CONWAY — Winning a state championship isn’t easy. You need everything to go your way and, even then, you need a little bit of luck. Try doing it as a defending state champ and that task is almost twice as difficult as you become and the hunted and everyone brings their best effort when they play you.
Such was the case for the Kennett High ice hockey team. The 2017 Division III state champion Eagles didn’t have everything go their way on Saturday and there was no luck to be had, but the boys from Conway displayed the hearts of champions, coming from behind twice to tie John Stark-Hopkinton in the finals at Southern New Hampshire University Arena in Manchester (the former Verizon Wireless Arena). The General Hawks pulled away in the third period with three unanswered goals for the 6-2 win and claim their first championship since 2013.
kAm“xE ;FDE H2D?’E @FC 52J[” |:4926= {2?6[ t28=6D’ 9625 4@249[ D2:5] “r@?8C2EF=2E:@?D E@ y@9? $E2C<\w@A<:?E@?[ :E H2D E96:C 52J] &?7@CEF?2E6=J[ E9:?8D 5:5?’E 8@ @FC H2J]”k^Am
kAmz6??6EE 362E E96 v6?6C2= w2H<D 5FC:?8 E96 C68F=2C D62D@?[ H:??:?8 b\_ H:E9 EH@ =2E6 6>AEJ ?6E 8@2=D 2E }6H t?8=2?5 r@==686 2?5 b\a :? @G6CE:>6 :? E96 C68F=2C\D62D@? 7:?2=6 2E w2> x46 pC6?2]k^Am
kAm&?7@CEF?2E6=J[ D@>6 5C62>D 5@ 4@>6 ECF6 — 6G6? 325 @?6D]k^Am
kAm“~? %F6D52J ?:89E x 5C62>E H6 3C@<6 2 D<2E6 3=256 :? E96 492>A:@?D9:A 82>6[” {2?6 D2:5] “x? >J `` J62CD @7 4@249:?8 H6’G6 ?6G6C 3C@<6? 2 3=256 :? 2 82>6] (92E H6 5:5[ ;FDE E@ 36 42FE:@FD @? uC:52J ?:89E[ H2D H6 A24<65 7@FC 6IEC2 A2:CD @7 D<2E6D — 2 A2:C @7 >:?6[ yFDE:? WuC6496EE6X[ y@6J W|FCA9JX 2?5 s2G6 (@@53FCJ’D D<2E6D]k^Am
kAmz6??6EE 362E q6=>@?E\v:=7@C5 e\` :? E96 D6>:7:?2=D 2E !=J>@FE9 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ @? uC:52J[ 3FE 7@CH2C5 y677C6J !2=>6C 3C@<6 2 3=256 :? E96 D64@?5 A6C:@5 2?5 8@2=:6 y@9? q:88:@ 3C@<6 @?6 @7 9:D :? E96 E9:C5 A6C:@5]k^Am
kAmp82:?[ ?6G6C :? `` J62CD 925 2? t28=6 3C@<6 2 D<2E6 3=256] %96 E62> H2D 23=6 E@ 86E !2=>6C 324< @? D<2E6D[ 3FE C6A=24:?8 q:88:@’D 3=256 H2D ?@ 62DJ E2D<]k^Am
