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VOLUME 33, NUMBER 42 MARCH 19, 2009 FREE THE WEEKLY NEWS & LIFESTYLE JOURNAL OF MT. WASHINGTON VALLEY MAILING LABEL Valley Farms Offer Nooks & Crannies: Fresh Veggies To All: An easy hike to Jackman Ridge in B The Veggie Volunteer Program helps A 10 Freedom rewards snowshoers 12 low income families by donating fresh produce with a view of Ossipee Lake ... to food pantries throughout Carroll County ... A SALMON PRESS PUBLICATION • (603) 447-6336 • PUBLISHED IN CONWAY, NH Page Two Ten years in the making Kennett hockey team wins its first Division III championship By Joshua Spaulding Sports Editor MANCHESTER — Ten seasons, 103 (varsity) wins and now, one state championship. The Kennett hockey team, playing in its fourth Division III title game, and second in two years, finally brought home the hardware it had long coveted on Sunday, March 15. The Eagles, behind the spectacular play of junior goaltender Ricky Gaudreau (34 saves for his eighth shutout of the season), turned away the top-seeded Souhegan Sabers, who were going for a fourth title in a row, and cap- tured the Division III crown with a 4-0 win at Manchester’s Verizon Wireless Arena. The Eagles, who began as a club team in the 1999-2000 season and became a varsity squad two seasons later, had been so close to the summit, only to see their hopes and dreams dashed in the finals. Last year’s overtime loss to the Sabers was one of the toughest losses the Eagles had endured. “We came in with a mission,” said Eagle coach Mike Lane. “I am so proud of all the kids, with all the things they battled through. “They’re banged up, beat up and sick,” he said. “They so deserve this. They cashed in today. They played the best team in the division and proved that now we are the best team in the division. above: Griffin Meador gets words of “You can’t top this,” he continued. “I encouragement from assistant coach am so proud we are going to raise a ban- Peter Hall as he heads to the ice for the ner.” start of Sunday’s championship game. From the start, it was obvious to everyone in attendance at the Verizon right: As Kennett’s Chuckie Smith Wireless Arena on Sunday that raises his arms in celebration of Gaudreau was on his game and was out his second period goal, bringing to prove that the ending of last year’s the Kennett crowd to its feet. game was behind him and his team, and this was a new year. (Joshua Spaulding The junior keeper turned away three /Mountain Ear Photos) quality Souhegan chances in the first few minutes of the game, as the Sabers came out of the gate hard with seniors Paul pressure at the other end, and Gaudreau Caso, Alex April and Adam Mendenhall came up with some huge acrobatic saves leading the charge. to keep the Sabers off the board. But while it was the Sabers who came Griffin Meador had a chance turned out charging, it was the Eagles who got away by Downer and with 6:10 left in on the board first, bringing the Ham the first period, Cyr skated off the ice Arena faithful (on this day, the Verizon with an ankle injury. would have to do) to their feet less than Ever the grinder, the junior returned four minutes into the game. to the ice after some quick work by The Eagles moved the puck into the trainer Andy Trowbridge, though after zone, as Gaudreau sent it forward to the game was still unable to put much George Weigold. The senior co-captain pressure on his ankle. The Eagles opened the second period Gaudreau actually had to stop a couple moved the puck behind the net and sent The first power play opportunity of with some great pressure, as Meador, of Souhegan bids to keep the Eagles in a pass to fellow co-captain Justin the game went to the Sabers with 5:36 to Cyr and Joey Murphy kept Downer the lead. Clements, who was waiting on the go in the game, but the Eagles stole the busy in the Souhegan net. Clements, Weigold and Cyr kept doorstep beside Souhegan keeper Nate spotlight, as Kevin Murphy and With the Eagles down a man, pressuring the offensive zone and with Downer. Clements calmly stuffed the Clements had back-to-back shorthanded Souhegan mounted a bit of a charge, 2:51 to play in the period, the pressure puck home and the Eagles had all the bids and the Eagles were able to get on forcing Gaudreau to make yet another paid off. goals they would need on the afternoon, the power play two minutes later. standout save. Clements and Meador Chuckie Smith pounced on a but nobody was resting easy with one Cyr, Lamontagne and Clements pro- also had shorthanded scoring chances rebound and punched it past Downer goal