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A KEENE INTEREST IN IMPROVEMENT

A Keene interest in improvement

ALEX HALL

New Hampshire Union Leader | 1/20/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Keene High Athletic Department

Chris Flood thought his hockey-coaching days were behind him. That was before the Keene High girls’ hockey club team asked him to lead the program last year.

Flood, who previously coached the Keene and Monadnock of Swanzey boys’ teams, is happy the Blackbirds girls’ squad pulled him back onto the bench.

Flood led Keene during its one club season last year before the program joined the varsity ranks this year. He pointed to the opening of the Keene Ice arena as one reason behind the Keene girls’ program beginning and hockey’s overall resurgence of popularity in Cheshire County.

“There was a past club team that fizzled out but the new rink has created a lot more interest,” Flood said. “Monadnock is varsity again and the Keene boys have a JV team. There’s a big revitalization in this part of the state.”

The Keene girls’ team features 15 players on its roster. Flood said about one-third of his players are new to the sport but the team’s experienced players are more than happy to help them in practice.

Flood has been told that as many as six freshmen may join the team next year. There has also been talk about possibly forming a co-op team with Monadnock, Flood said.

“It’s looking promising for numbers and interest,” Flood said. “I don’t see this going away.”

Keene (2-3) returned nine players from last year’s club campaign, where it played other program’s JV teams. Three of those returners are captains Jess Tattersall, a senior, Maia Round, a junior, and Maggie Heneghan, a sophomore. All three have helped develop the Blackbirds’ less experienced players, Flood said.

“They obviously realize the girls that are new are very important to our team because they represent one-third of the team,” Flood said. “They’re pitching in and helping out with that.”

Senior goaltender McKinley Croteau is new to hockey but she knew what the position entailed. She served as a goalie for Keene’s field hockey team. Flood said he has been impressed by Croteau’s performance in her first year blocking shots on skates.

The Blackbirds’ leading scorer, Sophie Streed, is new to the program but not the sport. The sophomore played for the Keene boys’ varsity team last year. Streed has had a hand in all but six of Keene’s goals, logging 13 goals and three assists. Flood said Streed is a very skilled athlete but she hasn’t been the only one getting on the scoresheet.

“Sophie Streed obviously has done the bulk of our scoring to this point but of the 15 players, 12 have points,” Flood said. “Even the newer players are contributing assists and so on.”

Keene opened its inaugural varsity campaign with two victories: a 10-0 season-opening win over Manchester Central on Dec. 10 and a 3-2 triumph over Kingswood of Wolfeboro on Dec. 28. The Blackbirds are trying to find their way back into the win column while keeping a positive attitude after three straight losses.

“Probably our biggest strength is having some pretty bad losses ... but they’re not getting discouraged,” Flood said of his players. “They continue to work hard. That’s probably the most important thing to me is that they continue to work hard and take constructive criticism. I think that’s why we’ll get better.”

Flood and his players also realize this season is about more than just wins and losses.

“Our goal is being met so far,” Flood said. “Now that we’ve had a few games, I think a lot of these teams think any team could win. I know I’m hearing about other teams that I’m sure have had programs for years and are pretty tough but we set small goals and will try to obtain those goals.”

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EXETER HIGH girls’ hockey coach Geoff Taylor credited his team’s scoring barrage this season to its speed and chemistry.

The Blue Hawks have outscored their opponents 46-10 and own a 6-0 record heading into their game against Oyster River/Portsmouth (5-3) Saturday at Phillips Exeter Academy. The Blue Hawks’ 3-1 triumph at Oyster River/Portsmouth Dec. 15 marks their smallest margin of victory so far this season.

Exeter’s first line of freshman Julia Knight and sophomores Carissa Towlson and Dakota Markey has figured into nearly half of the team’s goal output. Knight, Towlson and Markey have logged a combined 42 points on 20 goals and 22 assists. Towlson leads the team in scoring with 17 points (10 goals, seven assists). Markey ranks second with 15 points (six goals, nine assists).

The Blue Hawks have tremendous team speed. Utilizing that speed has been one of Taylor’s mantras since the team’s first practice.

“That puck movement, possession and overall team speed is what the girls have set out as a goal to make that a hallmark this year,” Taylor said.

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