MANCHESTER ndash; Memorial and West completed their preparations for NHIAA ice hockey regular season last night, playing a spirited championship game in the Queen City Pre-Season High School Hockey Tournament at JFK Coliseum.
Last night's score -- the Crusaders won, 9-5 -- was likely forgotten by both teams immediately after the final buzzer. Their minds quickly shifted toward Wednesday's season openers.
Both coaches labeled their squads ready to go.
I do think so, Memorial mentor Kyle McDonough said. We start with Wednesday.
The Crusaders open their 2006-07 campaign back at JFK against Central (6 p.m.).
The Blue Knights play at the same time, but at Dover Arena against host St. Thomas Aquinas. West coach Phil Croasdale liked the preparation his team got last night, and in the event's opener, a 7-2 win over Central.
We got a couple games in. That's all we were looking for, Croasdale said. You never want to get beat like that, but hats off to Memorial.
They came out and played hard.
Croasdale may have unofficially started West's regular season with less than 10 minutes to go last night.
Memorial wing Kyle Charboneau had just given the Crusaders an 8-1 lead.
Croasdale wasn't happy. He called time-out to let his players know about it.
I told them had to go out there and start playing shoulder to shoulder, Croasdale said.
We weren't getting beat so much by seniors. We were getting beat by sophomores and juniors.
Memorial's upperclassmen had a big night, too.
The Crusaders senior first line -- Charboneau, Colin Merritt, Shane Johnston -- scored six goals. Johnston (3) and Merritt (2) tallied all of theirs in the game's first 30 minutes, and they were a huge reason Memorial snared a 6-0 edge early in the second half.
They will be around the net, McDonough said.
They can get rebound goals. They can get sharp goals. So we're happy with them.
Memorial got single goals from Shane Murphy, Matt Zimmerman, and Craig Charest. Brandon McMaster (7 saves) and Patrick Dodd (11) split time in the Crusaders goal.
Keith Pilotte led West with a two tallies.
Ryan McDonough, Devin Greaney, and Andrew Sterling had singles. Derrick Shorrock (28 saves) went most of the way in the Blue Knights goal. Ben Firman (2 saves) finished up.
Manchester Central defeated Trinity, 4-3, last night in the consolation scrimmage.
Tim Sowa was the Little Green star, scoring three times. Josh Tarbell had Central's other goal.
David Rivard played both 25 minute halves in the Little Green goal.
Tom Gagnon paced Trinity with two goals. Tom Goss had one.
Ben Blanchette was impressive in the Pioneer goal.
Trinity travels to Nashua on Wednesday to face Nashua North.
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