The Upper Montgomery Lightning crushed Wootton 9-1 on Thursday afternoon to win the Montgomery Hockey Conference Varsity Tournament Championship. All of the teams in the Montgomery Hockey Conference that failed to advance to the Maryland high school hockey state playoffs all compete in the Varsity Tournament Championship. Winning the trophy is a highly prestigious achievement, and is the most coveted accomplishment to date in Upper Montgomery program history.
With the victory the Lightning finished the 2023 – 2024 season ranked fifth in the conference (the top team which missed out on advancing to the state playoffs) and as the thirteenth ranked public high school team in the state. Although sixteen teams make the Maryland state high school hockey playoff tournament, there is a limit on the number of teams from each county. Montgomery County receives four bids. Unfortunately, the squad fell one game short of qualifying for the state playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Against their arch nemesis, the Lightning wasted no time asserting control of the game. Three minutes into the first period Upper Montgomery opened the scoring. Breaking up a Wootton rush up ice, Lightning senior forward Brandon Bernard while backchecking swept the puck up ice in his defensive zone. A bad Wootton pass led to a turnover at the Upper Montgomery defensive blue line where Lightning defender Brady Berkhammer took possession of the puck. Berkhammer sent a breakout pass to Lightning senior co-captain Hunter Cameron curling through the neutral zone. Cameron continued down the right wing into the Upper Montgomery offensive zone. He then unleashed a laser beam of a shot that went far side high over Wootton ninth grade goalie Kevin Yu’s right shoulder and blocker and into the top left corner of the net.
Three and a half minutes later Upper Montgomery would extend the lead to 2-0 and effectively take control of the game. Lightning ninth grade defender Miles Wendland misplayed the puck in his defensive zone but he was able to recover and pass the puck up ice to senior center and co-captain Chris Hassett in the neutral zone. Hassett received the pass and instantly sent a backhand tap pass wide to Bernard. The pass eluded Bernard, however, he was able to grab the puck along the right wing boards. Bernard skated down the right wing into the Upper Montgomery offensive zone where he cut to the high slot. From the mid slot area, Bernard sent a wrist shot along the ice five hole and through Yu’s legs into the net. Upper Montgomery continued to dominate the offensive chances and puck possession for the remainder of the period with Yu forced to make many strong saves. The Lightning wound up outshooting the Patriots twelve to five in the opening period.
The second period was another dominant period for the Lightning. Upper Montgomery outshot Wootton fourteen to six. A key to Upper Montgomery’s game plan was to chase the Patriots most talented skater, defender Sam Hosier, all over the ice and not allow him to single handedly control play. Four and a half minutes into the period, Hassett would score his team leading 25th goal of the season. Hassett won a faceoff from the right faceoff circle in the offensive zone with the puck sliding back to Wendland. Wendland uncorked a long range shot on goal that was saved and frozen by Yu. Hassett again won the faceoff back to Wendland. This time, Wendland’s shot was stopped by the Wootton defense on the way to the net. Lightning forward Josh Nadler found the loose puck and he cut into the slot. Nadler’s wrist shot was also blocked by the Wootton defense. The puck landed near Lightning forward Henry Honacki. Honacki sent a spinning backhand pass to Hassett near the left goal post. Hassett moved the puck to his forehand and swept the puck around Yu’s left leg pad into the empty side of the net.
Five minutes later Upper Montgomery’s third overall points leader and second leading goal scorer Philip Shkeda got in on the scoring action. In the offensive zone, Lightning defender Andrew Botti’s shot from the left faceoff circle was wide of the goal. The puck was retrieved by Shkeda in the right corner. Shkeda skated behind the net where he left the puck for Berkhammer on the left side boards. Berkhammer had come way down the boards from his left point position. Berkhammer reached in and chipped the puck to the middle of the ice where it was grabbed by Bernard. Bernard swung around the net from left to right where he threw the puck across the goal mouth to Shkeda. Shkeda banged home the pass at the left post wedging the puck past Yu’s right leg pad for his thirteenth goal of the season.
Up now by four goals, Upper Montgomery was able to turn it up and play fast and loose. The Lightning were in total control of the championship game and kept up the pressure. It was an effort for Wootton just to obtain possession of the puck, and when Hosier was not on the ice the game turned into a shooting contest at Yu.
Forty five seconds after Shkeda’s goal, Upper Montgomery senior Bradley Cupples delivered his third goal of the season. Berkhammer sent an outlet pass from behind his own net to Cupples along the right wing boards. Near the blue line, Cupples swung the puck cross ice to Zheng. Zheng carried the puck out of the Lightning defensive zone to neutral ice and then down into the Patriots defensive zone. At the right faceoff circle Zheng left a drop pass to Cameron. Cameron dumped the puck down the boards and around the Wootton net. Zheng hustled to the puck beating the Wootton defense. He then reversed direction and skated back out to the right goal post. Zheng pass went into the skates of the Wootton defense in the slot. Cameron kicked the puck loose to his stick. In the scramble, the puck eventually found its way to Cupples standing at the left post for an easy tap in goal.
Down 5-0 entering the third period, Wootton’s frustrations began to show. Wootton defender Cole Weber was called for a roughing penalty a minute into the period. It was surprisingly the first and only penalty of the game between the two budding rivals. Although Upper Montgomery failed to score on the powerplay, the Lightning continued with momentum and scored five minutes into the third period to extend the lead to 6-0 and bring the game to running clock.
