ROCHESTER — The night began with the unveiling of the first championship banner in the 34-year history of the Somersworth High School hockey program. It ended on a shot from Portsmouth's Aaron Rancourt.
Somersworth celebrated its 21-0 Division III championship season in pre-game festivities, but Portsmouth gave the Toppers their first blemish in over a year. Rancourt banked in a shot off Jerry Witkowski's pass with 3:30 left in overtime to lift the Clippers to a 6-5, season-opening victory inside the Rochester Ice Arena on Wednesday.
Brodie Sandquist scored two goals in Portsmouth's three-goal first period, and the Clippers battled back in overtime after Somersworth (0-1) outscored them 3-1 in the third.
"What a way to start the season," Portsmouth coach Al Brandano said. "We had a bunch of injuries before we started, so we were running short. Usually you see the wheels fall off when they get frustrated with each other, but that didn't happen tonight. They were really boosting each other up, and that's really important after (Somersworth) came back on us."
Brian Strong coached his first game for Somersworth after taking over for Jamie Canney. Somersworth, with only 15 players on its roster, came close to not having a program for the second straight season. Strong said his team's fuel tank neared empty in overtime.
"The first game is always nerve-racking and it's tough with a short bench; we've only got two lines," Strong said. "That's something we're going to have to battle, especially against aggressive teams that can skate. We were certainly feeling the conditioning in the third period and in overtime."
Somersworth's attack suffered a blow when Colby Siering left the game with an injury midway through the second. Siering scored Somersworth's first two goals, as the Toppers trailed 4-2 entering the third.
The Toppers tied the game at 4-4 with 7:44 left in regulation after goals by Jake Tomblin and Jonathan Hansen beat Portsmouth goaltender Billy Hartmann (23 saves).
Portsmouth's Taylor Carroll answered quickly with a power-play goal, but Austin Siering's wrist shot with 2:55 left in regulation beat Hartmann to tie the game at 5-5.
After both teams had goals called back early in overtime, Rancourt banked in his game-winner. Witkowski stole the puck behind the net of Somersworth goalie Peter Robertson (30 saves) and found a cutting Rancourt in front of the net for the goal.
"Jerry was making some nice hustle plays behind the net," Rancourt said. "I was right in front boxing out a guy; he fed it to me and I just hit it in."
"I stole the puck from behind the net and once I saw a person comes toward me, I just dumped it off right to Aaron," Witkowski said.
Portsmouth (1-0) jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after Greg Burzynski scored 38 seconds into the game, and Sandquist followed on an assist from Rancourt 35 seconds later. Colby Siering scored his first goal to slice Portsmouth's lead to 2-1, but Sandquist scored on a two-man advantage to give the Clippers a 3-1 lead with 9:54 left in the first.
"It was great to get the three-goal first period," Brandano said. "The last couple of practices we've been trying to find a line that jells, and they all complement each other well."
Colby Siering scored a short-handed goal early in the second period, before Cam Berube gave Portsmouth a 4-2 lead with 8:50 left in the period.
"I think this was a great positive and sets the standard for the rest of the season," Witkowski said. "To come here and win after they put up the banner, that's the best part. I loved it."
