Final New Hampshire Division 2 Top 8: #1 Keene Avoids Major Tourney Upset To Remain On Top

New Hampshire Boys D2 Top 8

No. 1 Keene (14-3-2) played possibly its two toughest games of the season, both against Lebanon/Stevens/Mount Royal, to close the regular season and to begin its tourney journey. After stunning Keene in the regular-season finale, LSMR took the Blackbirds to OT before bowing out in the quarterfinals, 5-4.

Joe Walsh
Keene

Keene then clipped Oyster River in the semifinals, 4-2, to set up a title game between the last two champions – Keene (2018) and St. Thomas Aquinas (2019). Senior Player of the  Year Jerred Tattersall powered the Blackbirds while senior Joe Walsh was a second team selection.

Will McLean
St. Thomas

No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas (15-4-1) was looking to assert its superiority over Keene in the title game, having already defeated the Blackbirds, 4-3, on Jan. 29.

The Saints took out Somersworth/Coe Brown, 5-4, and Merrimack, 4-2, in the tournament. Senior defenseman Brendan Tersolo (first team) and senior defenseman Will MacLean (second team) earned all-State recognition for the Saints.

No. 3 Merrimack (14-5-1) couldn’t complete a post-season sweep of the City of Dover. The Tomahawks topped Dover, 5-3, but fell to STA, 4-2. Senior forward Zach Stimeling had a strong year.

No. 4 Goffstown (13-6-0) was shut out by Oyster River, 4-0, in its only tournament outing. Junior forward Grady Chretien was a first-team All State pick.

No. 5 Dover (11-8-0) lost to Merrimack in the first round, 5-3.

No. 6 Oyster River (12-6-1) defeated Goffstown before losing to Keene, The Bobcats got plenty of postseason recognition, including Coach of the Year Peter Harwood, senior defenseman Declan Daubney and sophomore goalie Claden Daubney, both first-teamers.

No. 7 Somersworth/Coe Brown (12-6-10 lost to STA in in its only tournament game, 5-4.

No. 8 Lebanon/Stevens/Mount Royal (8-10-1) was playing its best hockey at the end of the season. Keene knows that,

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Kevin Doyle

Kevin joined HNIB in 1990 and is a Senior Writer and Director of the Northern New England and Mass/R.I. High School Division camps. A veteran editor/writer of 40 years in the print and digital mediums, he has edited and produced original content and coordinated production for local and global publications and websites. He holds degrees from Merrimack College and Boston University and won multiple industry awards as Sports Editor of The Daily News of Newburyport and News Editor of The Amesbury News. He is the 2016 recipient of the North Shore Lifetime Commitment From the Community award presented by Moynihan Lumber and a 2017 Newburyport High School Wall of Fame inductee. He resides with his family in Portsmouth, NH. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @kdoyle40

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