting back on Feb. 1 in Hudson, won by the visitors 5-1. The two teams meet toinight in the semis for the second year in a row. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

When two really good high school teams play five times in a period of just over a year, that’s a rivalry.

Welcome to the NHIAA girls hockey semifinals, as Bishop Guertin and Hanover will try to replicate last year’s classic tonight at 7:30 at Concord’s Everett Arena.

The Cards won 5-4 in sudden death overtime in last year’s semifinals en route to completing an undefeated state championship season.

Hanover downed the Cardinals 5-1 in the first regular season meeting at Hudson’s Cyclones Arena, but BG got a 4-3 win at Hanover’s Campion Rink just 10 days ago.

And now, they meet again, seeded No. 2 (16-3 BG) and No. 3 (15-4 Hanover).

“They’re a well-coached team,” DeVita said. “Every time you play Hanover, you’re going to get the best out of them, so we have to be at our best. … We know what’s ahead of us, we know it’s a big challenge, and hopefully we’re ready for it.”

What was different about Guertin’s win a week ago last Saturday?

“I think the team really focused more on coming out ready to play, we were much more prepared to play,” DeVita said. “We tried to stay out of the penalty box and dictate the tempo. We had come off the loss to St. Thomas, so the girls were really focused on ending the (regular) season on a good note.”

In the first meeting, it appeared Hanover did a good job on taking BG’s Jenna Lynch and Julie McLaughlin, the Cards’ top two scorers, out of the game. Lynch managed Guertin’s only goal in that contest. In the rematch, the Cards were ready for that.

“We were more aware that someone was going to be on them whenever they had the puck,” DeVita said. “So we made sure someone was always around them to support them, supporting the person with the puck. Be more aware of having someone pressure them and hit the open player.”

“They have great defense, a great goalie, good forwards and they forecheck well,” DeVita said. “We have to come out with the same intensity we had the last time, be focused and be ready to go.”

Hanover sophomore Maeve Lee was able to skate up and down the ice in the first meeting this season, and set a big tone. “A lot of their offense goes through her,” DeVita said. “We have to be aware of her when she’s out there, who’s on the line and who is doing what. But like I said, we’re just there to focus on our game and play the hockey we’re accustomed to playing. The girls are excited to play this game.”

Hanover beat Guertin 2-0 in the 2010 title game which started a streak of 10 straight state titles, snapped in 2020 in the semis. Last year in the semis it was limited to basically two lines thanks in part to the pandemic, but tied the game up in the final minute of regulation and came within inches on a deflection of winning the game in OT before BG scored.

And Hanover seems closer to its old self this year. The loss to BG was its lone in-state defeat.

“It’s been fun playing against them,” DeVita said. “They’ve been the bench mark, they’ve pretty much been the best of the best over the years. For us to be there, and having these girls focused is a great tribute to the girls.

“We know when we play them, we’ll have to play our best. We’ll have to come out, ready to go. That (last year) was exciting, and it’s funny how it turned out this year with the Final Four being the same as the Final Four last year.”

And the Cards and their fans will be hoping for the same result.

FIRST GAME

In the 5:30 matchup, as DeVita said, it will be No. 5 St. Thomas-Winnacunnet-Dover, whom BG beat in last year’s finals but lost to in the next-to-last regular season game, against No. 9 Pinkerton. The Astros stunned top seed Oyster River-Portsmouth 4-3 and STAWD topped No. 4 Concord 3-2 in the quarterfinals.