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It wasn't much consolation after yesterday's loss, but it did seem to soften the blow a bit for Timberlane sniper Nick Bundzinski.

"We have a lot of our best kids coming back next season," said the forward, sporting a quality playoff beard. "We are definitely going to give this another shot next year."

Timberlane coach Andrew Merrick shrugged and acknowledged what had doomed his team.

"You could see we were gripping our sticks a little tight in the first period," he said. "I think we were nervous and a little surprised by the pace of play and made a few mistakes. We gave them a few breaks, and they took advantage."

SALEM, N.H. | Just a eight weeks ago Timberlane was in disarray.

The team had just dropped a 4-0 decision to Andover in the Blue Devil Holiday Classic followed by a 3-0 loss the following night to Oyster River. In that second game, head coach Andrew Merrick decided to sit five of his varsity players for what he described as a "lack of effort."

In his two seasons as a full-time starter, Timberlane goalie Ryan Rothwell has notched more than his fair share of flashy saves without much of a celebration. But he can't help but boast a bit when he turns away one particular skater.

In his two seasons as a full-time starter, Timberlane goalie Ryan Rothwell has notched more than his fair share of flashy saves without much of a celebration. But he can't help but boast a bit when he turns away one particular skater.

SALEM, N.H. | The only thing hotter than the Timberlane Owls right now might be their sophomore center, Zach Fox.

Coming off a four-point game against Bow on Monday, Fox netted two goals just two minutes apart in the third period to lift the Owls to a 3-0 win over Alvirne, their seventh win in a row. Fox now has nine goals on the year.

It had happened to Timberlane's Nick Bundzinski a thousand times. But this time was different.

"I was skating down ice and I had a kid on my back," said the junior forward. "We collided and my ankle twisted awkwardly in my skate."

Going into last Saturday, Spaulding had dominated New Hampshire Division 2 to the tune of a 46-game unbeaten streak. Over the last week, Timberlane has soundly put that streak to rest.

Nick Bundzinski's goal with 5:34 left in regulation gave the Owls a 2-1 win, their second victory over the Red Raiders in six days.

After what Timberlane coach Andrew Merrick considers his team's worst effort this season, he made the tough decision to sit five of his best players.

And with five JV players on the roster, the Owls played well in spurts but eventually succumbed to the Oyster River attack, 3-0.

If Andover forward George Flanagan was having any lingering trouble blending in with his new teammates, it ended during the first period yesterday afternoon.

"We got the puck out of our zone," he remembered. "I took it down ice, used the defender as a shield and put it home." That goal with 4:52 left in the first period broke a scoreless tie and put the Golden Warriors on track for a convincing 4-0 win over Timberlane in the opening round of the eighth annual Blue Devil Holiday Classic.