After long layoff, Concord boys hockey returns with shutout of Hanover

CONCORD - After a two-week layoff between games and 23 days since its last home contest, the Concord High School boys hockey team was itching to take the ice at Everett Arena Wednesday night.

The Crimson Tide unleashed their pent up excitement on Hanover, as they cruised to a 7-0 Division I victory.

Concord (12-1) scored three times in the first and third periods, went 3 for 5 on the power play and received two goals and an assist from both senior captain Matt Hauschild and sophomore Joey Ala. Crimson Tide senior goaltender Parker Taylor earned an 11-save shutout.

Concord’s last game before Wednesday was its first loss of the season - 3-0 at Pinkerton Academy on Jan. 29.

“The two-week break, it was kind of hard for us,” Hauschild said. “I think everyone was pretty excited to come out (Wednesday), especially against Hanover. They’re a pretty good competitor. They always have been the past three years that I’ve been on the team and we just came out moving, passed the puck well.”

Goals from Ryan Doherty, Ala and Hauschild (power play) over the final 7:46 of the opening period gave Concord a 3-0 lead over the Marauders (7-5) entering the first intermission.

Doherty went top shelf on Marauders sophomore goaltender Ben Plottner off an assist from Hauschild to open the game’s scoring. Ala put home a rebound goal in front following a Noah Drew shot with 3:17 left in the first frame to double Concord’s advantage. Hauschild, a senior forward and captain, went forehand to backhand on Plottner (28 saves) during Concord’s first power play 2:17 after Ala’s tally to cap the Crimson Tide’s first-period scoring.

“We haven’t played a game in two weeks so it was good to come out early and buzz around, put pressure on Hanover and get some goals early,” Concord coach Dunc Walsh said. “I thought that was key for us because that’s what we do well as far as apply pressure in the offensive end, buzz around. I thought we did a nice job there.”

Hauschild scored his second goal off a feed from Ryan Philbrick 5:57 into the second period to build a 4-0 Concord lead, which it took into the third frame. Philbrick finished with three helpers.

Concord added power-play goals from Ala and Alex Forward and an even-strength unassisted tally from Tyler Coskren in the final period. 

The Crimson Tide pinned Hanover in its own zone for most of the game. Concord outshot the Marauders, 28-6, over the opening 30 minutes and 35-11 overall. Hanover sophomore Casey Graham recorded his team’s lone second-period shot on goal with 37.6 seconds remaining in the frame during the Marauders’ only power-play opportunity.

“A couple of games, we’ve been getting much better (breaking out) and then all of a sudden - but Concord’s speed had a lot to do with that,” Hanover coach Dick Dodds said. “They were winning races to pucks. We didn’t always have the puck on our stick in our end to break it out. You’re always chasing them.”

Hanover has scored two or fewer goals in nine games this year, including three shutout losses.

Arguably Hanover’s best chance to score came with 1:27 left before the second intermission. Marauders sophomore Spencer Lawe stole the puck in his defensive zone and created a short-handed breakaway opportunity but his shot went wide right of Concord’s cage.

The Marauders will host Concord next Wednesday. 

“We know what they’re all about. They know what we’re all about so we’re just going to have to stick to the same game plan,” Hauschild said.