Author: chucklevine

The Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity smashed the Richard Montgomery Rockets Friday evening easing to an 8-0 win. The victory was the third consecutive season that the Lightning junior varsity opened the season with a shutout victory. The team also extended the junior varsity program record regular season undefeated streak to fifteen consecutive games (12-0-3). It was a wonderful way to begin the 2024 – 2025 season as the schedule is expected to get much tougher immediately on Wednesday evening when Upper Montgomery takes on top junior varsity foe Wootton.

The game with the Rockets opened with each team a little tentative feeling out the other. Both squads had early powerplay chances that fizzled. Upper Montgomery went on the powerplay one minute into the contest when Rockets defender Ryan Jones was called for a tripping penalty. The Rockets killed off the Lightning’s powerplay and then earned a powerplay of their own. Four and a half minutes into the contest Upper Montgomery ninth grade forward Siddy Bhasin was called for a hooking minor penalty. The Lightning penalty killers controlled the Rockets who had a hard time entering the Upper Montgomery defensive zone.

After its successful penalty kill, the Lightning began to assert more control of the pace of play. It took a few more minutes but Upper Montgomery stuck first on sophomore Jake Hudson’s first career high school goal. Hudson won the faceoff from the right faceoff circle in the offensive zone. It was a clean win that went to his brother, ninth grade defender Luke Hudson at the right point. Luke Hudson swung the puck over his left to his defensive partner sophomore Miles Wendland. From the top of the left faceoff circle Wendland fired at Richard Montgomery goalie Thomas Richardson (making his first ever appearance in a high school game). Wendland’s shot was blocked in front by the Rockets defense with the puck squirting to the left wing boards near the goal line. Wendland raced in reaching the puck first, and he flung the puck toward the slot. His pass was right on the money as he found Jake Hudson at the back right post with inside position on the Richard Montgomery defense. Hudson deftly smacked the puck as it was on the move through the crease past Richardson’s legs.

With forty five seconds remaining in the first period, Hudson would tally his second goal of the evening. Lightning ninth grade defender Matthew Rivera had the puck in his own defensive zone. His defensive zone outlet pass found Hudson at center ice. Hudson entered the Rockets defensive zone and shot from well beyond the top of the right faceoff circle. His long range shot eluded Richardson’s right toe to extend the Lightning’s lead to 2-0. Shots on goal in the first period favored the Rockets, with Upper Montgomery ninth grade netminder Porter Stutsrim-Lyons making saves on all nine shots on goal he faced. Upper Montgomery only fired six shots at Richardson.

Upper Montgomery began to overwhelm the Rockets during the second period. Bhasin was called for his second minor penalty of the game when he was called for a tripping penalty at center ice. Upper Montgomery again easily killed off the penalty. Ten seconds after he returned to the ice, Bhasin scored his first career high school goal to put Upper Montgomery up by three. Lightning ninth grade defender Lillian Robbins had the puck behind her own net. She rimmed the puck around the boards on the right wing to Upper Montgomery junior forward Jason Woodman. Woodman controlled the puck and exited the defensive zone with a nice pass to fellow forward ninth grader Max Israfilbek in the neutral zone. Israfilbek skated into the Rockets defensive zone to the right faceoff circle. From the faceoff dot he whipped a wrist shot high on Richardson. Richardson made a chest save and the puck dropped to his feet. Bhasin jammed in the rebound from just outside the goal line and around Richardson’s feet before the goalie could react.

Halfway through the period, Wendland was whistled for a cross checking penalty. As with the earlier middle period Lightning penalty kill, just after the penalty time expired, the Lightning cashed in with a goal. Robbins took possession of the puck on the right wing along her defensive blue line. She sent a bank pass off the boards up to Lightning newcomer, sophomore forward Mason Jagoz. Jagoz took two strides into the Rockets defensive zone and poked the puck over to Lightning ninth grade forward Decklin Hughes. Hughes positioned his body so that when the puck approached, he was able to rocket a slap shot from ten feet in front of the net past Richardson going low along the ice into the open side of the net. It continued a theme of Lightning student athletes scoring their first career high school goals.

Two minutes later the game was essentially over when Upper Montgomery sophomore forward Aiden Zheng increased the Lightning’s lead to 5-0. A puck battle in the right corner of the Lightning’s defensive zone was won by Zheng. He sprang up ice and fired down the opposite left side of the ice. When he reached the top of the left faceoff circle, he jump stopped allowing the trailing Richard Montgomery defenders to continue past him. Zheng then fired a low shot from the top of the left faceoff circle that went along the ice and through Richardson’s five hole.

A minute and a half later, Lightning senior forward AJ Marks extended the lead to 6-0. Rivera took control of the puck along his defensive blue line on the left side of the ice. He skated diagonally up ice to the right wing. At center ice he passed the puck up to Marks further ahead on the right wing. Marks entered the offensive zone on the right wing pushing the puck into the right corner. A shoulder check shed the Rockets defender and Marks stepped toward the net with the puck. From just in front he fired a quick shot past Richardson’s feet and into the net. The second period ended with Upper Montgomery on top 6-0 although shots on goal were fifteen to fourteen in favor of Richard Montgomery. The six goal bulge meant that the upcoming third period was played with running time.

A minute into the third period, Robbins would score the first goal of her high school career. Off of a faceoff in the left faceoff circle in the Lightning’s defensive zone, Jake Hudson playing back on defense sent the puck around the boards and down the ice along the right wing. The Richard Montgomery defender won the puck battle under pressure from Jagoz. However, Jagoz was able to get his stick on the clearing attempt slowing the puck enough as it traveled up the boards. Robbins was able to swoop in and send the puck toward the net from above the right faceoff circle. Robbins’ shot from the boards found its way past Richardson near side along the ice.

With ten minutes left in the game, Richard Montgomery forward Bennett Parisi was called for a roughing penalty. The Lightning pulled back and used their full compliment of skaters with the extra skater advantage and the large lead and still almost put in another goal. After the Rockets successful penalty kill all that remained was the final score with the outcome clearly in hand. The Lightning added one more goal with four minutes left when Zheng scored his second goal of the game. A Richard Montgomery misplay entering the Lightning’s defensive zone began the scoring sequence. After the puck was fumbled, the Rockets shot it behind the Upper Montgomery net. The puck traveled around to the right wing boards in the defensive zone where it was picked up by Bhasin. Bhasin shoved a pass a few feet toward the middle of the ice where it was picked up by Zheng at the center of the defensive blue line. Zheng outskated the Rockets defense down the ice. He pulled up at the left faceoff circle and fired a wrist shot past the right side of Richardson’s body to conclude the scoring.

