Author: chucklevine

The Upper Montgomery Lightning played their most complete game of the season in Friday night’s 6-1 dismantling of the Northwest Jaguars. The top line continued to provide offense. The second line contributed two goals. The third and fourth lines dominated puck possession in the Northwest defensive zone. The defense locked down against Northwest limiting quality chances and Will Mellen made important saves when called upon. All in all, a great team effort. The win was the third consecutive victory for the Lightning and evened their season record at 3-3-1. The win was immensely important for the season ending Montgomery Hockey Conference postseason playoff tournament as the Lightning now hold one of the final playoff positions with five league games left in the regular season.

The Lightning pressured right from the opening faceoff creating chance after chance in the Jaguars zone. Outside of Jaguars forward Evan Steinberg and offensive defender Brady Graham, the Jaguars had no answer for the Lightning. Northwest only had two quality chances to score during the game. Halfway through the opening period, Lightning goalie Will Mellen made a nice save off of a backhand shot by Steinberg on a one-on-one rush. That save seemed to energize Upper Montgomery and it felt like it would only be a matter of time before the Lightning would beat Jaguars goalie Jonah Boles.

Two minutes later the Lightning would grab the lead. After a faceoff win in the offensive zone, Chris Hassett controlled the puck in the left corner. He passed the puck into the slot to Nathan Cassel. Cassel’s shot was saved by Boles and the rebound went in front up the slot area to Ryan Jacobson. Jacobson fired the puck wide of the near post. Cassel picked up the puck skating around the back of the net, and he completed an easy wrap around goal into an empty net for a 1-0 Lightning lead.

The lead would be short lived however. Just a minute later, on a delayed penalty call, Steinberg evened the score. He carried the puck up ice weaving into the Lightning defensive zone. From the bottom of the right faceoff circle, he fired a wrist shot far side past Mellen. The Lightning would score a momentum changing goal in the last minute of the first period. Off of another faceoff win in the Jaguars defensive zone, Bradley Cupples won the draw back to James Botti at the right point. Botti’s shot toward the net was deflected and landed at the feet of Cupples. All in one motion, Cupples turned and shot. The shot was perfectly placed over the right shoulder of Boles and into the top left corner of the net giving the Lightning a lead they would not relinquish. Shots on goal in the first period were Lightning 15 and the Jaguars 5.

Cupples’ goal gave the Lightning momentum they would build upon during the first shift of the second period. The Lightning controlled the puck for a minute and twenty seconds off the opening faceoff of the period. From besides the goal post, Hassett passed the puck back to Andrew Botti at the blue line. Botti’s wrist shot was high and seemed to handcuff Boles. The puck hit off of Boles’ catching glove and landed at the feet of Cassel who finished the rebound into an open net. For Cassel it was his second goal of the game and gave the Lightning a 3-1 lead.

The lead would grow to 4-1 on another strike by Cassel just three seconds after a penalty to Graham expired. Cupples won the draw to the left of Boles. The puck went right to Cassel in the high slot. His quick wrist shot beat Boles for his first career hat trick. A little under a minute later the Lightning would strike on the power play to stretch the lead. Hassett controlled the puck behind the net. He passed off the boards to Andrew Botti at the left point. Botti bumped the puck to Jacobson at the center point along the blue line. Jacobson’s slapshot went past several skaters and was deflected by Hassett past a screened Boles. Shots on goal in the second period were in favor of the Lightning 13-4.

The third period turned into a shooting gallery against Boles with Lightning totaling 16 shots on goal to the Jaguars 1. The coaching staff rolled all four lines and the three defensive pairings. With five and a half minutes remaining Upper Montgomery would finish off the scoring on a nice passing play. From his own blue line, Hunter Cameron made a rink wide pass to Olivia Robbins in the neutral zone. She entered the Jaguars defensive zone along the right wing and cut toward the middle of the ice. While stick handling she maneuvered around two Jaguars defenders sliding the puck over to Cameron who had hustled up the ice. In alone, Cameron wristed the puck high glove side to beat Boles for the final score of the game.

Game Notes:

• Several Lightning student athletes had multiple point games; Nathan Cassel–3 Goals, Chris Hassett–1 Goal, 2 Assists, Ryan Jacobson–2 Assists, Andrew Botti–2 Assists, Bradley Cupples—1 Goal, 1 Assist.
• This was the third straight game a Lightning student athlete scored a hat trick.
• The Lightning outshot the Jaguars by a wide margin, 44-10.
• Will Mellen lowered his goals against average to 1.51.
• The Lightning penalty kill is 21 of 24 on the season, 87.5%.
• The Lightning powerplay is 6 of 28 on the season, 21.4%.
• The Lightning picked up their third straight victory and are unbeaten in their last four games 3-0-1.
• The Lightning are next in action on Friday, December 17th at 9:10 pm at Rockville Ice Area for an important cross division game versus Whitman.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Nathan Cassel—Upper Montgomery Forward—3 Goals
Second Star—Chris Hassett—Upper Montgomery Center–-1 Goal, 2 Assists
Third Star—Andrew Botti—Upper Montgomery Defense—2 Assists

The Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity came away with an important win over the combined Quince Orchard/Sherwood junior varsity squad Saturday evening at Cabin John Ice Rink. With the 3-2 win, the Lightning are now 2-1 in conference play and 2-2-1 overall. Upper Montgomery currently occupies the fourth spot in the ten team division standings.

