Nashua High School South-Pelham hockey coach Jordan Sarracco gathered his team before taking the ice at Conway Arena on Monday night to give them a simple message.

“We actually told them before the game to leave their mark on history,” Sarracco said, “because this could be the last North-South game, and they did exactly that.”

That was it. Monday night’s 6-0 Kings win over city co-op rival North-Souhegan was likely an end to what has been a 10-year rivalry, and an overall North-South rivalry in existance since 2004-05. If you’re a Nashua high school hockey fan you likely already know Nashua Athletic Director Lisa Gingras and school officials are set to navigate through NHIAA channels with a proposal to merge North and South players onto the one co-op. There were only two players from Pelham on the Kings and about a half dozen from Souhegan on the Saber-Titans.

So many potential emotions. If the merger goes through, there won’t be a city game but things could go back to a Nashua-Bishop Guertin hockey rivalry. Right now it would be pretty one-sided.

It was also Senior Night, and the two programs combined had 18 seniors honored. That was the focus for Gingras, who prefers to let history take its shape down the road when the NHIAA Executive Council renders the final verdict at its annual May meeting. She is always about the student-athletes, and that’s why.

“We do this every year, this is the second North-Souhegan, South-Pelham game of the year, double Senior Night,” she said. “To me that’s what it’s about. It’s more about the kids tonight. That’s the biggest part, because we’re still two-and-a-half months away from knowing the final decision. So I think it’s more about tonight’s seniors more than anything else.”

Souhegan AD Kelli Braley could feel there was a little something different in the Conway Arena chill. She’s been working around the state trying to find a home for her hockey players for next year to suit all parties.

“The 10 years they’ve been together (North and Souhegan hockey players), they’ve come a long way,” she said. “They’ve put some good seasons together and more importantly built some good friendships. Now things are a little bit uncertain. It feels a little sadder because we don’t know what the future holds for the Souhegan boys moving forward. … I desparately want everybody (all four schools) to be playing high school hockey.”

It’s too bad we didn’t get one of the thrillers like the teams had played in years past. The Saber-Titans are depleted and fatigue set in after two periods; the Kings had a spring in their stride as they’re fighting for a tourney spot. Sarracco’s words seem to spark them.

“It could go either way,” Sarracco said. “We didn’t really know exactly what to expect. They walked in before the game and hit the ice hard ready to play. It was a big night.”

“It probably felt a little different for them than it did for us in the end,” North-Souhegan coach Chris Zarlenga said. “But I think overall, it probably was history, and it will be interesting to see what happens.”

The seniors from North-Souhegan and South-Pelham’s hockey teams were honored prior to their game on Monday night at Conway Arena. (Photo courtesy of Nasthua Athletics)

The seniors from North-Souhegan and South-Pelham’s hockey teams were honored prior to their game on Monday night at Conway Arena. (Photo courtesy of Nashua Athletics)

Again, all sorts of views, feelings, emotions. Braley could sense it.

“These games, and the Senior Nights, the rivalries, everything that goes along with interscholastic athletics there’s something so special about it,” she said. “I’m going to keep going (to find a co-op partner) until I can’t go any more.”

But Nashua loses this game.

“You might be surprised at some other things that can develop, too,” Braley said. “I think it will be a cool opportunity for Nashua to unite and come together. It’ll be the only opportunity to do that. … I think it’ll be a cool, new chapter for Nashua.”

One of those who will take part in that potential chapter is Kings forward Brendan Skelley, who had two goals last night against kids he may call teammates next year.

“I know most of these kids from when I was younger,”Skelley said. “I’m good buddies with them. …

“We won the battle. The last one ever, we won it.”

And potentially left their mark on history.

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on X @Telegraph _TomK.