Hollis Brookline-Derryfield's Jesse Gertz (2), shown here earlier in the season, had a goal and an assist in the team's quarterfinal win and willl be a big key in tonight's Division III semifinal vs. Belmont-Gilford at Plymouth State. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

Some tournament encounters are almost meant to be.

That’s the case tonight when the Hollis Brookline-Derryfield boys hockey team takes on No. 3 Belmont-Gilford in the the Division III semifinals at Plymouth State University’s Hanaway Rink.

Why? Because B-G is the last team to have beaten the No. 2, 16-3 Warriors. The two teams met on Feb. 12 with Belmont-Gilford coming away with a 3-0 win. The Warriors haven’t lost since, and are now winners of seven straight, including Saturday’s tense 3-2 overtime win in the quarterfinals at Nashua’s Conway Arena over Kearsarge-Plymouth.

Belmont-Gilford is an interesting combination, with six seniors but seven freshmen.

“When we played them at Merrill Fay, and they beat us, they’re a good little team,” Warriors coach Joel Sanborn said. “Jason (B-G coach Parent) does a great job up there.

“Again, we just need to bury our opportunities. It was very similar to (the quarters). We were all over them, we just couldn’t (score). And they have a good netminder (either freshman Carson McGreevy or sophomore Colin Logan).”

The Warriors, who have been led by the likes of Jesse Gertz, Paul Vachon and Torin White, among others, just need to keep the pressure on and stay out of the penalty box, Sanborn said, no matter who they play.

“Again, I think we just need to play our game,” Sanborn said. “It just takes the wind out of us. There’s only a few guys who kill penalties, and they’re on the top two lines. They just get worn out.”

It’s an all top four Final Four. In the 5:30 semifinal, No. 1 Berlin-Gorham faces No. 4 Lebanon-Stevens-Mt. Royal.

Want to look ahead? HBDS split with LSM this season, including a 6-0 win in Nashua, but fell 3-2 to top seed Berlin-Gorham, who beat the Warriors 5-1 in last year’s state championship game.

They can’t be thinking of that possible rematch now, just the task at hand tonight.

“We just have to keep pushing,” White said. “We’re just all in it together.”

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