The Lightning were led offensively by Josh Miller who had two goals and Brandon Bernard who had a goal and an assist. Landon Bernard stopped 21 of 23 shots for the victory.

The first period was a feeling out period for both teams. For the Lightning there were many rushes up ice that did not materialize into quality scoring chances. For Quince Orchard/Sherwood, there were many rushes up ice with shots that missed the net. The shots on goal at the end of the first period were even at three shots for each team.

The action picked up in the second period. A period in which the Lightning capitalized on their scoring chances. At the 3:22 mark of the second period, the Lightning would take the lead on an unassisted goal by Josh Miller. A Quince Orchard/Sherwood defender tried to skate abound the net with the puck but ran into Miller who was in on the forecheck. Miller stole the puck and fired a wrist shot from below the right faceoff circle high glove side beating Quince Orchard/Sherwood goalie Ryan Stillwell.

A little more than two and a half minutes later the Lightning would double their lead. Once again it was Miller who provided the offense. Off of a faceoff in the Quince Orchard/Sherwood zone, Brandon Bernard won the draw sideways. The puck slid toward the net and over to Miller. In one motion, Miller spun and slid a backhand shot past the leg pads of Stillwell far post. Upper Montgomery almost made it to the second period intermission with its two goal lead. With just eight seconds remaining in the period, and while the teams were skating four on four, Quince Orchard varsity forward Jack Mendelow fired a wrist shot from the left point past Landon Bernard.

Upper Montgomery would quickly reclaim a two goal lead early in the third period. Brandon Bernard received a pass along the blue line in the Lightning defensive zone from Patrik Sell. Bernard skated up the right wing boards, encountered traffic and cut diagonally left into the Quince Orchard/Sherwood offensive zone. From the left faceoff dot, he fired a wrist shot that went past Stillwell and into the net. With the two goal lead restored, the Lightning did an excellent job of holding off Quince Orchard/Sherwood and the two varsity student athletes they had playing in the game. The Lightning surrendered only five shots on goal during the third period. Mendelow would close out the scoring with an unassisted shorthanded goal off of a rush up ice with 1:37 remaining in the game. That goal would provide some nervous moments over the final minute and a half of the game for the Lightning faithful in attendance. Quince Orchard/Sherwood pushed to tie the game with Stillwell pulled for an extra forward. In the end, Upper Montgomery had enough to hold strong and claim a hard fought victory.

Game Notes:

• Josh Miller leads the team with four goals in five games.
• The Lightning powerplay was 0-5 in the game and is now 0-16 on the season.
• Once again, the Lightning gave up a late short-handed goal.
• Shots on goal; Upper Montgomery 15, Quince Orchard/Sherwood 23.
• The Lightning junior varsity is next in action on Sunday, December 19 at 7:20 pm facing off against Northwest at Skate Frederick.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Josh Miller—Upper Montgomery Forward—2 Goals
Second Star—Jack Mendelow—Quince Orchard/Sherwood Forward—2 Goals
Third Star—Brandon Bernard—Upper Montgomery Center—1 Goal, 1 Assist

The Upper Montgomery first line dominated in Friday night’s victory over the West Virginia Vipers.  The forward line of Chris Hassett, Ryan Jacobson, and Nathan Cassel was on fire accounting for all six goals in the 6-3 Lightning win.  There was plenty to be happy with as the Lightning defense did a good job for most of the game holding the Vipers in check and Landon Bernard notched his first career varsity victory in goal.  With the win the Lightning are now 2-3-1 on the season and are unbeaten in their last three games 2-0-1.

The Lightning jumped on top early in the game scoring at the 6:20 mark of the opening period.  Chris Hassett collected an errant Vipers pass in the defensive zone.  He passed wide on the left wing to Ryan Jacobson and they skated up ice on a two on two rush. From the left face off dot, Jacobson returned the puck to Hassett in the high slot and he buried a shot low to the glove side on Vipers goalie Libby Contrael to give the Lightning the lead.

The early lead would not last long. Two minutes later the Vipers would even the score.  Off of a bad turnover in the Lightning defensive zone, Vipers forward Logan Gochenauer skated down the slot with a clean look at the net and he beat Bernard over the glove hand to even the score at one.  The Lightning did not get down. The team shrugged off the error and re-took the lead on the very next shift. 