With the game not in doubt, the Lightning spent the last four minutes of play protecting Stutsrim-Lyons and working to secure a shutout for the ninth grade goalie. It was a nice way to start the season. The schedule will get stiffer from here on out starting with one of the county’s top junior varsity teams in Wootton. The teams collide on Wednesday evening in what may turn into a preview of a Mid-January junior varsity playoff matchup.

Game Notes:

• Shots on goal for the game were even with Richard Montgomery firing 22 shots at Upper Montgomery goalie Porter Stutsrim-Lyons and Upper Montgomery countering with 21 shots on Richard Montgomery goalie Thomas Richardson.
• Upper Montgomery had four students score their first career high school goals; Jake Hudson, Siddy Bhasin, Decklin Hughes, and Lillian Robbins.
• Upper Montgomery goalie Porter Stutsrim-Lyons had a shutout in his first career high school game.
• Each Lightning skater who participated in Friday’s game registered at least one point.
• It was the third straight season that the Lightning junior varsity started the season with a shutout victory.
• Upper Montgomery killed off all four Richard Montgomery powerplay opportunities running the programs’ streak to 31 straight penalty kills.
• Over the past three regular seasons, Upper Montgomery’s junior varsity program has runs its unbeaten streak to fifteen games, 12-0-3.
• Upper Montgomery junior varsity returns to action this Wednesday against the Wootton Patriots. Game time is 6:30 pm at Cabin John Ice Rink.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Jake Hudson—Upper Montgomery Forward—2 Goals
Second Star—Aiden Zheng—Upper Montgomery Forward—2 Goals
Third Star—Porter Stutsrim-Lyons—Upper Montgomery Goalie—22 Save Shutout Victory

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

The Upper Montgomery Lightning atoned for an ugly Halloween performance by stifling the Sherwood Warriors 5-1 to advance to the Montgomery Hockey Conference Varsity Tournament Championship game. The semifinal matchup turned into a story of which team could overcome the absence of their key contributors. Sherwood features a dynamic duo offensive threat in center Noi Jonasson and the Warriors’ leading scorer, senior forward Grayson Winckler. When both are present, the Warriors are a very dangerous team. In Wednesday’s semifinal matchup Jonasson missed the game due to a conflict with his external AAA travel team.

Upper Montgomery shed no tears as the Lightning were missing many core student athletes themselves. Junior AAA center Ryan Jacobson missed the game injured. Junior AA forward, and the team’s second leading scorer, Nathan Cassel missed the game injured. Depth forward, senior Adam Levine missed the game injured. Senior AAA forward Olivia Robbins missed the game with an external travel team conflict. Sophomore AA defender Owen Robbins missed the game with an external travel team conflict. Five regulars were out of the Lightning lineup for the semifinal matchup.

With so much talent out of their lineup, the Lightning game plan centered around swarming Winckler and forcing the rest of the Warriors lineup to win the game. Upper Montgomery’s revamped first line of senior co-captain and leading scorer Chris Hassett playing between regular winger Philip Shkeda and senior Brandon Bernard were the most dangerous trio on the ice. The line propelled the Lightning to victory with Hassett scoring four goals set up primarily by Bernard and Shkeda. The Lightning’s second and third lines did an excellent job of playing defensive hockey. Upper Montgomery senior goalie, Landon Bernard played a solid game stopping 26 of 27 shots on goal to secure the win.

Upper Montgomery jumped out to an early 1-0 lead three minutes into the game. Off of a faceoff from the left faceoff circle in the offensive zone, Lightning senior co-captain Hunter Cameron won the draw back to ninth grade defender Miles Wendland at the left point. Wendland’s wrist shot was deflected by junior forward Henry Honacki who had slipped behind the Sherwood defense. Honacki’s deflection beat Warriors goalie Samuel Hutt near side along the ice past his goalie stick.

Two and a half minutes after the Lightning jumped in front, Hassett was called for a hooking penalty. The Upper Montgomery penalty killers led by junior defender Andrew Botti and sophomore defender Brady Berkhammer helped keep the Warriors at bay. Just more than halfway through the powerplay, Sherwood was penalized for too many skaters on the ice after a poor line change. The miscue ended the Warriors powerplay early, and after a short period of four on four play Upper Montgomery then went on its first powerplay of the game. Similar to the Warriors earlier powerplay, the Lightning also failed to capitalize with the extra skater.

With three and a half minutes remaining in the first period, Upper Montgomery would open up a 2-0 lead. This time, the faceoff was in the right faceoff circle in the Lightning’s offensive zone in front of Hutt. Upper Montgomery had possession of the puck inside the offensive zone for 45 seconds working the puck around. Botti held the puck at the left point where he sent the puck down the boards and around net to Shkeda. Shkeda reversed direction back behind the net and sent the puck to Brandon Bernard in the left faceoff circle. With his stick tied up, Bernard kicked the puck over to Hassett who was near the left goal post. Hassett went back behind the net from left to right where he attempted to send a cross ice pass. Hassett’s pass was blocked by the Sherwood defense with the puck bounding back behind the net once again. Bernard retrieved the puck and curled up to the right faceoff circle where he fed Hassett now stationed in front of the net. Hassett faked to his backhand and then moved the puck over to his forehand before he put a well placed shot to the wide side of the net along the ice and past Hutt’s glove hand.

The first period ended with Upper Montgomery ahead 2-0 while outshooting the Warriors fourteen to eight. It was a period controlled by the Lightning with Sherwood trying everything possible to free up Winckler to allow him to spark the Warriors offensively. In the team’s regular season game, Winckler had a hat-trick and added three assists in the Warriors 9-7 win.

The second period played out like a replica of the first period. An early Upper Montgomery goal made the score 3-0, then Upper Montgomery and Sherwood took penalties, then a second Lightning scoring strike, and Upper Montgomery outshooting Sherwood by a healthy margin. On the first shift of the period, Hassett scored his second goal of the game to put Upper Montgomery up 3-0. The goal definitely took some of the pressure off the Lightning who continued play with a solid lead. In the right corner of his defensive zone, Hassett intercepted a pass on the back check. He sent the puck up the right wing boards to Bernard. Bernard lost control of the puck but was once again able to kick the puck forward to Hassett in the neutral zone. Hassett continued up the right wing side of the ice where he jumped past the Sherwood left defender to the inside. Clear of the defender he sent a pass over to Shkeda. Shkeda unleashed a wrist shot toward the goal where Hutt made a glove hand save with the puck caroming to the left wing boards. Berkhammer kept the play alive near his right point position, coming down into the offensive zone to possess the puck. Berkhammer’s flip shot from the boards was stopped on its way to the net by Hassett. Hassett then uncorked a snap shot that went short side past Hutt’s left arm and glove into the net.