on the board. vided the best power play pressure for that were turned away in the offensive for a 2-0 Kennett lead. Cyr and Joey Kennett, but the puck stayed out of the zone, but the Eagles effectively killed Murphy picked up the helpers. One in, three to go net. the penalty. Gaudreau turned in a few more solid Kennett continued the pressure, with Gaudreau made one final stop before The Eagle power play didn’t click saves and Weigold had a nice defensive Taylor Cyr and Derek North looking for the buzzer sounded to end the first peri- well when they got a chance with 7:41 to play to close out the second period with rebounds of a Bryan Lamontagne slap od, with the Eagles leading by a 1-0 play in the second period, though Kennett up by a pair, 2-0. shot, but Souhegan came back with score. Clements and Weigold had chances. 2-0, third period If the Eagles’ confidence wasn’t up at that point, it didn’t take long into the third period for it to soar. On the Cover Inside Index Less than two minutes into the We’re # 1 The Veggie Volunteer Program Arts & Entertainment..............Page B1 frame, Clements pounded the puck The Veggie Volunteer Program helps low After a long ten-year wait, the Kennett Calendar...................................Page B6 home on a rebound of a Smith shot and Eagles hockey players and coaches (and income families by donating fresh produce to it was 3-0. food pantries throughout Carroll County… Entertainment..........................Page B8 coach Mike Lane’s 11-month-old son Souhegan’s best chance of the day Page A10 Aiden) celebrate the program’s first On the Slopes & Trails ........Page B2-5 came just moments later, as the Sabers Division III state championship Sunday Journey in the Bavarian Alps On the Rockpile.....................Page B16 scrambled to catch up. The puck was at Verizon Wireless Arena. Page A2 North Conway Public Library invites the pub- sent toward the net from the side and (Joshua Spaulding/Mountain Ear Photo) lic to the Mt. Washington Observatory for an Nooks & Crannies.................Page B12 slid between Gaudreau and the pipe but evening of hut to hut tours of the Alps with Real Estate .............................Page A14 kept sliding straight across the crease Steve and Sally Swenson. Page B1 Sports.....................Pages A7, A9 & A13 behind the Eagle keeper and out the Page A2 - The Mountain Ear, Thursday, March 19, 2009 right: Seniors (l to r) Joey Murphy, Justin Clements, Derek North, George Weigold and Brian Munck cap off their final year with a photo with the Division III championship trophy. below: Senior Co-captain Justin Clements holds the Division III championship trophy aloft for the Eagle fans in the stands at the Verizon Wireless Arena Sunday. (Joshua Spaulding /Mountain Ear Photos) deficit was too big and the Eagles took “We really stressed stepping up at the to the ice to celebrate their first-ever blue line,” Lane said. “We didn’t want to state title. give that up, and we did that tonight.” “We knew, obviously, what their fire- With a couple of players battling ill- power could do, and our goal was to get ness and Cyr fighting through his injury, the puck low in the zone (forcing the Lane knew it would take a team effort, other side. nail in the coffin. With 9:41 to play, Saber players to move it the length of and that’s exactly what he got. And The Eagles took a penalty with 12:08 North played a perfect pass to Smith, the ice as much as possible),” said Lane. nerves were never an issue. to play and Souhegan continued to pres- who had a wide open net to shoot on and “I think it really wore them down. They “I don’t think there were any nerves,” sure, forcing Gaudreau to stand on his the score went to 4-0, quieting the didn’t have much gas in the tank at the Lane noted. “I think we’ve played pretty head, making four huge saves in a quick defending champs’ fans. Weigold picked end. loose since we lost to them the last time spurt before the Sabers ended up with a up the second assist on the play. “And then what Ricky did,” Lane (Feb. 16).” penalty and the Eagles took over the Souhegan didn’t give up, as they con- continued. He pointed out that the The Eagles finished the regular sea- power play. tinued to pressure Gaudreau and even Eagle keeper allowed only one goal in son at 14-4 and beat Belmont-Gilford It only took a few seconds for the had one final power play opportunity, three playoff games, and the Eagles as a and Bedford to advance to the Division Kennett boys to capitalize with the final but the Eagles were too strong and the whole allowed only 28 goals all season.