After suffering two losses to end 2025, the Alvirne-Milford Admirals hockey team put those games behind them and opened the new year by rattling off three consecutive victories.
Under the leadership of new head coach Kathy Griswold, the Admirals began the month of January with an overwhelming 13-2 victory over Bishop Brady, igniting two more wins last week.
On Wednesday, Jan. 7, Alvirne-Milford earned its second home-ice victory by battling out of a first-period tie and shutting out the Goffstown Grizzlies in periods two and three for a 5-2 win.
Alvirne senior Kian Corcoran had a solid game in goal, stopping more than 30 shots from the Grizzlies’ offense. The Admirals put just over 20 shots on their opponent’s net.
Alvirne senior Brandon Callahan scored the first goal of the game, putting his team on top at 13:35 of the first period. Callahan got past a defender at center ice and broke to the net for the unassisted goal.
Three minutes later, the Grizzlies tied the game, followed by a 2-1 go-ahead goal by Goffstown at 7:38.
The tying goal for the Admirals came off the stick of Milford freshman Luke Green with just five seconds left in the opening period. Green was all-alone in the Goffstown zone after a pass from Alvirne senior Brandon Ganas slipped through two defenders.
The Admirals regained the lead with nine minutes left in the second period on a breakaway goal by Milford senior Chris Bozza, assisted by Alvirne sophomore Aiden Hiltz and Alvirne junior Evan Pargas.
Callahan added his second unassisted goal of the game with just 16 seconds left in the period to give the Admirals a 4-2 lead heading into the final frame.
The final goal of the contest came with just under five seconds remaining in the third period on an empty-net goal by Milford freshman Jameson Thurrott, assisted by Callahan and Milford junior Dylan MacLeod.
Despite the win, Griswold noted several areas that still need improvement moving forward, saying, “I have a laundry list of problems to address, and getting more pucks on net is one of them.”
The victory put the Admirals above .500 for the first time this season at 3-2, as they headed into game six of the young season at the Methuen High School rink against Timberlane-Pelham.
The home team entered the contest with just two wins, four losses and a tie. The Admirals handed Timberlane-Pelham its fifth loss of the season with a 9-4 win, despite allowing several goals in the second period.
Alvirne junior Ari Scarbro started in net and played lights out through the first period, helping her team to a 2-0 lead after one. Bozza and Ganas scored the first-period goals, with assists going to Tomkins and Hiltz on Bozza’s tally.
Milford freshman Gavin Briand took over in net for the second period, where Timberlane scored three times. Those goals were answered with two by the Admirals, giving Alvirne-Milford a 4-3 lead heading into the final period. Callahan scored both second-period goals, assisted by Green and Ganas.
The Admirals exploded for five more goals in the third period to secure the five-goal victory. Alvirne junior Mason Komarek played the final period in net, allowing just one goal to help seal the team’s fourth win of the season.
Third-period goals were scored by Green at 10:07, assisted by Ganas; junior Evan Pargas, assisted by MacLeod; Landon Briand, assisted by Green and Ganas; and two goals by Ganas, with assists from Callahan, Green and Aiden Bradish.
The Admirals will look to continue their strong start to 2026 with a home game against Merrimack-Hollis-Brookline-Derryfield (3-3-1) on Wednesday, Jan. 14, followed by a road game against Somersworth-Coe-Brown (4-2) on Saturday, Jan. 17.