After a long extended shift in the Wootton defensive zone, Honacki deposited his seventh goal of the season. Shkeda had possession of the puck along the right wing boards. He sent the puck back to Botti at the right point. Botti’s wrist shot was deflected by Hassett out front and Yu made a fine save on the redirection. Honacki was in the right place at the right time and knocked the rebound under Yu’s arm. With ten minutes left in the game, the Lightning faithful began to celebrate the impending championship.
With eight minutes remaining, Hassett scored his final goal of his historic Lightning career. Hassett had possession of the puck behind his own net. He shot the puck to the right wing boards and stepped around a Wootton forward collecting his self pass. Hassett skated down the right wing with speed. At the offensive blue line he cut toward the middle of the ice and then quickly shifted back to the right side. From below the right faceoff circle he fired a wrist shot far side over Yu’s leg pad and under his blocker for the highlight worthy unassisted goal. It was Hassett’s 26th goal of the season and the 62nd goal of his hall of fame career.
With six minutes remaining in the game, Upper Montgomery suffered its only blip of the game. Hosier stole the puck in the neutral zone and cut down the left flank into the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. His bad angle shot was saved by Lightning goalie Landon Bernard, with the puck deflecting behind the net. Hosier was first to the puck and continued skating around the net from left to right. His wrap around shot beat Bernard before he could come over across the net to stop the stuff attempt.
Within a minute and a half after Wootton’s lone goal of the game, Brandon Bernard extended the Lightning lead to 8-1. Wootton’s defender at the left point in the offensive zone bobbled the puck. He then attempted to shoot toward the Lightning net, but his shot was blocked by Bernard sending Bernard off on a two on one rush with Shkeda. Bernard skated down the right wing all the way to the right faceoff circle in the Wootton defensive zone. His wrist shot from the faceoff dot went low short side past Yu’s glove for his tenth goal of the season. It was another unassisted goal as the Lightning’s experienced skaters were now having fun pouring on the offense.
As the clocked ticked toward zero and with the Lightning spectators cheering with appreciation for a well earned championship victory, Upper Montgomery would put one more home. Icing on the cake. With the puck in the Wootton defensive zone, Bernard sent a pass from the right wing boards to Botti at the right point. Botti’s dipping slap shot from the top of the right faceoff circle went under Yu’s glove.
In the Montgomery Hockey Conference tournament championship game, the team was led by leading scorer senior center Chris Hassett who tallied two goals while adding three assists. Brandon Bernard finished his high school career with a big game netting two goals and two assists. Senior Hunter Cameron and juniors Andrew Botti and Henry Honacki each added a goal and an assist. Sophomore defender Brady Berkhammer dished out two assists. Senior forward Bradley Cupples and sophomore forward Philip Shkeda each scored in the drubbing of Wootton as well. Senior netminder Landon Bernard finished out his career with the convincing victory allowing only one goal and making fifteen saves.
After the conclusion of the obligatory handshake line, the Upper Montgomery varsity team celebrated on the ice with team pictures, and individual student pictures with the championship trophy. While the Lightning did not reach the state playoffs this year, the team did finish with a championship and the most successful season in program history. The team’s seniors concluded their high school careers with a victory in their final game.
Game Notes:
- Upper Montgomery vastly outshot Wootton during the game, 39 to 16 with at least a seven shot margin in all three periods of play.
- Upper Montgomery has now beaten former perennial powerhouse Wootton three straight times (8-2 and 4-2 in both games last season, and then destroying the Patriots 9-1 this afternoon).
- Lightning seniors; Sean Levine (JV playoffs), Olivia Robbins, Adam Levine, Bradley Cupples, Brandon Bernard, Hunter Cameron, and Chris Hassett all scored goals in the last game they played for the Upper Montgomery program.
- Career Stats for the 2023 – 2024 Lightning senior class:
- Defender Jake Roth–Varsity–(5GP, 1A)–Junior Varsity–(21GP, 5A).
- Defender Sean Levine–Varsity–(4GP)—Junior Varsity–(22GP, 5G, 7A).
- Goalie Landon Bernard–Varsity–(43GP, 16W, 22L, 3T, 2 Shutouts, .855 Save Percentage, 4.07 Goals Against Average)–Junior Varsity (30GP, 12W, 14L, 5T, 1 Shutout, .876 Save Percentage, 3.21 Goals Against Average.
- Bradley Cupples–Varsity–(57GP, 13G, 30A)–Junior Varsity–(17GP, 7G, 8A).
- Adam Levine–Varsity–(22GP, 4G, 5A)–Junior Varsity–(42GP, 8G, 15A).
- Brandon Bernard–Varsity–(59GP, 23G, 17A)–Junior Varsity–(20GP, 9G, 12A).
- Olivia Robbins–Varsity–(45GP, 13G, 18A).
- Hunter Cameron–Varsity–(59GP, 20G, 24A)–Junior Varsity–(6GP, 1G, 4A).
- Chris Hassett–Varsity–(59GP, 62G, 64A)–Junior Varsity–(1GP, 2G)—Junior Varsity Goalie–(6GP, 3W, .810 Save Percentage, 3.91 Goals Against Average).
Three Stars of the Game:
First Star—Brandon Bernard—Upper Montgomery Forward—2 Goals, 2 Assists
Second Star—Chris Hassett—Upper Montgomery Center—2 Goals, 3 Assists
Third Star—Kevin Yu—Wootton Goalie—30 Saves