kAm“|J A2C6?ED 5C@G6 5@H? E@ !FC6 w@4<6J :? s@G6C E@ ECJ E@ C6A=246 E96 3=256 3FE E96J 5:5?’E 92G6 @?6[” {2?6 D2:5] “(6 42==65 6G6CJ %$# 2?5 9@4<6J D9@A :? }6H w2>AD9:C6 2?5 ?@CE96C? |2DD249FD6EED 3FE ?@ @?6 925 E96 3=256 WE@ C6A=246 E96 D<2E6X] (92E H6 6?565 FA 5@:?8 H2D 86EE:?8 2? @=5 A2:C @7 y@??J !2?<9FCDE’D W8@2=:6X D<2E6D] |:<6 q@:G:? 5:5 2 8C62E ;@3 @7 ECJ:?8 E@ 8C:?5 E96 3=256 5@H? E@ H96C6 y@9??J 76=E 4@>7@CE23=6] $E:==[ x E9:?< :E’D 2 =@E E@ 2D< @7 2 <:5 E@ A=2J @? D@>6@?6 6=D6’D D<2E6D 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :? E96 DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:A 82>6]”k^Am
kAm%CJ:?8 E@ 4@>6 FA H:E9 D<2E6D AFE E96 t28=6D @77 E96:C A=2??65 56A2CEFC6 D4965F=6 @? $2EFC52J] %96 E62> =67E r@?H2J 2? 9@FC =2E6C E92? A=2??65 2E ``ib_ 2]>]k^Am
kAm%9C@H :?[ 2?@E96C A=2J6C 8C23365 E96 HC@?8 D<2E6D[ 2?5 J@F 8@E E96 766=:?8 {25J {F4< H2D?’E H62C:?8 3=24< 2?5 H9:E6]k^Am
kAm“xE ;FDE H2D?’E @FC 52J[” {2?6 D2:5] “*@F ?665 2 =@E @7 E9:?8D E@ 8@ C:89E E@ H:? 2 DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:A]”k^Am
kAmy@9? $E2C<\w@A<:?E@? 2=D@ A=2J65 uC:52J ?:89E 2E !=J>@FE9[ H:??:?8 E96 @A6?:?8 D6>:7:?2= a\_ @G6C 7@FCE9\D66565 |@?25?@4<\w@A<:?E@?]k^Am
kAm“(6 5:5?’E 86E 9@>6 F?E:= ``ib_ A]>][ D@ E96C6 H2D?’E 2 =@E @7 E:>6 E@ AC6A2C6[” {2?6 D2:5] “(6 925 E9C66 =2AE@AD 492C865 H:E9 G:56@ @7 y@9? $E2C< 7@C E96 8FJD E@ H2E49 @? E96 3FD @? E96 H2J 9@>6] %96 DE@C> WH9:49 A@DEA@?65 E96 D6>:7:?2=D 7C@> (65?6D52J E@ %9FCD52J 2?5 F=E:>2E6=J E@ uC:52JX 9FCE FD] (6 H6C6?’E 23=6 E@ AC24E:46 7@C EH@ 52JD 2?5 E96? E@ A=2J =2E6 uC:52J ?:89E[ <:?5 @7 DEF?<[ 3FE E92E’D |@E96C }2EFC6]”k^Am
kAmx? E96 7:?2=D[ E96 v6?6C2= w2H<D 8@E @? E96 D4@C63@2C5 @? E96:C 7:CDE D9@E @7 E96 82>6 bib` :?E@ E96 7:CDE A6C:@5] }@29 r92A>2? =:E E96 =2>A H:E9 2 324<92?56C ;FDE @FE @7 E96 C6249 @7 q:88:@]k^Am
kAmz6??6EE <?@EE65 E96 82>6 2E `\` H96? |24<6?K:6 |FCA9J 362E y2>6D@? q@FCBF6 @? 2 ?:46 CFD9 H:E9 2 HC:DE D9@E A2DE 9:D 3=@4<6C eich :?E@ E96 A6C:@5] %C6G@C {2#FDD@ 2?5 |:=6D (@@53FCJ A:4<65 FA E96 2DD:DED @? E96 8@2=]k^Am
kAm“z6?K:6 5@6D D@ >F49 7@C @FC E62>[ 3@E9 @? 2?5 @77 E96 :46[” {2?6 D2:5] “tG6CJ@?6 <?@HD 96’D E96 36DE A=2J6C :? @FC =628F6 — 92?5D 5@H?[ ?@ 5632E6] (6 A=2J65 E9C66 5676?D6>6? — %C6G@C ~=:G:6C[ r@??6C uFCE25@ 2?5 z6?K:6 — 2?5 >@G65 $966A W#6:==J |FCA9JX FA E@ 7@CH2C5 3642FD6 H6 ?66565 7C6D9 =68D 2?5 5:5?’E 92G6 E96 DE6A H6 5:5 E96 ?:89E 367@C6] z6?K:6 AC@323=J A=2J65 bg W@7 E96 cdX >:?FE6D] uFCE25@ :D DE:== C64@G6C:?8 7C@> A?6F>@?:2[ 96 =@DE `d A@F?5D[ 3FE E96 E9C66 @7 E96> A=2J65 E96:C 3FEED @77]”k^Am
