MANCHESTER, N.H. — The game was within Salem’s reach as the clock wound down.
Trailing by just a goal with 3:40 left in the game, the Blue Devils earned a power play, and began an attack on the Trinity goalie.
But despite a few shots that looked destined for the net, Salem could not find the equalizer when it needed it most, and fell a win short of its first trip to the state championship game since 2004-05 season.
The No. 9 Blue Devils could not convert on a few late chances, and fell to No. 5 Trinity 4-3 in the New Hampshire Division 1 semifinals at the JFK Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday night.
“We had our chances, but we just couldn’t bury the puck,” said Salem coach Mark McGinn. “We got some good shots. We were getting to the middle and getting clean shots, but the goalie was making saves. We just couldn’t put it into the net at the end.”
Trinity (14-5-1) advances to play No. 3 Bedford (16-3-1) in the Division 1 championship game on Saturday (6 p.m.) at the SNHU Arena in Manchester. The Bulldogs beat No. 2 Concord in overtime 2-1 in the other semifinal.
Salem closes out its season 11-12-1, 10-10-1 in Division 1. It was the Blue Devils’ second semifinal appearance in three seasons after having not made it since 2005-06.
“We came out a little flat,” said McGinn. “We could have come out stronger given the situation. But then we turned it on a little. At times we were taking it to them some. But their goalie played well.”
Salem took the lead just 2:44 into play, when Ryan Pappalardo went into a scrum in front of the net and powered the puck home. Assists went to Austin Salvetti and Anthony Survilas.
But Trinity responded quickly with a pair of goals just 2:57 apart to take a 2-1 lead after a period.
The Blue Devils tied it with 6:15 left in the second. Tri-captain Ryan Martin took a pass from Aiden Chane and fired a shot that hit the right post, bounced off the goalie’s left pad and found the back of the net.
Then, some controversy struck with 0:20 left in the second. An attacking player ran into Salem goalie Brady Roux, sending him sprawling into the net. The play was not called dead, and the Pioneers scored to make it 3-2 with 0:20 left in the second.
“It was a goal,” said McGinn. “You have that big pile-up in front of the net, and things like that are frustrating. But that was a clean goal.”
Trinity appeared the ice the win early in the third. First, the Pioneers scored just 2:57 into the period, Then, they earned a 5-on-3 power play and a chance to take full control.
But a few huge saves by Roux (27 saves), including an impressive glove save on a slap shot and going into a split to kick another shot away with his left foot, kept it a two-goal game.
With 8:21 left in the game Salem make it a one-goal game. Pappalardo fired a slap shot from the blue line that Salvetti —who was anchored in front of the net — redirected home to make it 4-3.
The Blue Devils had then had the golden opportunity with the power play with 3:44 left, but came up short thanks to some brilliant work by Trinity goalie Ryan Brewitt (33 saves).
“He played very well,” said McGinn. “I think he as seeing the puck a little too well, and he made some great saves. Brady also played very well at times. He made a few saves he probably shouldn’t have.”
Salem now hopes to build off this playoff run. The Blue Devils expect to return Roux in net and three of their top four goal-scorers — Pappalardo (team-high 16 goals), Salvetti (12 goals) and Ryan Allard (10 goals) — are sophomores.
“We hope so,” said McGinn. “It was an awesome run. I wish the regular season had been a little better. But it was a good run. The seniors are disappointed now. But it’s a great experience for the younger kids. If we get all the pieces back, and add a few more, I think we can have a strong team.”
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Boys Ice Hockey, 03/06/19 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
HOOKSETT, N.H. — With well earned sweat dripping from his brow and a smile from ear to ear, Brady Roux summed up the moment in two perfect words.
“Anything’s possible!” said the ecstatic Salem goalie.
Roux delivered the performance of his life, making 42 saves to protect a one-goal game until the final 1:05.
And as the final buzzer sounded, the netminder was mobbed my his teammates after No. 9 Salem shocked top-seeded Pinkerton 3-1 in the New Hampshire Division 1 quarterfinals on Saturday night in front of a rowdy overflow crowd of about 800 crammed into the Hooksett Ice Den.
“This is amazing,” said Roux. “This just keeps on getting better! The boys have been working so hard, and to get this win is just so exciting. There were times during the season we didn’t think we could get here and beat a team like Pinkerton. But it happened, and it’s incredible.”
The upset sends the Blue Devils (11-10-1, 10-9-1 Div. 1) to the New Hampshire Division 1 semifinals on Wednesday (7:30 p.m.) against No. 5 Trinity (13-6-0 Div. 1) at JFK Rink in Manchester. Pinkerton closes out the season 16-3-0
“This is why I play this game!” said Salem tri-captain Brandon Paiva. “It feels amazing to come in as the underdog and upset one of the best teams in the state of New Hampshire and show what we’re about. We came into this game with a lot of confidence, and knew if we played our game we could win.”
This marks the second time in three seasons Salem has advanced to the Division 1 semifinals. The Blue Devils are now one win from their first state title appearance since 2004-05.
“This team is really starting to come together,” said Salem coach Mark McGinn. “We have believed in this team from the start. Because of injuries, and this and that, we hadn’t had a full team until recently. In the preseason we thought we could be here, even if others didn’t. I told them it doesn’t matter what seed you are.”
Salem took the lead 5:51 into the first period on a shorthanded goal. Chris Wilson tapped a pass ahead to Anthony Survilas, who skated in on a breakaway and slid the puck home for his eighth goal of the season.
Pinkerton tied the game with 5:33 to go in the first, on an Ethan Burgess tally.
But Salem took the lead right back 1:26 into the second. Ryan Pappalardo fired a pass in front to Ryan Allard, who tallied his 10th goal of the season.