Less than a minute and a half later, Upper Montgomery junior defender Cole Howerton was called for a tripping penalty when he rode a Warriors forward wide. The Sherwood skater lost an edge and fell. There was no penalty deserved yet the Lightning were once again shorthanded. Upper Montgomery killed off the Sherwood powerplay with ease. At the nine minute mark of the second period Sherwood forward Charles Sickel was given a ten minute misconduct penalty for his comments toward the officials after he thought he was fouled and no penalty was called.

That sequence also started Upper Montgomery’s offensive play culminating with the Lightning’s fourth goal of the evening. A Sherwood turnover at neutral ice was caused by a poke check from Shekda. Bernard carried the puck into the offensive zone entering over the blue line in the middle of the ice. Bernard returned a pass to Shkeda down the left side. Shkeda fired on net from a bad angle and Hutt made an easy save. However, rebound control was an issue and the puck went to Hassett. With no angle to shoot, Hassett curled back up ice into the left faceoff circle. From the inside edge of the left faceoff circle Hassett fired a wrist shot short side, mid goal height, that went past Hutt’s blocker for his hat-trick marker.

At four to nothing, Upper Montgomery played to keep the clock moving and to play excellent team defense. Whenever the puck went near Winckler, two Upper Montgomery skaters jumped in his way. The Lightning’s defensive strategy forced Winckler to give up possession of the puck. Or, if Winckler pressed play, the aggressive Upper Montgomery defense created turnovers which Upper Montgomery cleared down ice. The Warriors were then forced to go the entire length of the ice through the Lightning’s defensive posture to generate offensive looks. Upper Montgomery’s strategy worked very well with the second period ending with the Lightning ahead 4-0, and outshooting Sherwood fourteen to six in the middle period.

With desperation mounting and only fifteen minutes remaining in their season, Sherwood came out with renewed effort in the third period. That effort, coupled with Upper Montgomery’s focus on the defensive side of the ice, helped Sherwood outshoot Upper Montgomery twelve to ten in the final period. Lightning goalie Landon Bernard was far busier in the third period than he had been over the first thirty minutes of action making several solid saves to keep Upper Montgomery well in front.

Just over a minute into the third period, Sherwood would finally get on the scoreboard. In front of his own net, Sherwood defender Noah Temenak chipped the puck with his backhand over to Winckler. Winckler skated the entire length of the ice down the right wing, from his defensive zone into the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. His shot from the right faceoff circle was blocked by Botti who was in excellent defensive position. Unfortunately, the puck bounced immediately to Sherwood forward Cameron Colandro. Colandro was prepared for the puck’s change of direction and instantly in shooting motion where he fired the puck past Bernard’s left leg and glove.

Sherwood had a bit of momentum that was immediately blunted by the Lightning’s top line. Forty seconds into the next shift, with the puck along the side boards in the Sherwood defensive zone, Bernard worked the puck loose to Shkeda in the right faceoff circle. Shkeda’s wrist shot was saved by Hutt, but Hassett was there to knock home the rebound. With their four goal lead restored, the Lightning resumed strong defensive play.

With ten minutes remaining in the game, Honacki was called for a high sticking penalty. The Upper Montgomery penalty kill was up to the challenge once again and kept Sherwood from scoring. Then, as the clock ticked towards four minutes left, it was Howerton back to the penalty box for his own high sticking penalty. A minute into the fourth Sherwood powerplay of the night, Botti was assessed another high sticking penalty putting the Lightning down two skaters. Upper Montgomery throttled the Warriors attempts and Bernard was there to make timely saves. As first Howerton’s penalty expired, and then Botti’s penalty ended, it became clear that the final minute of regulation would play out with both teams realizing that the outcome had been decided.

Upper Montgomery will play for the most important championship in program history tomorrow when the Lightning face the Wootton Patriots in the Montgomery Hockey Conference Varsity Playoff Tournament Championship game. It will be a matchup of the top two teams not invited to the Maryland Student Hockey League state playoffs. After not beating Wootton for the first fourteen years of the Upper Montgomery program’s existence, Upper Montgomery swept Wootton last year winning 8-2 and then 4-2 in the rematch. Tomorrow, the Lightning hope to make it three straight wins over the Patriots culminating in the traditional stake around the rink with the championship trophy held high.

Game Notes:

• Lightning senior co-captain and leading scorer Chris Hassett scored four goals versus the Warriors one game after scoring a career high five goals versus Northwest / Quince Orchard.
• Upper Montgomery forward Brandon Bernard contributed three assists in the game.
• Upper Montgomery forward Philip Shkeda also contributed three assists in the game.
• Upper Montgomery outshot Sherwood 38 to 27 for the game.
• Upper Montgomery finishes the season tomorrow against arch rival Wootton in the Montgomery Hockey Conference Varsity Playoff Tournament Championship game. Puck drop is 4:20 pm at Rockville Ice Arena.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Chris Hassett—Upper Montgomery Center—4 Goals
Second Star—Landon Bernard—Upper Montgomery Goalie—Win, 26 Saves, .963 Save Percentage
Third Star—Brandon Bernard—Upper Montgomery Forward—3 Assists

The Upper Montgomery Lightning had two weeks to recover from a disappointing loss to Whitman which ended their state playoff aspirations. The team rebounded with a ferocity on Monday afternoon dismantling Northwest / Quince Orchard 14-1 in a game that was over almost as soon as it began. The game reached running clock status before the first period ended with the Lightning exploding out to a 7-0 lead before the opening period ended. As the number one overall seed in the Montgomery Hockey Conference season ending Varsity Tournament, the Lightning were matched up against the lowest seeded team. The Montgomery Hockey Conference Varsity Tournament is a post-season tournament for all Montgomery County hockey programs that did not qualify for the state playoff tournament.

The first period could not have gone worse for Northwest / Quince Orchard. In addition to being outshot twenty to five in the opening frame, Northwest / Quince Orchard was porous defensively leaving senior goaltender Ryan Stillwell out to dry time after time. Playing without top offensive student athletes, Nathan Cassel and Ryan Jacobson, with senior forward Olivia Robbins playing only two shifts before her external travel team commitment, and with both Landon and Brandon Bernard only playing the first period, the Lightning still easily trashed the overmatched Jaguars.

