The Twin State Field Hockey All-Star Game, along with the Make-A-Wish All-Star Hockey Classic were held over the weekend, pitting the top seniors in Vermont against New Hampshire’s finest.
North Country had one player in each game, goaltender Ava Bouchard in the field hockey game, and center Alex Giroux in the Make-A-Wish Game.
There was also a girls Make-A-Wish game, but the Kingdom Blades did not have anyone playing in that game, which Team New Hampshire won 4-1.
Unfortunately Team New Hampshire would win against Ava and Alex, but there were brights spots for both players in their respective games.
KEENE, NH–Keene State was the site of this year’s Field Hockey All-Star Classic, and this one would be an exciting affair, as Vermont would score a late goal to force overtime where New Hampshire’s Jaelyn Crossman scored the winning goal to complete her hat trick.
As for Bouchard, she entered the game in the second quarter, and kept the score at 2-0 at the break after Crossman potted two in the opening frame.
Vermont would cut the lead to 1, and Bouchard re-entered the game with eight minutes left in the fourth, but then she was pulled for the extra attacker for a corner.
The plan worked, and Vermont was able to score on a scrum.
Vermont coach Jenna Rieker left the net empty for the final 40 seconds in hopes of getting another before OT, but it would not happen, so Bouchard, and Vermont’s top six field players headed out for the extra session.
After five minutes of intense action that saw Ava stop four shots, Crossman waved her magic stick once again, and she beat Bouchard on an unstoppable shot to give the home state the win.
It should be noted that Crossman will be heading to play for Division I Quinnipiac, just so folks can get a gauge of how good of a player she is.
Bouchard, who finished the game with 6 saves, will now be heading down to Lenoir College in North Carolina for paramedic and flight paramedic school.
Her coach, and mom, Chantelle Bouchard spoke of Ava’s play one last time as her coach.
“She played extremely well against the best New Hampshire had to offer,” said the elder Bouchard. “It was wonderful to see her get this opportunity, and I wanted to say thank you to all of the fans that drove down to watch the game.”
BURLINGTON–On Saturday evening, the Vermont and New Hampshire boys took to the ice at UVM’s Gutterson Fieldhouse to see if Vermont could salvage a split at the All-Star Classic, as the girls from the Green Mountain State had already lost to New Hampshire earlier in the day.
Vermont held their own for a while, but New Hampshire would take the lead and never relinquish it.
However, the lone goal scored by Vermont would come off of Giroux’s stick, and it would be a special one, as it was the 100th goal of his high school career, and a fitting way for him to leave the game of hockey, at least for now.
Alex will be attending Plymouth State University, where he will be hanging up his skates and focusing on the game of soccer, along with his studies.
Congratulations to both Ava and Alex on being selected to, and playing well in, their respective all-star games, and best of luck in the future.