WEST LEBANON — It took just one goal for the Pinkerton Academy Astros to pick up a win over the Hanover High Bears in an NHIAA Division I boys’ hockey matchup on Saturday afternoon at James W. Campion III Rink.
The game’s lone goal was scored just under a minute into the second period by junior Colton Boisvert, who was assisted by sophomore Tyler Pinardi and senior Evan Jackson.
The Bears, who have now dropped two straight games, had multiple opportunities to tie the game, particularly in the third period, when they outshot the Astros 14-1 and had three power play opportunities.
“We’re so close,” Hanover Head Coach Dick Dodds said. “We’re playing really well defensively, and right now we’re just battling, trying to find ways to score a goal — every goal is a challenge — but we’re really close, the boys are working hard.”
Dodds acknowledged that his squad’s offensive struggles in the 1-0 loss were two-pronged, stemming from tough puck luck and schematics.
“It’d be nice to get a bounce or two — I don’t remember the last time we got a bounce,” Dodds said.
In the first two periods, Dodds said his squad was unable to generate enough traffic in front of the net as shots came from the perimeter.
“We weren’t getting to the front of the net for the rebounds, and we weren’t getting in front enough on the initial shots,” he said.
That did change in the third period, as Hanover’s bench boss pointed out that of his team’s 14 shots in the frame, 10 of them were from and around the slot.
One of Hanover’s best chances in the period came when junior Jake Rotchford found senior Ryan Carroll in front of the net on a nice cross-ice feed, but Astros’ senior goaltender Tanner Moody made the stop.
“The goalie was just in a zone at that point,” Dodds said.
The loss dropped the Bears to 7-8 on the season. They entered Saturday’s contest ninth in Division I, which will feature 10 teams in the postseason when the playoffs begin on March 4.
“The focus has been good, and practice has been real sharp,” Dodds said.
“We’ll continue to put the energy and the effort in. The boys are sticking together, and they’re doing all the right things — I think they’re going to get rewarded at some point.”
With Salem also at 7-8, Manchester Central-Manchester West-Memorial at 6-9-1, and Exeter at 5-11, the last week of the regular season is shaping up to be a scramble to lock in those last playoff spots, and the Bears have a tough schedule ahead.
Hanover will face three teams it has already lost to this season to wrap up regular season play: first at Keene on Tuesday, then at Concord on Wednesday, and finally against Londonderry at home on Saturday.
“Next week’s a big week, so we just want to make sure we’re prepared to have a good week,” Dodds said.
