Souhegan’s Nutting tough for opponents to crack on the ice

And a freshman shall lead them. That’s nothing new for the Souhegan High School boys ice hockey program, which had a freshman scoring sensation a year ago in Steve Upton. But he left for prep school. Enter Joe Nutting, a 5-foot-8-inch freshman who maybe weighs 130 pounds soaking wet, but sure can find the back of the net. His 28 goals lead the Sabers, who finished the regular season 13-5 and begin a quest to win their first Division III crown in five years when they host local rival Hollis Brookline in the quarterfinals at Conway Arena in Nashua on Saturday. “A pleasant surprise,” Sabers coach Dan Belliveau said of Nutting. “He plays both ends of the ice all night long from the first shift to the last shift.