SALEM, N.H. — Growing up, hockey was a way of life for Cam Chase and Travis Chase.
Whether it was street hockey or backyard rinks, it was hockey 24/7 for the two brothers, now members of the Salem High hockey team.
On Friday night at the Salem Icenter, the duo took the ice together for the first time in a varsity game — and like the youth days, they were the game’s two heroes.
Chase scored his first goal of the season and Travis turned away 20 of 21 shots in his first varsity start between the pipes to lead the Blue Devils to a 2-1 come from behind win over league rival Londonderry in the first of three days of the Salem Holiday Tournament.
“(Travis) deserves to get playing time,” said Cam, a senior. “He’s been putting in the work. What he did tonight is what we needed.”
First-year head coach Peter DiMartino decided to give sophomore Travis his first start, knowing that No. 1 starter Thomas Griffin — who was superb last year as a freshman, sporting a 2.60 GAA — would get the nod Saturday and most likely Sunday.
Salem came into the game 0-2, losing to Pinkerton Academy and Hanover by a combined score of 8-5.
The tough start for the Blue Devils continued with a rocky first period on Friday, outshot 13-1, but only trailed Londonderry 1-0 thanks to the play of Travis.
“(Travis is) just a big dude. Look at him. He’s bigger than me,” cracked Cam, who noted that their father Arthur was a star player at Shawsheen Tech, while older brother Colby Savageau was the team’s goalie two seasons ago and they have a younger sister who also plays hockey.
“Travis takes up the entire net. It’s just so hard to score on him. His movement is a little slow but he makes up for it with his size,” added Cam.
At six-foot-three inches and 215 pounds, Travis is indeed an intimidating presence between the posts, just like Cam’s 6-foot-2, 220 pound frame is in front of opposing nets. Last year, Cam scored eight goals and added eleven assists for the 11-win Blue Devils.
This year, the assistant captain has a split role on the team.
“Cam was always a forward but we lost four defensemen from last year’s team, so before the season started he volunteered to go back on defense,” said DiMarino. “He’s a big body which really helps us on defense, and then on the power play when we move him to forward.”
That came to fruition early in the second period. Salem went on the power play, and Hunter Thompson took the puck down low and fed Cam to the right side of the front of the net. Chase one-timed a shot to the far right side for his first goal of the season.
“Being a big body, I like to push kids around in front of the net,” said Cam, sporting a big grin. “I got the puck and it was a nice, easy tap-in. I saw the opening the whole way.”
Travis couldn’t say much in his post-game interview because he had lost his voice, but was proud of his brother.
“His goal was great. It took a lot of pressure off me,” he said.
More importantly, the goal rejuvenated the Blue Devils as Thompson netted the game-winner on an unassisted breakaway three minutes later.
“(We needed this win) terribly. Being 0-2 was not a good look for us,” said Cam. “Now we just have to keep going.”
Salem 2, Londonderry 1
First: 1, L, Austin Callahan (Tucker Reynolds), 11:45 (PP).
Second: 2, S, Cam Chase (Hunter Thompson), 4:00 (PP); 3, S, Thompson (una), 6:54.
Third: No Scoring.
Saves: Londonderry, Justin Doyle 10; Salem, Travis Chase 20.