So far, this power play that will last until May has gotten a great first shot on goal.

Now the idea is to keep the pressure on to get that goal.

There’s little downside to the Nashua athletic department’s plan to merge the Nashua High School North and South boys hockey teams, then co-op with Souhegan to form a girls program. It’s a win-win.

Local hockey fans are rejoicing. They have been clamoring for the two Nashua schools to combine for years, but privately school officials were hesitant to do it because they haven’t wanted to open that door, fearing other sports would want to do it. But, as athletic director Lisa Gingras said, “Hockey is different.”

And, in making that move, the door was opened to get girls hockey in Nashua, but a partner was needed. Souhegan AD and assistant hockey coach (and former head coach) Kelli Braley and Gingras have worked well together with the boys hockey co-op, and Braley and Souhegan graciously helped Nashua in its time of need with the use of Calvetti Field when Stellos was shut down for turf replacement this past fall.

The girls proposal is great, there are no casualties there. The boys? The down side is you wonder what happens to head coaches Jordan Sarracco (Kings) and Chris Zarlenga (Saber-Titans). They’re probably wondering, too; Gingras said those discussions are ongoing. Would the department have to open the job up? Understandably, the first goal is to get the Nashua co-op appoved in May by the NHIAA.

But Nashua forming its own co-op could have ripple effects. Braley has been working on potential co-op partners to keep Souhegan boys afloat. You have to wonder if Milford, currently with Alvirne, is in that mix. Or both for a tri-op? And what division any other new co-op would play in.

We’ll find out soon enough.

Now, one other thing: This doesn’t guarantee hockey glory for the Nashua boys. Manchester has its tri-op and currently the Kings are 2-5-1. One of those wins is over South-Pelham, the other is a quality win over Bedford. The Kings are competitive.

Why is all this happening? It’s an attempt, like most co-ops are, to save the sport in a community. The game is expensive. Ice time is expensive. And hockey has the plethora of junior programs luring high school players with the promise, legit or not, of a higher level of play. North-Souhegan has had only 11 skaters, basically two forward lines, and haven’t been able to keep the pace. When hockey players are tired, there’s a bad period, usually the second, and that’s what the Saber-Titans have been suffering from.

After Souhegan gets its board approval, then the NHIAA is the next step, with three groups: Hockey committee, Classification committee, and then in May the Executive Council. Gingras and Braley wouldn’t be putting the work in on this if they didn’t lay the groundwork ahead of time, right?

All this adds an interesting twist to the Battle of the Bridge on Wednesday night at Conway Arena. We’re going to miss that North-South rivalry if all of this comes to fruition.

But it’s a small price to pay to save a sport, and on the girls side, create one.

Tom King can be reached at

tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on X @Telegraph _TomK.