When Matt Guerard saw the container of carnations carried to the ice for Pembroke Academy’s Senior Night, he wasn’t sure what to think. For now, Bedford’s head coach doesn’t have to worry about that kind of ceremony.

The first-year BHS hockey team prepares to enter the Division III playoffs after a 12-5-1 regular season, taking the ice without any seniors as the high school continues its transition process.

“I saw the flowers and I asked Pembroke’s coach, ‘What do you guys do on Senior Night?’” said Guerard jokingly. “I’ll have to figure that out. It’ll be something exciting next year.”

During the final tune-up heading into the postseason, Guerard’s Bulldogs thumped ConVal, 7-2, receiving a hat trick from Doug Steere and four assists and a goal from Mike Ahern en route to an easy win over the 7-10-1 visitors.

Shane Sullivan was ejected from the contest in the second period after receiving a twominute minor, a 10-minute major and a game misconduct for throwing a punch and re-entering a scrum. Guerard said he does not believe a suspension awaits Sullivan.

Penalties have been a problem for Bedford this season, but Guerard said he thinks his team has improved its behavior and discipline. The Bulldogs committed six penalties against ConVal.

Bedford spent the majority of the season atop the Division III standings, but a recent threegame losing streak dropped the Bulldogs to sixth in the jumbled mix of teams.

Bedford must therefore travel to Somersworth for the playoff opener. The teams split their regular-season meetings; the home team won each contest.

“We started off the season really strong. I don’t think that we flatlined, but we just got a little too comfortable,” said Guerard. “It’s a tight league. For us, that’s a good thing. Playing against these teams is only going to make us stronger.”

No Bedford player takes the ice on Saturday, March 7, with an idea of the postseason intensity at the high school level.

“That’s our biggest concern, that no one has any experience,” said Guerard. “With a few days of practice this week we’ll prepare, and hopefully we’ll be able to produce the result that we want.”