Less then a minute into the game, Upper Montgomery took the lead and never looked back. On the first shift of the game, a nice defensive zone breakout led to the opening goal of the game. Upper Montgomery defender Owen Robbins reversed the puck in the left corner of his defensive zone to Lightning forward Josh Nadler. Nadler sent the puck up the boards to senior center and co-captain Chris Hassett on the right wing. Hassett sent a cross ice pass through the neutral zone to senior forward Brandon Bernard. Bernard entered the offensive zone down the left wing side of the ice. As he entered the left faceoff circle, he placed the puck behind the net to Hassett. Hassett curled out in front of the net and passed to Nadler in the slot. Nadler took the puck from his backhand to his forehand and shot towards the goal. Nadler’s shot was blocked by the Jaguars defense with the puck landing near Bernard. Bernard quickly shot low blocker side and Stillwell was unable to come up with the save as he searched in vain for the puck’s location.

On the next shift Upper Montgomery increased the lead to 2-0. From a faceoff in the right faceoff circle in the Upper Montgomery offensive zone, Northwest / Quince Orchard was able to clear the puck over the blue line to neutral ice. Lightning junior defender Andrew Botti dumped the puck deep into the right corner of the Jaguars’ defensive zone. Upper Montgomery junior forward, Henry Honacki arrived first and he retrieved the puck. Honacki then lost control of the puck as he was coming around the net with the puck sliding back to Botti at the left point. Botti’s snap shot sailed wide of the net careening into the right corner. Lightning senior forward Olivia Robbins won a race to the puck and battle for possession. She took the puck to the doorstep of the crease where she encountered traffic, losing the puck. Standing in the center of the crease Hassett popped the loose puck over Stillwell for his first goal of the evening. Two shifts into the game, Upper Montgomery was ahead by two goals.

Northwest / Quince Orchard was able to survive the third shift of the game without giving up a goal, but not the fourth. An errant Northwest / Quince Orchard shot rattled around the boards to Lightning sophomore forward Philip Shkeda along the left wing at his defensive blue line. Shkeda’s cross ice pass found Nadler on the right wing. Nadler then entered the Upper Montgomery offensive zone and sent a pass over to Lightning senior co-captain Hunter Cameron playing center in this game. Cameron dished the puck to Shkeda in the slot and cut to the far right post. Shkeda returned the puck to Cameron as he neared the goal. Cameron was able to get his blade on the pass sending a backhand deflection past Stillwell’s glove hand and over the goal line. With just over three minutes played in the game, Upper Montgomery led Northwest / Quince Orchard 3-0. All three goals had been scored by Lightning forwards standing alone in the slot and crease area.

Two minutes later Upper Montgomery was ahead 4-0. Off of a rewind in the neutral zone, Cameron sent the puck from the left wing at his own defensive blue line to Lightning sophomore defender Brady Berkhammer entering the offensive zone along the right wing. Berkhammer took the puck down into the right corner where he found Upper Montgomery ninth grade forward Aiden Zheng out in front of the net. Zheng’s one time slap shot went high blocker over Stillwell for his first career varsity goal.

Less than an minute later, on the same shift, Zheng doubled his career goal total with his second goal of the game. A Northwest / Quince Orchard turnover resulted in the puck being kept in at the right point by Bernard. Bernard sent a banked pass off the boards past a falling Jaguars defender. The puck went to Lightning defender Owen Robbins in deep. Robbins curled in the right faceoff circle and turned to skate deeper in the offensive zone. As he did so, he located Zheng standing alone in front. Robbins’ pass found Zheng who shot low far side past Stillwell’s blocker from almost the same spot in the slot as his prior goal. With nine minutes remaining in the first period, Upper Montgomery was out to an early 5-0 lead.

The Northwest / Quince Orchard coaching staff called timeout to settle down their squad. For a few minutes it seemed to work. Upper Montgomery was unable to score for the next three minutes of game action. Then, the Jaguars earned the first powerplay of the game when Berkhammer was called for a roughing penalty with six minutes left in the period. Upper Montgomery’s penalty killers took the play to the Jaguars while shorthanded forcing Northwest / Quince Orchard’s all around best playmaker, senior Brady Graham to take an interference penalty ending the Jaguars powerplay thirty seconds early.

Once Berkhammer’s penalty ended, Upper Montgomery went on an abbreviated powerplay of its own. As the powerplay neared conclusion, the Lightning would score a powerplay goal for the fourth consecutive game. The puck was dumped into the far right corner of the Jaguars defensive zone by the Upper Montgomery defense. Lightning depth forward, senior Adam Levine crashed into the offensive zone and caused a turnover, stealing the puck from the Northwest / Quince Orchard defender. With possession of the puck behind the net, Levine pivoted out in front and shot short side on Stillwell who made the save. Hassett chased down the rebound back in the right corner and he sent a pass back to Robbins at the center of the high slot. Robbins’ wrist shot was deflected by Levine on its way to the net. The puck whizzed just wide of the right goal post and caromed off the end board behind the net. The puck ricocheted back into the crease area beside the net where Bernard chipped the puck over the glove hand of Stillwell into the net.

With a minute left in the opening period, Upper Montgomery would tally its seventh and final goal of the period. Off of a faceoff from the left faceoff circle in the offensive zone, Hassett won the draw to Shkeda on the left wing. Shkeda sent a swing pass to Upper Montgomery junior depth defender Cole Howerton at the right point. Howerton’s shot accelerated high towards the net where it was deflected in front by Hassett. The puck quickly plummeted down and past Stillwell’s skates. It was Howerton’s first career varsity point. The first period mercifully came to a close with Honacki taking a lazy tripping penalty to close out the period. Lightning senior goalie, Landon Bernard was a bystander to the action making just five saves in the first period and having a very easy time of it. So much so, that the Lightning coaching staff inserted ninth grade backup goaltender Ilan Shterenberg to finish out the last two periods of action. For Shterenberg, it was his first varsity action in a couple of months, and was a reward for his outstanding play in net for the Lightning junior varsity.

The second and third periods of the game were played with running clock. Upper Montgomery was easily able to kill off Honacki’s penalty. The Lightning suffered another skater disadvantage when the team took a bench minor for a verbal disagreement with the officiating crew after the officials missed calling a blatant wipe out, blow ’em up check in front of the Northwest / Quince Orchard net. While on their second penalty kill of the period, the Lightning penalty killers lifted up the coaches. Hassett, who was the skater wiped out in front on the vicious hit that warranted a major penalty being called, dumped the puck around the Northwest / Quince Orchard defensive zone from right to left. Berkhammer was first to the puck with aggressive penalty kill pressure. He pushed the puck down into the left corner and then eventually passed the puck to Hassett stationed behind the net. Hassett swung around the net traveling from the left post to the right post before wrapping the puck around Stillwell’s left leg pad. His shot along the ice entered the back of the net for the shorthanded goal and his hat trick.