kAmz6??6EE 42CC:65 E96 A=2J :? E96 7:CDE A6C:@5[ ;F>A:?8 @FE E@ 2? g\` D9@ED @? 8@2= 25G2?E286 2E @?6 A@:?E]k^Am
kAm“(6 925 D@>6 8C62E 492?46D[ 3FE ;FDE 4@F=5?’E 8C23 E96 =625[” {2?6 D2:5] “xE 76=E =:<6 H6 H6C6 492D:?8 E96 82>6 2== ?:89E] xE’D =:<6 :? 32D<6E32==[ 2 E62> H:== 8@ @? 2 `_\_ E@ 86E 324< :?E@ E96 82>6 3FE 5@6D?’E 92G6 BF:E6 6?@F89 E@ 86E @G6C E96 9F>A] x7 H6 86E @FE :? 7C@?E a\`[ x E9:?< E92E >:89E 92G6 492?865 E96 82>6]”k^Am
kAmz6??6EE @FED9@E y@9? $E2C<\w@A<:?D@? `b\d :? E96 7:CDE A6C:@5[ J6E E96 82>6 H2D `\`]k^Am
kAm%96 v6?6C2= w2H<D H6?E :? 7C@?E a\` H96? %J=6C $4@C5@ D4@C65 @? 2 3:E @7 <?F4<=632== D9@E E92E ;FDE 6=F565 q:88:@ H:E9 ``i`a =67E :? E96 A6C:@5]k^Am
kAm%96 t28=6D 2?DH6C65 324< aa D64@?5D =2E6C] (@@53FCJ 8@E E96 AF4< 7C@> 7@CH2C5 r2=63 |4!96CD@? 2?5 7:C65 2 =@H =2D6C E92E 362E q@FCBF6 7@C E96 6BF2=:K6C]k^Am
kAmzw$ 925 2 =:EE=6 >@>6?EF> 2?5 EC:65 E@ 42A:E2=:K6 @? :E] |:4926= $62G6J H2D DE@AA65 7C@> 4=@D6 C2?86 @? 2 3=2DE eiag :?E@ E96 A6C:@5] %9C66 >:?FE6D =2E6C[ %C6G@C {2#FDD@ 42>6 @9\D@\4=@D6 E@ ?6EE:?8 E96 8@\29625 8@2= @? 2 HC2A\2C@F?5 2EE6>AE[ 3FE q@FCBF6 >256 E96 D2G6]k^Am
kAmr@??@C s@F46E 2?5 r2=63 |4!96CD@?[ H9@ H6C6 2== @G6C E96 :46[ 42>6 4=@D6 2 4@FA=6 @7 E:>6D H:E9 6249 2DD:DE:?8 E96 @E96C] (:E9 ci_d =67E :? E96 A6C:@5[ s@F46E 5C@AA65 2 A2DD E@ 2 7=J:?8 |4!96CD@? 2?5 E2=6?E65 D?:AA6C @?6\E:>65 2 3=2DE E92E q@FCBF6 D@>69@H DE@AA65 7C@> 7:?5:?8 E96 324< @7 E96 ?6E]k^Am
kAm%96 v6?6C2=\w2H<D D4@C65 H92E AC@G65 E@ 36 E96 82>6\H:??6C H:E9 aibd =67E :? E96 A6C:@5] uC6D9>2? }@=2? $2F6C 362E q:88:@ E@ 9:D 8=@G6 D:56[ >2<:?8 :E b\a]k^Am
kAm“%92E E9:C5 8@2= H2D 2 D9@E :? E96 8FE 2?5 H6 ;FDE 4@F=5?’E C64@G6C[” {2?6 D2:5] “(6 925 2 4@FA=6 @7 8C62E 492?46D E@ E2<6 2 b\a =625 @FCD6=G6D 2?5 925 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 492?86 E96 4@>A=6I:@? @7 E96 82>6] (6 <:?5 @7 A=2J65 29625 2== D62D@?] x E9:?< H6 @?=J A=2J65 7C@> 369:?5 7@C 2 >:?FE6 2E 9@>6 282:?DE z:?8DH@@5 2?5 E96? FA 2E q6C=:? 2?5 E92E H2D :E]”k^Am