After a lengthy shift by the top line in the Vipers defensive zone, Hassett pressured the Vipers defense causing a routine pass that was intended to go behind the net to deflect off of his stick. The puck caromed at a crazy angle and snuck past an unsuspecting Contrael to put the Lightning back in front.  Shortly thereafter, the lead would grow to 3-1. Cassel dumped the puck into the Vipers defensive zone and followed the puck in on the forecheck. Under pressure, the Vipers defense rimmed the puck around the boards where it was intercepted by Jacobson along the half wall. Jacobson dished the puck to Cassel as he was skating toward the high slot. With the puck on his backhand, Cassel spun 180 degrees toward the net and fired the puck low glove side to beat Contrael.

The Vipers would close the margin to one with a goal midway through the second period. A turnover on the breakout hemmed the Lightning in the defensive zone. Eventually, a shot from the point was deflected by Zach Schulman in front of the net and past Bernard. Two minutes after that goal, the Vipers would go on the game’s first power play. But, it would turn out to be the Lightning that would strike again. A horrible zone breakout pass by the Vipers went up the slot and directly to Hassett who was applying mild zone pressure on the penalty kill. Hassett skated in alone on Contrael and easily beat her short side, high glove. The goal capped off his second consecutive hat trick with another unassisted goal and gave the Lightning back a two goal lead at 4-2.

The two goal lead would not last very long. The Vipers would again close within one goal with 2:13 left in the second period. A breakaway by Vipers forward John Stoner was saved by Bernard. However, Vipers forward Kevin Harris beat the Lightning backcheck up ice and he tapped the puck into a wide open net from inside the crease. On the very next shift, Jacobson would extend the Lightning’s lead with his own unassisted goal. Using his speed, Jacobson again chased down the puck on the half wall in the Vipers defensive zone. He cycled down into the right corner. As he cut to the front of the net he encountered traffic. He stayed strong on the puck, collected himself, and fired a wrist shot low glove side to beat Contrael.

The third period turned into a defensive stalemate as each team’s shot total decreased. The Lightning limited the Vipers to only three shots on goal in the third period, a period where they were pushing to get back in the game. Three Vipers minor penalties contributed to their lack of offense and the third penalty would prove to one too many. Off the ensuing faceoff, Hassett came out of a scrum with the puck. He backhanded the puck to Cassel in the left faceoff circle for a one time slap shot that beat Vipers backup goalie Josh Kuntz with 2:38 left in the game. Upper Montgomery was able to easily close out the game and Bernard had a well earned first varsity victory.

Game Notes:

• All three Lightning first line forwards all had multi-point games; Chris Hassett (3 goals, 1 assists), Ryan Jacobson (1 goal, 2 assists), and Nathan Cassel (2 goals).
• The Lightning picked up their second straight victory and are unbeaten in their last three games 2-0-1.
• Landon Bernard notched his first career varsity victory.
• The Upper Montgomery first line has been on the ice for 13 of the last 15 goals scored by the Lightning.
• The Lightning are next in action on Friday, December 10th at 8:50 pm at Rockville Ice Area for an important divisional game versus Northwest.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Chris Hassett—Upper Montgomery Center—3 Goals, 1 Assist
Second Star—Ryan Jacobson—Upper Montgomery Forward–-1 Goal, 2 Assists
Third Star—Nathan Cassel—Upper Montgomery Forward—2 Goals

The Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity played with heart and determination in Tuesday afternoon’s game versus Landon, but could not overcome the significant difference in talent. Playing up in competition against a more talented opponent in Landon (private school junior varsity teams are allowed to play a higher caliber student athlete), the Lightning lost 9-0.

The beginning of the game was tightly contested before the Bears broke the scoreless tie 8:30 into the contest on a goal by Landon center P. Oeskovich. That goal opened the flood gates as Landon would go on to score three more times before the end of the first period. Inside the defensive zone, the Lightning defended well, but were beaten up ice on several occasions for rush goals. Upper Montgomery goalie Landon Bernard was left one-on-one with Landon shooters far too often. Shots on goal in the first period were 15-3 in favor of Landon.

The Lightning played well once again in the second period, allowing only one goal. Landon Bernard (33 saves) made some incredible and acrobatic saves to keep the Lightning in the game. In the middle of the period, Upper Montgomery center Henry Honacki had a breakaway chance that was foiled by Landon goalie J. Licalsi, who would make six saves in his shutout victory.

In the third period the Lightning tired against the Bears pressure surrendering four more goals, two at the beginning of the period and two at the end of the period when the teams were just playing out the clock.

Game Notes:

• The Lightning special teams fizzled. The power play was 0-6 in the game including a 5-3 opportunity.
• The Lightning gave up their first power play goal of the season.
• The Lightning gave up a late short-handed goal.
• Shots on goal; Upper Montgomery 6, Landon 42.
• The game was played with three 15-minute periods, rather than the standard junior varsity 12-minute periods.
• The Lightning junior varsity is next in action on Saturday, December 11 at 6:30 pm facing off versus Sherwood/Quince Orchard at Cabin John Ice Rink.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—P. Oeskovich—Landon Center—2 Goals, 1 Assist
Second Star—C. Binner—Landon Forward—2 Goals
Third Star—Landon Bernard—Upper Montgomery Goalie—33 Saves