Dover High School
Year Honored: 2026
DOVER HIGH SCHOOL
THE EARLY YEARS
The year was 1936. Foster’s Daily Democrat described the high school’s hockey team as being aggressive and relentless. They said, “Dover is the best sextet in the state and willing to take on all challengers. This team will be stamped as one of the most successful teams in the history of D.H.S. athletics.” Coach Bailey would stay with the team through the rest of the decade. Sixty years later, Dover High School would win their first of eight NHIAA Division II Championships.
Coach Freddie Walker stepped in and would rely on seven Letterman to lead Dover, having trimmed the 1940 Dover squad from 30 down to 17 for their season opener against Phillips Exeter Academy. Future games included a visit from Berlin High and a trip to Brewster Academy. Dover hockey players had no permanent place to practice and were yet to hold a session on a boarded rink.
It took a season for Dover to hit their peak and they had aspirations to play in the first ever New England High School Tournament. The inaugural event would showcase the best eight high school teams in New England, selected through sectional contests. The combined Vermont /New Hampshire region would send a single representative and Bellows Falls was set to meet Hanover. However, the team withdrew due to injuries. Dover was called upon to represent the Granite State and deftly delivered the Vermont challenger a 6 – 2 loss, propelling them to meet Cranston at the Providence Arena. The other pairings would feature Needham and West Springfield, Melrose against Hudson and West Haven facing Waterville. The tournament provided another first for Dover hockey. The team had never played a game on artificial ice. Walker told the newspaper, “They didn’t master the ice until the second period. But after that, they looked pretty good.” Described as “well-coached and hockey-wise”, Dover kept it close in front of 1800 fans, scoring twice in the second period to force overtime before falling to Cranston at the 4:35 mark. Dover walked out tall and proud having received telegrams of best wishes and congratulations from the Dover Rotary Club and the Merchants Association.
Fred Walker coached until the program was temporarily halted during the War Years, then resumed again in 1945-46. That season, Dover posted a favorable 4 – 8 – 0 record. Their four wins were all against Southeast Division rivals, Portsmouth and Rochester, earning Dover the title of Southeastern NH Champs. Freddie left after 1948 and Robert O’Kane took over. Poor weather reduced his first season to seven games with two wins and five losses. Rob stayed with Dover until the end of the 1950-51 season.
January 1952 arrived and replacement, Rudy Bergeron, faced adversity. Dreadful weather conditions persisted and Rudy was unable to schedule even a practice game. The situation drew commiseration from Foster’s Daily Democrat, “Hockey is a sport that seems to be becoming all but extinct in the high school ranks in this section of the state”. The Dover players had limited experience and struggled against the more established teams, falling to Brewster 11 – 5, then finishing their season with a 13 – 3 loss to Berlin at the NHIAA tournament.
The new season arrived with optimism with Bergeron forming the team around his four returning Lettermen. He told the paper, ”We have ample depth this year and that was a sore spot for us last year.” However, despite their tenacity, all signs were pointing in the opposite direction for Dover, in particular, and high school hockey in general. The Democrat praised the Dover program explaining, “The last citadel of high school hockey in the lower reaches of New Hampshire has refused to succumb to the uncertainty of the weather that has plagued outdoor sports in this area since the war.” In fact, Dover was the only high school hockey team in the south, forcing them to constantly punch above their weight class as they faced the more established teams outside the high school circuit. Bergeron summed it up glumly, “That’s the crux of the whole matter. And it’s a sad commentary on the interest of the high schools and the high school athletes of today. When it comes to meeting teams like Berlin and Notre Dame, who play for months under ideal conditions, Dover teams will never be able to compete with north country schools unless some provision is made for a sheltered rink.” Dover played Berlin at the state tournament and they would be the only high school team Dover would face all season.
Dover kick-started 1954 with a 3 – 1 New Year’s Day victory over Brewster and were scheduled to face off against Tilton Academy, UNH Freshmen, New Hampton and the Dover Alumni. The Alumni game would feature former coaches, Freddie Walker and Bob O’Kane. But that was the upside. The 1954 season ended with a 9 – 0 semi-final loss to Berlin at the NHIAA tournament and would signal the end for Rudy Bergeron as Dover’s coach.
Art Valicenti now behind the Dover bench in 1954 – 55 and the team proved hearty enough to dominate Tilton Academy, blasting 5 goals past their netminder in the first period. Losses came to Amesbury and Berlin the following week. With a 4 – 4 record, Dover headed to the New Hampshire Championships to meet Berlin again. Absorbing a respectable 3 – 1 loss, they presented a strong showing despite being outshot 27 – 13. By 1956, the Dover High School hockey program had gone into remission and would remain dormant for over two decades. Twenty-two years later on December 8, 1978, Foster’s Daily Democrat finally announced, “Hockey has come to Dover after about a 20-year absence.”
