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With the second highest-scoring offense in the area, Salem knew it could score. But Jared Henderson waited until the tournament to make an impact.

"I was just trying to keep the puck low and hard and get it on net," said the junior defenseman. "I saw a lot of bodies in front and I just hoped it would go in."

The cheering that could heard after the game from the Londonderry locker room set the scene of the night. It was small but significant enough as Londonderry had just upset a Salem team that was favored from the beginning.

Salem coach Mark McGinn quickly picked out his team's weakness on the day.

"The penalty kill," he said. "We are usually pretty good. But we didn't do it today. They were pushing us pretty hard and we didn't handle their pressure very well on the power play."

SALEM, N.H. | As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Salem's Robbie Liberatore looked up at the impressive crowd that filled the Salem Icenter and absorbed the moment.

"It was really different playing in front of a crowd like this," said the Blue netminder. "I have never played in front of a crowd this big."

Salem coach Mark McGinn estimates that last year, Josh Frahm and Ryan Desroches combined for 10 shorthanded goals. So far this season, they weren't even a threat for any.

"This year they haven't been getting on the puck," said McGinn.

Tyler Vigue of Salem easily summed up his team's play over the first 30 minutes.

"We were just awful in the first two periods," said the senior. "We came out not skating and the loss to Exeter (on Saturday) was still in our heads. We thought we couldn't win and we couldn't score. But then we switched."

Chuck Tomes admits that, in his family, hockey isn't always left at the rink.

"If one of our brothers makes a mistake in practice we definitely give him trouble about it," he said. "We joke around a lot, and sometimes we get a little carried away. When it's three guys, it'll get a little rough."

Salem High hockey coach Mark McGinn wishes he had a tournament like this to play in as a kid.

The annual Blue Devil Classic features some of the region's top teams, including Oyster River and Pinkerton Academy. The event, which begins Dec. 26, will be held at the ICenter in Salem.

HOOKSETT, N.H. | Pinkerton coach Casey Kesselring had one complaint about his team's tough, physical performance in a 4-1 loss to Salem: lack of discipline.

Salem's gifted goalscorers were given ample opportunity to show off their skill thanks to Pinkerton's 46 penalty minutes. The Blue Devils, who scored the first three goals of the game with a man advantage, had "just" 18 minutes shorthanded.