In a tough development for the ongoing growth of the Merrimack High School boys ice hockey program, the Tomahawks once again will be on the outside looking in as the Division II tournament starts next weekend.
What happened? After beating Kingswood back on Feb. 9, the ‘Hawks looked like they were on their way. That gave them a 6-7 record, a three-game winning streak, and one more win in their last five games would likely cement a postseason berth.
Instead, they dropped their final five contests to finish 6-12, outscored 24-6. The schedule did them no favors, as those five teams — Timberlane, Oyster River, Dover, Bow and Goffstown are all strong tourney teams. When Kingswood won its last two games, beating Keene and Alvirne to finish 6-11-1, the ‘Hawks had to beat Goffstown to get in — and didn’t. Ironically, the Broncos derailed Merrimack’s tourney train in two different ways, as they also beat the “Hawks 5-4 back in early January, a game Merrimack obviously was counting on for a ‘W’. Thus Kingswood, whose tie waswith Dover back in mid-January, gets the nod. And the ‘Hawks, despite a big step forward this season, are grounded once again in March.
– TOM KING