A minute and fifteen seconds later, on the next shift, the Upper Montgomery lead would grow to 9-0. Honacki had the puck behind his own net at the end of his shift. He fired the puck down the ice so that he could get off on a line change. Cameron raced down the ice and got to the puck first and before it crossed the end line for icing. Corralling the puck in the left corner, he continued around the net to the top of the right faceoff circle. Cameron fired a pass across the ice to Botti. Botti teed up a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle and riffled the puck short side past Stillwell’s right shoulder. It was Botti’s first goal of the season since returning from the upper body injury that kept him out of the first half of the Lightning’s season.

The Lightning returned to the powerplay when Jaguars forward Fletcher Shupe was called for interference for throwing a body check. Deep into the powerplay, Upper Montgomery would score its second powerplay goal of the game. In his defensive zone, Howerton intercepted a Jaguars pass on a shorthanded rush up ice. He banked the puck off the left wing boards in his defensive zone to Honacki along the wall. With the Jaguars forwards caught up ice, Honacki went in on a two on one rush with Hassett. Honacki layered a backhand saucer pass over to Hassett in the slot. Hassett faked right on his forehand, then slid the puck back to his left, and pushed a backhander past Stillwell’s blocker inside the far post. As with most of the goals scored by Upper Montgomery in the game, Stillwell had little chance. The score was now 10-0 with half of regulation time remaining.

On the next shift, the lead would become eleven. Lightning ninth grade defender Miles Wendland broke up play along the left wing at the Upper Montgomery defensive blue line. Wendland bumped the puck to Levine in the neutral zone. Levine immediately found Zheng cutting up ice with speed. Zheng skated all the way into the Jaguars defensive zone down the left wing boards. Levine followed the play and went right down the middle of the ice toward the crease. Zheng pulled up at the bottom of the left faceoff circle and passed toward the slot. Levine rushed to catch up with the puck and while falling jammed the puck past Stillwell on the short side past his blocker and right leg pad. It was Levine’s first goal of the season and gave him exactly one goal in each of his four seasons of varsity play. With Wendland’s assist on the play, every Lightning skater had registered a point in the game.

At 11-0, the Lightning stopped playing aggressive or competitive hockey. The team did everything it could to not further embarrass the Jaguars. The rest of the second period was played with Upper Montgomery in control of play and choosing not to attack the net. The second period ended with the score 11-0 and with Upper Montgomery outshooting Northwest / Quince Orchard fifteen to two in the period.

The start of the third period was interesting. Just twenty seconds into the final session, Northwest / Quince Orchard ended the Upper Montgomery combined shutout bid, kind of. Looking to get any action at all, Shterenberg traveled out of his crease into the right corner to prevent a Jaguars clear from becoming icing. Shterenberg attempted to fire the puck up ice to start an Upper Montgomery defensive zone breakout. His pass went up the right wing boards past the Lightning defense where it was intercepted at the blue line by Northwest / Quince Orchard’s leading scorer, center Ethan Custodio. Custodio had a clear path to the net and easily fired before Shterenberg had any opportunity to get back near the goal crease. It was a learning moment for the young goaltender and surely he will not unnecessarily press play in future seasons.

After the early Northwest / Quince Orchard gifted goal, the third period settled into a period where both teams really just wanted the clock to run and for the game to end. And, for the next five minutes of action that is precisely what occurred. Upper Montgomery really had stopped playing in the offensive end. After posting 35 shots on goal over two periods, the Lightning held themselves down to only seven shots on goal in the third period. The Jaguars remained totally inept tallying only one more shot on goal aside from Custudio’s empty net strike.

With just over nine minutes remaining in the game, Upper Montgomery once again found the back of the net. A Northwest / Quince Orchard turnover in their own defensive zone started the scoring play. Zheng intercepted the bad Jaguars pass and shoved the puck to the left wing boards. Honacki retrieved the puck and attempted to throw the puck into the slot. His pass was blocked by a unknowing Jaguars defender and the puck was back along the boards. Cameron gathered the puck and shot it toward the crease looking to set up Zheng for a hat trick. His centering attempt hit a Jaguars defender’s skate and deflected past Stillwell who had moved over to play what he thought would be an upcoming shot from the slot.

At the six and a half minute mark, Graham was called for a high sticking penalty putting Upper Montgomery back on the powerplay. For the third time in the game, the Lightning powerplay would make the Jaguars pay. Wendland’s long range wrist shot from the right point missed the net. Shkeda retrieved the puck in the left corner easily outskating the tired and defeated Jaguars. He moved up the boards and reversed the puck off the boards to Hassett back in the left corner. Hassett continued out of the left corner to the left faceoff circle where he fired a harmless shot on goal. With traffic in front, it appeared that Stillwell did not pick up the shot until late allowing the puck to slide between his pads five hole. It finished off a career high five goal game for Hassett who spent the final six minutes of the game plastered to the bench.

At 13-1 every line change was extended to help burn more time off the clock and help get the game over. With a minute and a half remaining, Upper Montgomery would put the finishing touch on their blowout victory. Another Northwest / Quince Orchard turnover set up the Lightning. A bad Jaguars clearing attempt was picked off by Honacki. He skated a few strides to the right wing boards and fed Zheng with a backhand pass in the slot. Zheng’s first shot was saved by Stillwell. Zheng followed the puck to the net and he was rewarded when the rebound connected with his right skate. In the ensuing goal mouth scramble, the puck wound up in the back of the net for his first career hat trick. As the game mercifully ended, the Jaguars’ Graham was assessed multiple misconduct penalties for firing a shot at Shterenberg after the final buzzer had sounded. It was very bad sportsmanship on Graham’s part, but the Lightning were already thinking ahead to Wednesday’s upcoming Montgomery Hockey Conference Varsity Tournament semifinal game.

