Souhegan's Erik Hayden and Conor Casey trie to keep Alvirne's Phil Sweeney from scoring. For more photos, go to the Photo Album.
NASHUA – Lee Vanergraff had a goal and an assist to help lead the Alvirne High School boys hockey team to a 5-0 win over Souhegan in Division III action Saturday at Conway Arena.
Ryan Bellerose added two assists for the Broncos (2-0) and Reed Vanergraff, Phil Sweeney, Chris Gamst and Jared McCauley also had goals for Alvirne, which has already matched its win total from last season, when the team was in Division II.
Erik Hayden made 35 saves for Souhegan (1-1), keeping the Sabers within striking distance despite a three-goal flurry by Alvirne in the first period.
Sweeney started the scoring at 6:06 of the period, off an assist from Cam Brock, and it took the Broncos just 38 seconds to make it 2-0 on Gamst’s goal.
“We have plenty of talent on this team, so once this team gets going, we just start rolling,” Alvirne coach Brian Gould said. “It was good to come out earlier tonight and get the first goal because that first period has been a problem for us in the past. It was nice to go up 3-0. That’s what they need, high school kids need that confidence.”
McCauley made it a three-goal game at 8:01 of the first, and although Alvirne took two penalties in the final six minutes of the period, Souhegan was unable to get on the board.
“Within two minutes they scored three goals,” Souhegan coach Ed Viola said. “That’s tough. What you have to do is bounce back from that and keep playing. I was happy with these guys, how they played in the third period. They came out hard and still played hard.”
The Sabers opened the second period with a man-advantage, but it was Lee Vanergraff breaking in along on Hayden for a shorthanded goal that gave Alvirne a 4-0 lead just seven seconds into the period. Three minutes late, Reed Vanergraff made it 5-0 in favor of the Broncos.
The teams were scoreless the rest of the way, but Souhegan took a hit in the third period when defenseman Tomas Chvalny was hurt when trying to block a shot. The puck hit off Chvalny’s ankle and he needed help leaving the ice. Viola was unsure of his status after the game.
Alvirne returns to the ice Monday when it plays its third straight road game at Kearsarge. Souhegan resumes its schedule on Wednesday at Kennett.