Monarchs Defeat Breakers; Reach EJHL Finals for 6th Straight Year

Hooksett, NH – Behind a great performance by goaltender Nick Therrien, the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs were able to beat an offensively explosive Bay State Breakers team two games to none this past weekend in Haverhill, MA.

In the first game of the series, the Monarchs would fall behind early, only to claim a 3-2 lead at the end of the 1st period. Lackluster play in the 2nd would cause the team to fall behind again however. After Bay State reclaimed their lead at the 12:41 mark of the period, the Monarchs made a goaltender change, and Therrien took over in net. “The boys were really playing uninspired hockey all game, and we, as a staff thought a goaltending change would bring back the guys’ minds to the task at hand, which was competing hard, and winning this game”, stated Head Coach Sean Tremblay. Therrien would go on to kick out 17 of 17, and the Monarchs would score 3 unanswered goals in the 3rd to win the game by a score of 6-4.

In the next game of the series, the Monarchs would take a 2-0 lead to the locker-room after the 1st period only to see it disappear in the first half of the 2nd on 2 Bay State powerplay goals. Monarchs’ goaltender, and Boston College recruit Brian Billett would suffer an injury in those first ten minutes and have to leave the game after Bay State’s 2nd goal. Again, Therrien would be called upon to come into the game to keep the Monarchs’ hopes alive. Nick played great again stopping 25 of 24 as the Monarchs would go on to win the game and the series.

The Monarchs currently have 4 players in the league’s top 10 in scoring. Kyle Beattie (UMaine ’10) and Brooks Herrington (UVM ’10) are at the top of the leaderboard with 8 points in 4 games. UMaine ’09 recruit Adam Shemansky has 6 points in 3 games to put him in a tie for 6th, and defenseman Brice O’Connor has 5 points in 4 games which places him at 10th amongst all skaters, and 1st overall for defensemen.

The Monarchs will face the Jersey Hitmen this weekend at the College of the Holy Cross in a rematch of last year’s league finals. In 3 contests this season the Monarchs are 1-0-2 against the Hitmen, a team they haven’t faced since September 27th.