Dover boys’ hockey scores three power play goals in third in win over Winnacunnet

DOVER – At the start of the third period tied at 2-2 with Winnacunnet, the Dover High School men’s hockey team knew their special teams needed to step up their progress as they have so far this season. in order to win the game.

They did it.

The Green Wave scored four goals, including three on the power play, in the last 15 minutes and won the game 6-2 Wednesday night at Dover Ice Arena.

Dover is now 3-1 on the season.

“We worked a lot on (our power play) in training,” said Dover head coach Mike Young. “They capitalized on the opportunities that we had which is huge.”

Winnacunnet received five penalties in the game, including three in the third period and one in the third of the second period.

“We just can’t take penalties against a team like this,” said Winnacunnet head coach Paul Kinnaly. “We knew it was happening, and it ended up costing us dearly. ”

Dover started the third period with four power play goals, but couldn’t score. It was on a 2-1 that Jacob Lapierre scored a quick pass from junior Josh Gagne to give Dover a 3-2 lead and start the third period.

“We were getting chances, but I felt we had better hockey left,” Young said. “We scored a few goals at the start of the first four minutes and I felt that set the tone for the third period.”

The Green Wave had a power play and it took only 15 seconds for senior captain Colby Roy to find the back of the net on a goal assisted by senior Alex Dureau.

“It always feels good to score, but especially when you needed a boost in the third period,” said Roy.

Gagné and Ollie Stevens each scored one power-play goal, completing the third period with four goals.

Roy says confidence has played a huge role in his team scoring six goals on advantage in the last two games.

“We know we have a lot of talent,” said Roy. We are able to put pucks in the net. We’re a confident bunch and we know what we can do when we’re out there with a man standing. ”

Sophomore Brady McDonough started the scoring by putting Dover 1-0 just over 5 minutes into the game.

Winnacunnet senior forward Carter Renaud found a loose puck in the lunge and pulled it up to tie the score at 1-1 at just 2:45 of the second period.

Senior Asa Forbes scored on an excellent assist from Stevens for Dover with 8:26 left in the second to put them ahead 2-1.

Just over four minutes later, Winnacunnet senior James Roughsedge fired a shot on goal and fellow senior Jack Giacalone fought off the loose rebound, tying the game at 2-2.

Although his team came away with a strong performance in the third period, Young credited the Warriors with holding on.

“These guys kept fighting hard,” Young said. “They have a good goalie (in Jack Ellis). I think we had about 40 hits; it gives them a chance to win every game.

Ellis made 35 saves, including 15 in the third period. Senior Ethan Evergram made 18 saves for the Green Wave.

Now 1-4-1, the Warriors are looking to build on the first two periods of the game to move forward.

“We’re going to learn some lessons from that,” Kinnaly said. “We felt like it was another learning experience today and we will come back, we will bounce back. ”

Both teams will be back in action on Saturday. Dover were able to secure a last minute clash with Division I Trinity and Winnacunnet will host Manchester Central-West.