THE BUILDING YEARS & DOVER’S COACHING STAFF
Coach Bob Watson would be first to steer the DHS hockey through the building years. On November 22, 1978, the Democrat announced, “The Dover High School hockey team will launch its first hockey season in some 20 years Thursday night at the Ice and Tennis Arena in an exhibition game against Portsmouth.” Another upbeat inclusion soon followed, “Yes, fans, hockey has come back to Dover. The Green Wave will make its debut at 8:00 p.m. tomorrow against the Oyster River Bobcats at the Ice and Tennis Arena.”
Watson assessed his untested team and mused, “Hopefully, we’ll be right at the top in the next few years. Many of the players have come up from youth hockey and don’t have the needed experience for a winning season in the first year.” But Dover gamely held Oyster River to a 3 – 3 tie, prompting Bobcat’s Coach, Rick Olmstead to recognize Dover’s moxie, “For their first game, I’m pretty impressed by them.” Dover then faced an undefeated Bishop Guertin team and pressed them to earn a slim, one goal victory. Watson noted, “We’re improving every game. It won’t be long before we’re in the win column.” On December 21, 1978, the Green Wave posted their first “W’ in over 20 years against Portsmouth and finished with a 3 – 15 – 2 record after losing to fourth seed Bishop Brady. Watson would remain for one more season.
Paul Chalue coached in 1979 – 80 along with assistant Dan Raposa, who would remain as Head Coach until 1982 – 83. He shared bench duties with several different assistants including Kim Bosse, Dover’s first female hockey coach, Jack Hippern and Tom Ferguson. Bill Fenniman was bench boss in 1983 – 84, followed by Brian Murphy and Rob Plourde. Bob Straton took a turn in 1985-86 before Jack Hippern stepped in. He would lead Dover for eight years until 1993– 94, pairing up with Assistant Coach Paul Bandouveres for six of those. Paul stayed in that role when John Cesere took over as Head Coach in 1994 – 95. This would be John’s only year of coaching Dover hockey, but with Bandouveres, the Green Wave would capture their first NHIAA Division II Championship. Dover appeared in the finals again the following season with Lee Hunsaker in charge, but lost to Lebanon. Lee coached three seasons finishing with a 47 – 16 – 2 record.
Beginning in 1998, the next decade of Dover hockey would belong to Ray Terrell and Bill Morgan. They guided their teams to three Division II Championships in 2004, 2005 and 2008. Over ten campaigns, they enjoyed nine winning seasons and built an impressive 152 – 66 – 11 record. Dover appeared in four consecutive Championship Finals beginning in 2002 – 03, losing 4 – 2 to Spaulding in front of 3,500 at the Whittemore Centre. Dover recovered the following year and thumped Spaulding 6 – 0, then repeated in 2005 – 06 with a 4 – 1 win over Oyster River. Suffering a final 3 – 2 heart-breaker to Spaulding in 2007, the teams met again in 2008. Dover’s triumph would be Ray’s third title and his final game as Dover’s coach.
Steve Riker assumed the duties in 2008 – 09. Assistant Coach, Mike Young joined Steve the following season and the pair would guide the Green Wave until 2015 – 16. During that stretch, Dover would appear in the Division Championships three times, defeating Merrimack in 2011, losing a tight one the following year against Bedford, then taking a 2 – 1 win over Spaulding on March 14, 2015. Together, Steve, Mike and DHS would bring home two more Division II Championships. Steve’s final season would be 2015 – 16.
Mike Young became Head Coach along with assistant Chris Hitchcock. The pair are currently in their tenth year together, making it 17 years now for Mike. The team has been on the plus side all ten seasons, sporting a decade-long record of 133 – 69 – 5. Dover appeared in the finals in 2019 and lost to city rivals St. Thomas, then won the championship two years later with a 2 – 1 victory over Somersworth-Coe Brown in 2021. They did it again in 2023, handing Merrimack a 4 – 1 loss. That’s twice for Mike with Steve Rikers and two more with Chris. Since 1995, the coaches of Dover High School have collectively taken the Green Wave to thirteen final appearances on their way to winning eight Division II Championships.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP YEARS
Dover’s first NHIAA Championship came on March 12, 1995 with Head Coach John Cesere and Ray Terrell behind the bench. Cesere shared his strategy, “We played close games with all three teams in the regular season. We used three lines, but in the tournament, I let my big dogs (first line) eat”. Dover had some big, hungry dogs! The All-Tournament First Team was made up entirely of Dover skaters and the Second Team counted three more. Dover defeated Spaulding 4 -3 in the quarters and knocked off Exeter 6 – 3 in the semi-final before crushing Oyster River 6 – 1. Summing up the championship game, Cesere added, “It was the best we put the body to a team all season.”
Dover suffered a disappointing loss to the Goffstown Grizzlies prompting Ray to tell the boys, “You can’t reach the top until you’ve been at the bottom”. Dover responded and proved to be more than ready against Spaulding on March 14, 2004. Terrell reminded his team that, “A champion boxer, before he gets his belt, is always hungrier.” Dover’s 6 – 1 win left no doubt that Spaulding was the only thing on the menu.
