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Hockey event goes off without a hitch

By Tom King - Sports Writer | Aug 15, 2020

Telegraph Sports Reporter Tom KIng.

Jon Goode stood in the outer lobby of Tri-Town Arena in Hooksett last Saturday night and wanted to let Souhegan alum Claire Woodford know something.

“You were one of the reasons we didn’t cancel the game,” said Goode, who managed to get his New Hampshire High School Girls Hockey Invitational off the ground against a ton of odds. “I figured you’d never have another chance at something like this.”

Goode did himself proud. He stuck to his guns, and rather than scrap the game when it was clear the original date in late June wouldn’t work due to the pandemic, he held out hope for Aug. 8.

The speed, the talent and finesse of players from prep schools, high schools and junior programs – all New Hampshire residents – was something not often seen in girls hockey.

“I thought it went good for being in the middle of a pandemic,” Goode said. “There’s always things we can improve on, and we’ll improve them next year. But for the most part, the best part was being down in between periods, seeing all the girls hugging and laughing and having a good time.”

Telegraph photo by TOM KING Nashua North's Anne McIntosh heads up ice during last week's first annual NH High School Girls Hockey Invitational in Hooksett.

The protocols were all followed, spectators had to be masked and be family members only. And what they saw was something else in the 8-3 contest won by the white jersey team of Team Dunn/Mounsey over the blue Team King/Flanagan.

But the score mattered little. It was simply great talent and great competition. Even the local players who took part were surprised.

“It was awesome, but it was really tiring,” said Bishop Guertin’s Jenna Lynch, a Brookline resident who plays juniors.“Three 20 minute periods. … It was nice to see a bunch of New Hampshire girls get together and show off their talent.”

As Guertin’s Julie McLaughlin said, still huffing and puffing 15 minutes after, “It was really fun, really fast. … Everyone was really skilled.”

Yes, hockey in the dog days of summer. We’re getting used to hockey in the heat of August, aren’t we? We’re watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs on TV, but let’s face it, the hockey community is used to this. It’s always Game On in the summer, regardless of how hot it is outside.

The ice in many rinks keeps freezing.

Nashua North’s Annie McIntosh plays on the boys team, but this was pretty close.

“The girls may have better stickwork when you get out there,” she said. “This level of talent, it’s just fantastic. … This was definitely a great opportunity.”

Sophia Hausberger of Nashua plays her hockey at New Hampton. She was probably the only one who wasn’t shocked at the talent level, since she sees it in school.

“Definitely, yes,” she said of the talent at the event.

Nashua South’s Paige Anger had never played with most of these players, “but they were easy to talk to and play with. There was so much talent, so easy to play with and read everybody.”

You had to be in shape to keep up, and Anger said she’s been keeping in condition, for this game and for hopefully a winter season with South-Pelham. Another reason this game is a good thing: motivation.

“Keeping up with them was pretty tough,” Anger said, “but I got through it.”

There you go. Goode, who owns KBK Sports in Nashua, a memorabilia and sports fundraising company, is a former Lowell Spinners and Nashua Silver Knights vice president. He’s all about promotion, and he wanted the game to promote girls hockey in New Hampshire. He’s also all about the hoopla and ceremonial surroundings that add to the fun; there was none of that this time around due to the pandemic. This was all about the game. Next year, if the health crisis improves, will be much different.

“The talent in New Hampshire is unbelievable,” he said. “Because girls go in all different directions from juniors to prep to public, the depth of the public may not be as strong as prep. But actually when you put the best girls on the ice at the same time – this has never happened before in all of New Hampshire.

“I’m glad it was eye opening for them.”

What was so impressive?

“Speed and mental speed,” Woodford said. “Making the decision before you get there.”

Woodford is moving on to Providence College and she is debating whether to play club hockey or try to walk on to the Friars women’s team. She got a tiny glimpse last week what that may be like, thanks to Goode.

“It was,”Goode said, “a great success.”

The puck doesn’t stop here, as next year’s event may be even better.

Game On, girls.

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or@Telegraph _TomK.

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