“That first goal was huge because it shifted the momentum to us and gave us the upper hand for the entire game,” said Paiva. “Then, after they scored, we just had to get our head right and put in another goal. And we did it.”
From there, it was all Roux.
Pinkerton continued to pressure the sophomore goalie throughout the game, managing a few huge flurries of shots. But Roux simply would not relent.
The crowd went wild when Roux kicked away a breakaway shot with his right foot. Then, he turned away eight shots in the final moments as the Astros had two power plays.
“I just tried not to think about that we were only ahead by one goal,” said Roux. “I just had to track pucks and make saves the way I can. The guys in front me were making it a lot easier, even if I saw 42 shots.”
With the clock ticking down, the Salem fans chanting his name on two occasions.
“Our goalie was the difference today,” said McGinn. “He was calm and seeing and anticipating well. He was naturally there for a few tough shots. We knew he had it in him. A lot of stuff has to happen in front of him, and everyone played great.”
After Pinkerton pulled its goalie, Austin Salvetti iced the victory with 1:05 left, scoring an empty net goal from the opposite blue line.
“There was no lack of effort from our guys,”said Pinkerton coach Sam Littlefield. “But they played very well, and their goalie played terrific. He was outstanding, and you can’t beat a hot goalie like that.”
After the celebration, Salem set its eyes on the semifinals, against a Trinity team that beat the Blue Devils 6-2 on Dec. 22
“We never doubted ourselves,” said Roux. “We’re going to focus on that game, and start preparing. It should be a great game and it will be amazing to be there.”
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Boys Ice Hockey, 03/02/19 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
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
SALEM — Anthony Survilas had a firm message for his linemates as he skated onto the ice for a crucial 5-on-3 power play.
“I looked at Ryan Pappalardo and said, ‘We’re going to get a goal right here,’” said Survilas. “I said we were going to celebrate with our fans.”
Survilas made good on his prediction, firing home a slap shot for the go-ahead goal with 7:04 left in regulation, snapping more than 36 minutes of scoreless hockey.
Salem added another less than a minute later, and goalie Brady Roux closed out a masterful performance as Salem beat rival Windham 2-0 on Saturday in front of an estimated senior night crowd of 1,000 fans.
The matchup was a battle for bragging rights for the teams that both call the Salem ICenter home. The Jaguars (11-9-1, 8-9-1 Div. 1) had beaten the Blue Devils (9-10-1, 8-9-1 Div. 1) in their previous matchup.
“What an amazing game,” said Roux, who earned his first high school shutout. “We knew it was going to be a close game between two good teams. We knew the atmosphere was going to be incredible. I just tried to stop every puck that I could, and I knew my team was going to come through for me in the end. It was a huge win.”
For the most of the day, Roux (27 saves) was matched up in a goalie duel with Windham’s Andoni Tsoukalas (29 saves), with each delivering highlight-reel saves.
Tsoukalas kept Salem off the scoreboard for two and a half periods with tremendous play, including twice stopping breakaways and knocking away a shot from point-blank with his mask late in the second.
Roux was able to match him, however. Two of his best were when he went into a full split to kick a shot away, and when he stopped a breakaway with a butterfly save, then fell backwards to grab the rebound.
“I was tracking shots well,” said Roux. “I was reading shots off their sticks and reacting to make the saves. I felt good, and I knew (a Salem goal) was going to happen. The guys were grinding so hard.”
That goal came midway through the third, with Salem on a two-man advantage.
“I got a pass, saw (Austin) Salvetti in front of the net and saw an opening in the right corner,” said Survilas. “I took a shot and didn’t know if Salvetti was going to tip it in. Then I was the puck find the opening and I was celebrating with the fans.”
The Blue Devils had just finished celebrating that goal when they added another, as Pappalardo set up Ryan Allard for a score with 6:11 left.
“I was gassed and was skating off the ice,” said Survilas. “I passed the puck to Pappalardo, because he’s always moving. And he got it to Ryan. That was another big goal.”
Roux then did the rest, helping Salem kill a Windham 5-on-3 power play late to clinch the victory.
“In the last two minutes they were on the power play, but I was getting really excited,” said Roux. “It’s exciting to get my first shutout. I’ve been looking forward to getting it for a while. It came in the last (regular season) game, but it happened.”
The Blue Devils and Jaguars now await the postseason pairings.
“We can’t wait for the tournament,” said Survilas. “And we really wanted to get a win against Windham. They’re a big rival, so we wanted to get this one for the seniors.”
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Boys Ice Hockey, 02/23/19 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Pinkerton boys hockey held a two-goal lead over Salem, but was assessed a five-minute major near the end of the game. The Blue Devils scored with the goalie pulled and two extra attackers, but the Astros held on for the 4-3 win. Matt Gilliland made 20 saves for Pinkerton in the win.
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Boys Ice Hockey, 02/16/19 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Ryan Pappalardo wasn't going to be denied, winning a scrum in front of the net and jamming home the game-winning goal to give Salem a thrilling 3-2 overtime win over Bow. The goal was Pappalardo's second of the game.
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Boys Ice Hockey, 02/09/19 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Trailing 5-2 with under nine minutes left, the Salem boys hockey team staged a comeback that saw Sam Miaeta score his second goal of the game with two minutes left to give the Blue Devils a 5-5 tie against Nashua South-Pelham. Junior Adam Smith scored his first career goal during Salem's three-goal third period.
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Boys Ice Hockey, 01/30/19 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Salem boys hockey had nine different goal scorers in a 9-3 win over Manchester Central. Will Caraccio, Tyler Pratt and Jackson Doughty all scored their first goals, while Cam Smalley saw his first time in net and made two saves.
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Boys Ice Hockey, 01/12/19 » 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
