By Marc Thaler
Staff Writer

Goffstown senior defenseman Aaron Blouin was one of six GHS seniors who led the Grizzlies on their strong six-game surge, which locked up the eighth and final Division II playoff spot. Although the locals lost to top-seeded and eventual champion Dover in the state tournament's first round, head coach Peter Bedford said the 2004-05 edition was one of the best teams he's ever coached. (Marc Thaler Photo)

GOFFSTOWN - Peter Bedford's Goffstown High School hockey team didn.t win the Division II title in 2005, but that didn't stop the first-year Grizzlies head coach from making a very powerful statement about his squad well after the season ended.

"This was one of the best teams I've ever had," said Bedford, nearly three weeks after Goffstown was eliminated by eventual champion Dover, 4-2, in the postseason tournament's opening round. "I'm not talking about wins and losses. Every kid really cared for each other. The seniors helped teach the freshmen. It was an effort from the top down and from the bottom up."

According to Bedford, when the eighth-seeded Grizzlies finished their game with the top-ranked Green Wave, the players were sad to see their season end. But Bedford's boys were also satisfied because they gave everything they had, the coach added.

During the post-game team meeting, Bedford had each of his six seniors stand up in front of the group.

Scott Bellerose, Aaron Blouin, cocaptain Josh Chagnon, co-captain Chad Gamache, Chad Macdonald and Nate Roy each received a well-deserved round of applause from the coaching staff and his peers, Bedford said.

"For me personally, I was grateful for the example they sent to the underclassmen going forward," the coach said. "The seniors were recognized for playing an integral part in the program's future. We wanted to let them know they really helped us start to create something special."

The season wasn't always easy, Bedford said. Aside from dealing with player injuries and standard on-ice struggles such as scoring, the locals needed time to grow familiar with their new coach and new system.

Through its first 12 games from Dec. 16 to Jan. 6, Goffstown owned a 3-9 record.

The team, however, continued to work hard in practice and compete at a high level during games - two key areas for constructing a contender that don't appear in the box score statistics, Bedford said.

"Sometimes as a coach, you have to spend a lot of your time motivating guys," Bedford said. "It's much easier (to coach) when you don't have to do that."

As a result of Goffstown's collective determination, the Grizzlies made a solid showing in their final six games.

GHS was 4-2 from Feb. 8 to 26, compiling home victories against Kingswood, Timberlane and Merrimack while winning at Winnacunnet. In those four wins, the locals outscored the opposition, 18-3.

"They turned it around to the point where they separated themselves from the bottom segment of teams," Bedford said. "Their play locked us into (the final) playoff spot."

The top priority heading into his second season as coach, Bedford said, is to build on the momentum of 2004-05. That means keeping the returning players excited about taking the program to the next level.

Although this season was a success in the coach's mind, Bedford stressed he's not satisfied. And his team shouldn't be, either.

If anything, Bedford's expectations for the program are even higher now. And he is already calling for the next wave of seniors to teach and support younger players while leading the way when difficult times arise.

"These guys are learning to be young adults. They're striving to be the best," Bedford said. "I think that's what this program is all about. And I'll always promote those things."

On behalf of the team, Bedford thanked Howard Sobolov and Marlene Turcotte of the athletics department, Friends of Goffstown Hockey, plus the strong parental support for the squad throughout the season.

"Without them," Bedford said, "none of this works as well as it does."