Game Notes:

• Upper Montgomery ninth grade forward Aiden Zheng scored his first career varsity goal and also added two additional scores for his first career hat-trick. Zheng also added two assists for a career high five point game.
• Lightning senior co-captain and leading scorer Chris Hassett scored a career high five goals and tied his career high with six points.
• Upper Montgomery senior forward Adam Levine scored in his final game as a participant with the Lightning program. He will miss the rest of the season with an upper body injury.
• Lightning junior defender Cole Howerton recorded his first career varsity points with two assists.
• Upper Montgomery junior forward Henry Honacki set a career high with four assists.
• In a program first, every Lightning skater recorded a point in the game.
• Lightning ninth grade defender Miles Wendland registered his first career multi-point game with two assists.
• Upper Montgomery scored on all three of the team’s powerplay opportunities, doubling their season total for powerplay goals. It was the fourth consecutive game that Upper Montgomery converted while playing with the extra skater. The Lightning had misfired on their first 43 powerplays to begin the season.
• Shots on goal for the game were vastly slanted in favor of the Lightning. Upper Montgomery limited itself to only firing 42 shots at Northwest / Quince Orchard goalie Ryan Stillwell. Northwest / Quince Orchard managed just 9 shots on net and one was the direct pass empty net goal.
• Next up for Upper Montgomery is a Montgomery Hockey Conference Varsity Playoff Tournament semifinal game against the Sherwood Warriors. Upper Montgomery will be looking for redemption after falling to the Warriors 9-7 way back on Halloween evening. Game time is 5:30 pm on Wednesday, February 28th at Skate Frederick.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Chris Hassett—Upper Montgomery Center—5 Goals, 1 Assist
Second Star—Hunter Cameron—Upper Montgomery Forward—2 Goals, 2 Assists
Third Star—Aiden Zheng—Upper Montgomery Forward—3 Goals, 2 Assists

The Upper Montgomery Lightning ice hockey program entered Friday night’s contest against the Whitman Vikings looking to advance to the Maryland Student Hockey League state playoffs for the first time in program history. Two hours after puck drop the Lightning were left wondering how the contest quickly got away from the team. With an upperclass heavy roster, Upper Montgomery had been gearing up for the past four years focused on this particular game as the program’s best opportunity to make history and qualify for the state playoffs for the initial time. Unfortunately, the Lightning were flat and an ineffective powerplay once again doomed the team’s chances. Whitman tool full advantage and rolled to an overwhelming 6-1 victory in a game that was not very competitive.

The game opened positively for Upper Montgomery. Less than a minute into the contest Whitman was called for a too many skaters on the ice penalty. Upper Montgomery’s powerplay, which had been better of late scoring in two consecutive games, was not able to generate any quality chances. Less than two minutes after the successful Whitman penalty kill, the Lightning were back on the powerplay. Whitman’s talented ninth grade defender Steven Mah was called for a tripping penalty. Once again playing with the extra skater, the Lightning were stymied by an aggressive Whitman penalty kill.

Halfway through the opening period, the Vikings tallied the first goal of the game. Off of a faceoff from the left faceoff circle in the Upper Montgomery defensive zone, the Lightning controlled the draw. A bad clearing attempt up the right wing boards was cut off by Whitman forward Trevor Fay. Fay left the puck for fellow Whitman forward Benjamin Luo. Luo passed the puck across the ice to Whitman’s third forward, Samuel Van Leeuwen. While covered by a Lightning defender, Van Leeuwen muscled his way to find enough space to get off a backhand shot that went high over Lightning senior netminder Landon Bernard’s glove.

A minute later, Fay was sent to the penalty box for a checking from behind penalty. The two minute minor was accompanied by an automatic ten minute misconduct penalty. The Lightning had their third powerplay opportunity of the period and a chance to get back even. Midway through the powerplay, Van Leeuwen was assessed a boarding penalty. A two skater advantage beckoned for Upper Montgomery and Van Leeuwen would also miss an extended period of the game with his automatic ten minute misconduct penalty. Failing to score, Upper Montgomery’s powerplay wilted with nothing to show from its four first period powerplay chances.

With Van Leeuwen’s penalty winding down and Whitman about to go back to full strength, Upper Montgomery forward Philip Shkeda was called for a high sticking penalty. As hockey usually goes, the Lightning did not capitalize on their many powerplay opportunities, and Whitman scored just seven seconds into their first powerplay of the game. Upper Montgomery was hemmed in their own defensive zone while the teams were playing four skaters aside. Another failed Lightning clearing attempt led to a high quality Whitman scoring chance. The initial shot went wide of the net with the puck retrieved out of the corner. The puck was sent back to the left point to highly talented Whitman defender Morrison Cohen. Cohen took the puck down the left wing boards where he left it for Whitman’s leading scorer forward Andrew Fou. Fou curled toward the slot as Whitman began their powerplay. With Upper Montgomery’s defenders focused on Fou, Whitman forward Nicholas Huguely was left wide open at the back left post. Fou’s pass was on target and Huguely quickly sent the puck past Bernard who was left out to dry by the poor defensive coverage.

Thirty seconds later, Whitman increased their lead to 3-0. Upper Montgomery iced the puck with no pressure being applied by the Vikings. The defensive zone faceoff in the right faceoff circle was kept in at the right point by Whitman defender Rowen Miller. Miller sent the puck down the boards and around the net to the left corner. The Vikings won the race for the puck with Huguely shoveling the puck back up the left wing boards to Cohen at the left point. Cohen was stood up and the puck went to Whitman forward Jacob Lerman. Lerman sent a short pass to Huguely in the left faceoff circle. Huguely turned and fired a pass to little used Whitman depth forward Henry Herdman who was standing all alone in front of Bernard. Herdman sent the puck to the right side of the net past Bernard’s glove. Another Upper Montgomery defensive zone breakdown that led to a wide open Vikings skater left unguarded in prime scoring position.

The first period mercifully came to an end with Whitman outshooting Upper Montgomery fifteen to six. Upper Montgomery had four powerplay opportunities and mustered just six shots on goal. All three Whitman goals were the direct result of Upper Montgomery defensive zone turnovers. Bernard had little chance to save any of the three goal with unguarded Whitman skaters left alone directly in front of him. The three goal deficit seemed to be wider as Upper Montgomery lacked offensive punch against the stout defensive corps that handle the backline for the Vikings. It also appeared that Whitman was seeking vengeance for Upper Montgomery’s victory over the Vikings in the team’s last meeting in mid-December.

The second period was just as dismal for the Lightning. Twenty five seconds into the middle frame, Whitman increased its lead to 4-0. A bad Upper Montgomery pass, off target behind its intended skater, was intercepted by Fou with a lift check. The puck moved over to Whitman forward Andrew Kaplan. Kaplan sent the puck up the middle of the ice to Fou who had exploded forward after capturing the turnover. Fou used his excellent speed to go wide around an Upper Montgomery defender. His centering pass deflected off of the skates of Upper Montgomery defender Andrew Botti’s and the quick change of direction propelled the puck past Bernard.

Twenty seconds after Fou’s goal, a parade of Lightning skaters began heading to the penalty box. First, Lightning forward, and team leader in penalty minutes, Henry Honacki was called for interference. Then, a minute after Honacki’s penalty was successfully killed off by the Lightning, Botti was called for cross checking. Upper Montgomery was also able to kill off Botti’s penalty. While Upper Montgomery was doing a fine job on the penalty kill, largely because of Bernard’s excellent play in net, the team was unable to make any magic inside of the offensive zone. Halfway through the period, Upper Montgomery defender Cole Howerton was called for a roughing penalty. This time, Whitman would pierce the Lightning penalty kill and up the margin to 5-0.

