White River Junction
Bebeau received an answer when senior Ben Rouillard converted a breakaway with 53.9 seconds remaining for a 1-0 victory. The triumph came during the first day of the Philippe H. Bouthillier Holiday Classic at Barwood Arena.
Rouillard’s goal was set up by Jordy Allard’s aerial pass from the Canes’ defensive zone.
“Jordy just recognized the play,” Rouillard said in reference to Woodstock’s pinching defense. “We made eye contact and I went.”
The pass set up a showdown between Rouillard and Woodstock goalie Jason Drebber, who finished with 22 saves.
“I had faith in (Rouillard),” Allard said. “He’s a fast skater and great goal scorer. … We needed a hero and he was it.”
Hartford’s victory set up a tilt with Lebanon in today’s 6 p.m. tournament final. The Raiders skated to a 6-0 victory over Brattleboro earlier Tuesday. The Colonels and Woodstock play the consolation game at 4 p.m.
Hartford goaltender Richie Morrill made 23 saves as the Canes improved to 3-1.
“I love getting shutouts,” Morrill said. “It means I’m doing my job and my team is also doing its job.”
“We played with fire early on with penalties,” said Bebeau, whose team committed three first-period penalties. “But we settled down and stayed out of the (penalty) box. Things got better as the game went on.”
Woodstock, which moved from Division II to Division I prior to the start of the season, fell to 0-3.
“(The Vermont Principals Association) made us move up,” Woodstock coach Jon Chamberlin said. “We tried to fight it a little bit.”
Chamberlin, whose team has also lost to Burr & Burton and Rutland, said that although it was something of an honor to be moved up a division based on his team’s recent success, the situation could also prove to be problematic.
“The thing is, we could get switched right back down (as soon as next season),” he explained. “And that would be a waste.”
Lebanon received two goals each from Ian Garland, Nate Chickering and Nate Gariepy. The Raiders’ assists came from Gariepy (three), Chickering (two), Aaron Damren (two) and Joey Dupree. Winning goalie Jordan Hammond made 15 saves.
Lebanon has not played Hartford in the regular season since 1986, according to Bebeau, who played for the Hurricanes at that time.
Notes: Bouthillier, a longtime chemistry teacher at Hartford High, played an integral role in establishing the Hurricanes’ hockey program. He coached the varsity team for 10 years and served as an official for 27 years, according to the tournament game program. Prior to Barwood Arena’s construction in the late 1970s, Bouthillier took responsibility for flooding and maintaining outdoor tennis courts in Wilder so that hockey could be played. … Hartford graduate Zach Potter dropped the puck on a ceremonial face off prior to Tuesday’s second game. Potter, who played hockey for Hartford and graduated in 2007, is coming off a successful battle with testicular cancer. Despite undergoing operations in both August and October, Potter was able to suit up for the Canes’ annual alumni game, played on Christmas Eve. He and his friends and family recently raised $6,700 toward the fight against cancer.