HOOKSETT, N.H. — As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Salem players dropped their sticks and flew towards the rowdy Blue Devil fan section, each taking their turn jumping into the boards in celebration.
“This feels amazing to get this win,”said Sam Maietta, who scored two goals. “We felt ready to fight today. We knew it was going to be a good battle, but we knew we had it in us to win. We had the intensity, and the team played lights-out.”
No. 9 Salem opened the tournament with a bang on Wednesday, rolling past No. 8 Londonderry 4-0 in the New Hampshire Division 1 first round at Tri-Town Rink.
The Blue Devils (10-10-1, 9-9-1 Div. 1) took the lead 4:41 into play on a Austin Salvetti goal, and never let up to down a Lancers (8-10-1 Div. 1) team they had beaten twice in the regular season.
“It feels awesome to get this win,” said co-captain Chris Wilson. “We’ve worked all season for this. We had beaten Londonderry twice, but it was a clean slate today. We battled and got the result we wanted.”
With the win, Salem advanced to face top-seeded Pinkerton (16-2-0) in the Division 1 quarterfinals on Saturday (6:30 p.m.) at the Hooksett Ice Den.
“They’re the top team in the state,”said Maietta. “It’s going to be a good fight. But if we bring the same intensity to the second round, we believe we can do it.”
Salvetti set the tone in the first, taking a pass from Nolan LaBossiere and burying a wrist shot.
Thanks to some brilliant work from goalie Brady Roux, it stayed 1-0 until there was 5:42 left in the game. That’s when some dirty work in front of the net paid off for Wilson.
“Anthony (Survilas) was worked hard down low and got the puck on the boards,” said Wilson. “I went down into the slot in front of the crease. I got the puck and banged it home.”
Just 20 second later, Maietta found himself living out a teammate’s premonition.
“Before the game, Ryan Demers told me I was going to score on a breakaway with a shot under the blocker of the goalie,” said Maietta. “And, sure enough, I got the puck and put it right under his blocker. It felt amazing.”
Maietta, who entered the game with seven goals, then chipped in with his second of the day with 2:01 left in the game. From his knees near center ice, he gathered the puck and flipped it into an open net for the 4-0 final.
“I though it was going to hit the post, but it swerved right and went in,” he said. “Everyone played a great game. Brady was lights-out in net.”
Roux, just four days after earning his first high school shutout in the regular season finale, made 20 saves for his second straight shutout. He was especially tough in the second, keeping the Blue Devils in the lead.
“I went into the game wanting to do everything I could,”said Roux. “The boys made it easy to track the pucks and make saves. We felt confident after the Windham win to end the regular season, and we carried that momentum into today.”
Salem will next hope to earn an upset over a Pinkerton squad that beat the Blue Devils 4-3 on Feb. 16 at the Ice Den.
“Our focus has shifted to Pinkerton,”said Roux. “They’re great. It’s going to take a lot of hard work, but we are going to do our best.”
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Boys Ice Hockey, 02/27/19 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Trailing 1-0 heading into the third period, Gennaro Marra scored just over a minute into the frame and then just under a minute left in regulation to give Pinkerton a dramatic 2-1 win over rival Londonderry.
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Boys Ice Hockey, 02/20/19 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Emir Alagoz scored 22 points, but it wasn't enough as the Northern Essex men's basketball team fell to Springfield Tech, 72-64. Guney Kilitcioglu has 12 points for the Knights and Brendan Powers had 11.
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Boys Ice Hockey, 02/02/19 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
SALEM, N.H. — Nolan LaBossiere took a pass rushing up ice, and attacked the net.
Then, suddenly, he found himself flying through the air.
“A stick got caught up in my skates and I went down,” LaBossiere said. “(While in the air) I tried to move the puck to the other end of my body. And somehow I got it to go between the goalie’s legs.”
LaBossiere’s mid-air goal — reminiscent of Bruins legend Bobby Orr’s iconic flying score — 1:43 into the third period proved to be the game-winner as Salem beat rival Londonderry 3-2 on Wednesday at the Salem Icenter.
“This was a really tough win,” said Salem (4-6, 3-4 Div. 1) tri-captain Chris Wilson. “The first period was a wake-up call. We didn’t play well. So we went out and kept grinding. That’s what we do best. And we got the win.”
The goal for LaBossiere, a sophomore, was his first of the season and second of his career. He scored once as a freshman.
“Being on the third line, you just have to fight the whole game,” said LaBossiere. “We needed this win if we want to make the playoffs. I had the energy, and when I got the pass off the boards I had to make something happen.”
One player that missed the dramatic goal — however — was LaBossiere, who had yet to register a point in nine games going into Wednesday night.
“It was instinct to pull the puck to the other side of my body,” he said. “I was going for the goal. But after I got tripped I didn’t know if it went in. Then I turned my head and saw the puck in the back of the net. Then everyone rushed towards me, It was so thrilling. It was a big adrenaline rush.”
It was a big day for the young Blue Devils, as all three goals were scored by sophomores.
After Londonderry took an early lead, Ryan Allard tied the game with 1:49 left in the first as he deked the goalie and scored. The Lancers responded with a goal 47 seconds later and took a 2-1 advantage into the second period.
Salem stole the momentum with 6:14 left in the second as Austin Salvetti took a pass from Anthony Survilas and buried a power play goal to make it 2-2.
“That was huge!” said Salem coach Mark McGinn. “The goal by Salvetti was a big momentum boost. Just to tie it up, after being down early and fighting back. Against Londonderry it’s usually one-goal games, so to get the edge going into the third is always big.”
LaBossiere then gave Salem the lead just 1:43 into the third with his acrobatic goal.
“That goal was awesome,” said McGinn. “We worked on that play some, but it doesn’t usually look like that. He flew into the zone, got behind the defense and got the chip off the glass. The guys will believe it works now.
“We like that three sophomores scored goals today. And (fellow sophomore Ryan) Pappalardo had an assist. It’s good to build their confidence.”
Londonderry mustered one final flurry with the goalie pulled in the final seconds. But Blue Devils goalie Brady Roux was up to the task, his best save a split to kick the puck away with his right skate.
Salem then celebrated in front of its loud fan section.
“We came out and worked hard,” said Wilson. “The younger guys stepped up and are really producing. It’s great to see LaBossiere dropped the shoulder in front of the net. We aren’t getting ahead of ourselves. We just have to keep working hard. But we feel good right now.”
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Boys Ice Hockey, 01/09/19 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