With just over six minutes remaining in the period, Lerman’s shot from the mid-point was easily knocked away by Bernard’s glove. The rebound went to the slot where Cohen spun around and batted the puck back toward the right point. The puck was kept in the offensive zone by Huguely covering the defensive position for Cohen. Huguely sent a backhand pass to the right corner to Fou, and then he cut toward the net. Fou’s return pass found Huguely in stride allowing Huguely to riffle a backhand shot far side that went past Bernard’s right leg pad.

As the second period was ending, frustration began to boil over. Upper Montgomery senior center Bradley Cupples got into it with Fay. Cupples was called for roughing and Fay for unsportsmanlike conduct. With fifteen minutes remaining in the game, it was already apparent that Upper Montgomery’s state playoff chances were just a mirage. Whitman dominated another period outshooting the Lightning by a huge seventeen to three margin. The Lightning just had no answers on this night.

The third period was much more of the same. A minute and a half into the final period, Lightning senior center and co-captain Chris Hassett was whistled for a roughing penalty. Upper Montgomery was able to kill the penalty off but only because of Bernard, who must have felt like a practice dummy goalie with rubber being fired at him from all areas of the offensive zone. After Hassett’s penalty ended, Lightning senior forward Olivia Robbins was called for interference with just under ten minutes to play. Another two minutes of offensive zone pressure with Upper Montgomery simply looking for icing clears to take the pressure off. After Robbins’ penalty ended, Upper Montgomery would get one final powerplay when Cohen was called for tripping with six and a half minutes remaining in the game.

Off of the faceoff to open the powerplay, Whitman cleared their defensive zone. From his own blueline Upper Montgomery senior co-captain Hunter Cameron sent an indirect pass up the right wing boards to Robbins. She collected the puck at the offensive blue line and entered the offensive zone. From the right faceoff circle she blasted a snap shot far side high. The rising puck flew past Whitman goalie Ryan Graf’s blocker for Upper Montgomery’s only goal of the night breaking Graf’s shutout bid.

As time wound down, Fou finished off the scoring with under a minute remaining in the game. From a faceoff in the right faceoff circle in the Upper Montgomery defensive zone, yet another bad Lightning defensive zone clear set up the Vikings. At the right point along the blue line Miller kept the puck in the offensive zone. He passed down the right wing boards to Fou. From the right faceoff circle Fou unloaded a wicked slapshot that beat Bernard short side high over his glove. For the Vikings it was a fitting end to the game. For Upper Montgomery it was a final miscue at the end of a dismal evening.

Next up for Upper Montgomery will be a chance to earn the program’s most important championship. As the top seed in the upcoming Montgomery Hockey Conference Varsity Tournament, the Lightning have an opportunity to win the the most prestigious trophy the program could win to date. The tournament is comprised of all of the teams in the county that did not make the state playoffs. In its history, the most prized trophy won by the program is the junior varsity’s county championship after the 2022-2023 season. The program also has won the Montgomery Hockey Conference Division Two Championship after the 2018-2019 season. At that time, the Division Two Championship tournament was comprised only of the bottom team’s in the conference.

Game Notes:

• Upper Montgomery senior Olivia Robbins scored in her final game as a participant with the Lightning program. She will likely miss the entirety of the Montgomery Hockey Conference Varsity Tournament.
• Lightning goalie Landon Bernard’s stalwart playoff play continued. He made a personal career high 44 saves and did everything possible to give the Lightning an opportunity to compete in the game.
• Shots on goal for the game were vastly slanted in favor of the Vikings. Whitman fired 50 shots at Upper Montgomery goalie Landon Bernard. Upper Montgomery managed just 14 shots on Whitman goalie Ryan Graf even while having six powerplays during the game.
• Upper Montgomery’s futility on the powerplay really hurt during the game. The majority of the first period was played with Upper Montgomery playing with an extra skater yet the team found itself in a three goal deficit. Four failed Upper Montgomery powerplays on the opening period doomed the team’s chances.
• After the game was decided Lightning forward Olivia Robbins did score on the powerplay marking the third consecutive game that Upper Montgomery converted while playing with the extra skater.
• Next up for Upper Montgomery is a quarterfinal game in the Montgomery Hockey Conference Varsity Playoff Tournament. The Lightning are the top seed and will play eight seeded Northwest/Quince Orchard. The game would appear to be non-competitive on paper with Upper Montgomery likely to easily advance to the tournament semifinals. The game is scheduled for Monday, February 26th. Puck drop is at 4:20 pm at Rockville Ice Arena.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Andrew Fou—Whitman Center—2 Goals, 2 Assists
Second Star—Nicholas Huguely—Whitman Forward—2 Goals, 1 Assist
Third Star—Landon Bernard—Upper Montgomery Goalie–Career High 44 Saves

The Upper Montgomery Lightning ice hockey program entered Friday night’s contest against the Blair Blazers with exactly one Montgomery Hockey Conference playoff victory. With a convincing, albeit nonchalant win over Blair, the Lightning doubled their playoff win total. Having shutout the Blazers 5-0 within the past two weeks, and then playing well against both Rockville/Magruder and in a very close loss to top private high school foe Bullis, the Lightning went through the motions in large segments of Friday’s opening round playoff game. The Blazers on the other hand competed very hard and played as well as they possibly could. Still it was not nearly enough as Upper Montgomery pulled away over the second half of the game to secure a 5-1 triumph.

Upper Montgomery opened the game outshooting Blair thirteen to six in the opening period of play. While the Lightning pushed the pace, they could not challenge the interior of the Blair defense. The Lightning’s compete level was lacking, and too many of the Lightning shots on goal were low quality from the outside. Blazers goalie Lily Bendavid was able to see pucks clearly and steer shots and rebounds into the corners and behind the net. The vibe of the game was that Upper Montgomery’s student athletes felt they would win because they possessed superior talent compared with the Blazers. The game remained scoreless with five minutes left in the first period when Blair defender Rafael Shore was called for tripping.