kAmz6??6EE @FED9@E y$\w ab\`c E9C@F89 EH@ A6C:@5D]k^Am
kAmx? E96 E9:C5 A6C:@5[ E96 t28=6D =@@<65 ?@E:4623=J 2 DE6A D=@H6C @? E96 :46 2?5 2 4@>6324< D66>65 F?=:<6=J]k^Am
kAm“(6 H6C6 82DD65[” {2?6 D2:5] “x 5@?’E E9:?< H6 925 2?JE9:?8 =67E E@ 8:G6]”k^Am
kAm$2F6C ?6EE65 9:D D64@?5 @7 E96 ?:89E E@ >2<6 :E c\a H:E9 `ai_h =67E :? E96 82>6]k^Am
kAm(:E9 hicd E@ A=2J[ q6??J |2556? D4@C65[ E2<:?8 25G2?E286 @7 2 >:DA=2J :? 7C@?E @7 E96 z6??6EE ?6E E@ >2<6 :E d\a]k^Am
kAmz6??6EE AF==65 E96 8@2=:6 7@C 2? 6IEC2 D<2E6C H:E9 bice E@ A=2J 2?5 4C62E65 2 4@FA=6 @7 492?46D 7@C |24<6?K:6 |FCA9J 2?5 {2#FDD@[ 3FE y@6 $2H:ED<J 4=@D65 @FE E96 D4@C:?8 H:E9 2 =@?8 6>AEJ\?6E E2==J H:E9 `ibg E@ A=2J]k^Am
kAm“xE’D E@F89 E@ 36 @FE E96C6 W@? E96 :46X 2?5 D66 2?@E96C E62> 46=63C2E6[” {2?6 D2:5] “x 4@F=5?’E 36 AC@F56C @7 E96 H2J @FC 8FJD C6AC6D6?E65 E96>D6=G6D[ E96:C D49@@= 2?5 E9:D AC@8C2> H:E9 4=2DD 2?5 5:8?:EJ] xE DA62<D E@ E96 =6256CD9:A @7 z6?K:6[ uFCE25@ 2?5 r@=3J r@FEFC6] %96J 4@?8C2EF=2E65 E96 y@9? $E2C< A=2J6CD @? E96:C 244@>A=:D9>6?E 2?5 5:DA=2J65 2 =@E @7 4=2DD :? E96 H2J E96J 92?5=65 E9:?8D]”k^Am
kAm%96C6 2C6 a` 3@JD @? E9:D J62C’D z6??6EE E62>i 6:89E D6?:@CD — r2=63 |4!96CD@?[ |:4926= $62G6J[ $92?6 v2FE9:6C[ r@=3J r@FEFC6[ |24<6?K:6 |FCA9J[ r@??6C uFCE25@[ r@??@C s@F46E 2?5 y@9? q:88:@j 7@FC ;F?:@CD — y677C6J !2=>6C[ r@5J qCJ2? 2?5 %C6G@C ~=:G:6Cj 7:G6 D@A9@>@C6D — %C6G@C {2#FDD@[ |:=6D (@@53FCJ[ #6:==J |FCA9J[ r@??6C %@77=6>@J6C 2?5 s2<@E2 u:6=5j 2?5 7:G6 7C6D9>6? — qC25J $92H[ r@=3J w2==[ |2EE r@C>:6C[ y@9? %C2A6=2 2?5 qCJD@? (C@3=6D<:]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 366? 2 8C62E C:56[” {2?6 D2:5] “x’5 =:<6 E@ D2J E92?< J@F E@ E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 2E E96 D49@@=[ E@ 2==[ @FC 72?D 2?5 72>:=:6D — @FC 72?D 2C6 :?4C65:3=6 — 2?5 E@ E96 3FD:?6DD 4@>>F?:EJ 7@C 2== @7 E96:C DFAA@CE E@ FD] uC@> E96 3@EE@> @7 962CED[ H6 E92?< J@F] %@ @FC 6:89E 8C25F2E:?8 D6?:@C[ J@F =67E E9:D AC@8C2> D@ >F49 36EE6C E92? H96? J@F 42>6 :?] %96C6 H:== 36 8@@5 4=2DD6D E@ 4@>6 :? E96 7FEFC6[ 3FE E96C6 H:== ?6G6C 36 2?@E96C @?6 =:<6 E9:D @?6]Qk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.