Oyster River was the next to go down on March 13, 2005, making it two in a row for Ray and the Green Wave. Reigning champs can be a target and Terrell said, “This one was a relief. All season long we had the bull’s eye on our chest.” Terrell shortened his bench to two lines to take advantage of UNH’s Olympic-size rink in Durham. His speedsters used the extra space and struck quickly. Zach Joy fired the ice-breaker in the first 24 seconds and 21 seconds later Zach Bartlett lit the light. He’s score again before the end of the first to establish a 3 – 0 lead. Terrell, well aware of Oyster River’s comeback from a 2 – 0 deficit against Lebanon, urged the boys to keep the pedal down, knowing that this one could still be a grinder. Dover responded with the victory.
Three years later on March 10, 2008, Dover and Spaulding found themselves in another nail-biter. Fans could barely catch their breath in the final frame until Kyle Dubois gave Coach Ray Terrell his going away present with 48.9 seconds left on the clock. It would be Ray’s going away present and his third Division II Championship. He’d been Head Coach since 1998. “I told the boys of my decision before the game. It’s kind of hard to hold a real job and get to the afternoon practice at the same time.” Terrell recognized the fantastic accomplishments of his team while praising Spaulding’s efforts, “It was good to have this one go down to the wire with such a dramatic ending against a great team like Spaulding.” Red Raider’s Coach, Paul George, responded with equanimity regarding both Dover High School and Ray Terrell, “They’re my favorite adversary. He’s a good guy.”
March 13, 2011 arrived and Coach Steve Riker felt confident enough to proclaim, “At the end of the season, we were, by far, the best team in the state.” Merrimack, seeded first, had beaten Dover both times in the regular season. Maybe that’s why the Tomahawks weren’t prepared to handle the high-octane offence that exploded from the Green Wave that ultimately dictated the outcome. Dover scored three goals in the first two minutes before Merrimack had even broken a sweat. Coach Chris Kinney conceded, “It was tough. We tried to battle but couldn’t quite get it today.” Championship number five for Dover High School.
Dover manufactured another date in the NHIAA Division II Championship game on March 15, 2015. The Red Raiders looked ready to put some more hurt on Dover with their near-perfect 20 – 1 – 0 record. The teams had met twice in the regular season with Spaulding taking a 3 – 2 win in Dover and a 5 – 2 victory in Rochester. With five minutes left on the clock and the game tied 1 -1, Eric DeGregorio broke in unassisted and fired the winner, prompting Coach Riker to offer praise for his marksman, “He skates well and is super gritty. For a freshman, he’s a very composed kid with a great shot.” The sizzling wrister delivered Dover another Championship and number two for Riker.
Head Coach Mike Young and Assistant Chris Hitchcock would guide Dover to their seventh crown in 2021, but it would require overtime for the Green Wave to dispatch Somersworth-Coe Brown 2 – 1. Young observed, “It kind of went in line with how the season has been – a crazy ending to a great game.” Senior Captain and goalie, Devon Lapierre made 27 saves, while cousins Dante and Dario Ceppetelli combined at 2:21 of the extra period for the OT winner. Young said, “Dario and Dante, have been huge for us all year. I was happy for those guys.”
Dover’s most recent championship came on March 15, 2023. The game was tied 2 -2 and Dover’s Captain, Jacob Lapierre, wanted to know one thing, “Who’s going to be the hero?” He answered his own question by breaking the tie at 5:29 of the final frame. The contest was another close one, but the Green Wave prevailed winning 4 – 2. Lapierre exclaimed, “I dream of stuff like this!” Merrimack coach Dan Belliveau recognized the achievement, “Hand it to Dover. They’re well-coached with Mike Young behind the bench. They out-hustled us. You got to have three periods in a Championship Game.”
DOVER HOCKEY TODAY
For over 90 years, Dover players have pulled on the green and white to represent their school, coaches, parents, teachers and community. Current DHS Hockey Coach, Mike Young, passionately expresses his appreciation for all players, past and present. Many of the boys are men now, some with kids who skate for Dover. Acknowledging his privilege to stand behind the bench, Mike is quick to recognize the contributions of every Dover player, coach, builder and supporter who has ever been associated with the team. Over these many years, the collective community has devoted their time to teach skills and inculcate values to foster and preserve Dover’s preeminent hockey reputation, success, community spirit and healthy hockey culture. Like so many others in Dover, Mike has been a fan, a player, a coach and a supporter. He derives his greatest satisfaction from sharing his passion for the game, stating simply, “I want the kids to love hockey as much as I do.” For those who’ve ever worn the Green and White, it’s a safe bet that some coach, somewhere, felt the same way, articulating the love of the game, modelling respect in the locker room and expressing an appreciation for every single person who has been a part of the Dover hockey story. Each one can now lay claim to the title, New Hampshire Legend of Hockey.