By Nate Rollins (@n_rollins1)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - Hanover is off to a 5-0 start to begin its campaign, after posting a 4-0 shut out win over Cohasset Friday evening at Bridgewater Ice Arena.
Backed by perfect goaltending from Kevin Chandler and three second period goals, the defending Division 3 state champions head into the holiday without a blemish.
"They're always up to play us," Hanover head coach Jonny Abban said. "They're not big in numbers but they give you a tough game. They've got some highly skilled kids and they mix them in and come out and compete."
It was a slow start to begin this one as both both squads were playing with heavy hearts on the heels of last night's tragic occurrence in Falmouth.
With 6:20 remaining in the first, Hanover winger Lucas Lanagan took a dribbler from Ryan Phillips, released just inside the blue-line, and fired it past Cohasset (2-2) netminder Ethan Bartucca for his third tally of the season, as the Indians drew first blood. 1-0 is where it stood at the end of the first.
"He's not flashy but he's got a hell of a shot," Abban said of Lanagan. "He's a nice two-way player. He can grind it out and he makes things happen."
The second period featured an offensive outburst for the Indians, who came into this contest outscoring their opponents 26-7, as they netted two goals in under a two-minute span to push this one out of reach.
"After an undressing in between periods, they realized that Cohasset is a team that if you let them hang around, they're going to hang around," Abban said. "So let's get after it in the second period and put them away."
Just 3:41 into the frame, it was Phillips netting the goal this time, beating Bartucca to his stick side to make it 2-0.
1:50 later, center Ryan Mahoney took a feed from Oliver Manser and deflected it home, pushing the Indians' lead to 3-0.
Nick O'Sullivan lit the lamp with 1:36 remaining in the second, poking it past Bartucca to extend the Indians' cushion to 4-0.
Despite the loss, Skippers' defensemen Max Cohen and Aidan McHugh played well, recording countless breakups in their own zone.
The Skippers had multiple changes to get on the board but Chandler stood strong to preserve the shutout in net.
"Kevin did a great job," Abban said. "Goaltending hasn't been an issue all year, which is good."
With the win, Hanover is 27-3-1 since last season.
The two south shore powerhouses will square off again Wednesday, Dec, 28 at Hobomock Ice Arena.
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