The Lightning powerplay, seeking to capitalize for the second consecutive game after a program record for futility to begin the season, took to the ice. Upper Montgomery applied constant pressure for an extended period of time. The scoring play began when Lightning forward Nathan Cassel kept the puck in the offensive zone at the left point using his skates. Cassel shoveled the puck down the left wing boards to Lightning defender Owen Robbins in the left corner. Recently, Robbins has been deployed in front of the net on the powerplay. Robbins took the puck behind the net where he was pinched off by a Blazers defender. He returned the puck to the left corner to Lightning forward Bradley Cupples. Cupples passed the puck back to Cassel at the left point. Cassel danced with the puck along the blue line. As pressure came out to meet him, he fed the crease area. The puck caromed over to Upper Montgomery’s leading scorer, senior center Chris Hassett at the center point. Hassett’s shot toward the goal was defected to the right corner where it was retrieved by Robbins. Robbins sent the puck up the boards though traffic to Lightning defender Brady Berkhammer near the right point. Berkhammer cut to the slot where he fired a wrist shot from the inner edge of the left faceoff circle. His shot went past Bendavid’s blocker and settled into the net. For Berkhammer, well into his sophomore season, it was his first career high school goal and gave Upper Montgomery a very important lead.

Starting the second period with the 1-0 lead, Upper Montgomery came out lacksidasical. Blair gained confidence with their play in the opening period and that translated into inspired play. This combination led to Blair taking play to the Lightning throughout the second period. But the Lightning’s superior skill capitalized on counter attacks. Blair outshot Upper Montgomery fifteen to eight in the middle frame.

Three minutes into the second period Lightning forward Josh Nadler took a cross checking penalty clearing out a Blair skater. No damage was done as the Lightning penalty killers and senior goalie Landon Bernard kept the Blazers searching for their opening goal of the game. The Blair pressure continued. Halfway through the period, Blair applied extensive pressure in the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. Berkhammer was eventually able to secure the puck behind his net. He passed the puck up the left wing boards to the point where a Blazers defender kept the puck in at the point. Upper Montgomery senior forward Adam Levine, elevated to play on the top line alongside Cassel and Hassett with regular linemate Philip Shkeda suffering from an illness and unavailable to play in the game, fought for the puck. Levine won the puck battle with the Blair defender along the left wing boards. Levine pushed the puck over the defensive blue line to Cassel in the neutral zone. Cassel skated up ice on a two on one rush with Hassett. As they approached the slot in the Upper Montgomery offensive zone, Cassel slid the puck over to Hassett. In alone, Hassett deked to his forehand and put the puck past Bendavid’s glove for a 2-0 Lightning lead. For Hassett, it was his 50th career varsity goal and further cemented his status in the Maryland Student Hockey League all-time scoring record books.

One minute later the gap was closed. Blair took advantage off of a faceoff in the left faceoff circle in the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. The Lightning won the draw. A poor clearing attempt by the Upper Montgomery defense was kept in at the left point by Blair defender J. J. St. Aubin. St. Aubin fired the puck behind the Lightning goal to the Blazers top scoring forward Jackson Martindill. Martindill curled out from behind the net and shot at Bernard. His shot was blocked and he was forced to pass the puck back to defender Robert Woodward at the right point. Woodward’s shot was deflected by the onrushing Lightning forward. The shot changed direction and hit Blair forward Wyatt Bakalis in the backside of his hockey pants. The puck laid in the slot behind Bakalis where Blair forward Zander Frey lifted a backhand shot past Bernard’s glove into the top right corner of the net. Just like that, Blair was one shot away from tying up the game.

A minute after Frey’s goal brought Blair close, the Lightning’s top line again provided a two goal cushion. Hassett won a draw from the left faceoff circle in the offensive zone back to Berkhammer at the left point. Berkhammer’s wrist shot was deflected by Hassett on the way to the net. The deflected shot was blocked by the skaters of a Blazers defender. Hassett chased down the loose puck on the left side in front of the net. He centered the puck to Cassel in the slot. Cassel curled and reversed his direction back into the slot where uncorked a backhander that went low glove side past a screened Bendavid to put Upper Montgomery up 3-1.

With two minutes to go in the middle period, Lightning forward Henry Honacki was whistled for a slashing minor penalty. As with Blair’s first powerplay of the game, the skill of the Lightning’s penalty killers prevented Blair from getting good looks at Bernard. After two periods of play, Upper Montgomery led 3-1 and looked for a strong third period to close out their playoff opener.

The third period was the Lightning’s best period of the game. A minute into the period, Upper Montgomery would increase their lead to 4-1. A Blair rush up ice was cut off by Hassett’s stick. The puck was tapped to the right wing boards. Cassel raced down the right wing and pushed a pass into the middle to Levine in the slot. Levine’s shot looking to go five hole was saved by Bendavid. Levine chased down his rebound in the corner where he battled with two Blair defenders. The puck broke loose off of Levine along the side wall to Hassett. Hassett curled to the front of the goal and his wrist shot went seven hole in between Bendavid’s right leg pad and her blocker. The three goal cushion brought with it a measure of exhale as the Lightning looked to be closing in on a playoff victory.

On the very next shift, Upper Montgomery extended their lead to 5-1. Blair advanced the puck to the neutral zone. Nadler took control of the puck and skated to the right side of the ice. He entered the offensive zone and fired a wrist shot well wide of the net. Cupples controlled the puck along the left wing boards and sent the puck back to Lightning defender Andrew Botti at the left point. Botti skated toward the mid point and unleashed a slap shot toward the goal. His shot was blocked but it fell forward to the front of the net. Lightning senior forward, Brandon Bernard swung his stick and connected with a backhand whack at the puck. The puck volleyed over Bendavid’s glove for the Lightning’s fifth goal of the night.

The final twelve minutes were spent with Upper Montgomery playing with several forwards back in a defensive posture to protect their four goal cushion. Blair had one final powerplay opportunity when Nadler was called for roughing with six minutes left in the game. The Lightning penalty killers and Bernard held firm to keep the score 5-1. After four more minutes of regulation time ticked away Upper Montgomery had secured a place in the quarterfinal round of the Montgomery Hockey Conference playoffs.

One more win and the Lightning program will secure its first ever Maryland Student Hockey League state playoff berth. However, it will be incredibly difficult for Upper Montgomery to beat a very good Whitman team for a second consecutive time. Next Friday night will be Upper Montgomery’s second game ever where the state playoffs are on the line. The Lightning played heroically last year in the quarterfinal round losing to eight time consecutive state champion Churchill by one goal in a five round shootout after playing to a one all tie through regulation and overtime. With an upperclass heavy roster, the Upper Montgomery program has been building for four years for next week’s pivotal game.

Game Notes:

• Upper Montgomery senior co-captain Chris Hassett continued his climb up the all time Maryland Student Hockey League career scoring list notching his 50th career goal.
• Lightning goalie Landon Bernard’s stalwart playoff play continued. For his third straight playoff game, Bernard gave up only one goal. He lowered is goals against average in the playoffs to 0.98 and he increased his save percentage to .966. Both are current program records.
• Lightning defender Brady Berkhammer’s powerplay goal in the first period was his first career varsity goal.
• Upper Montgomery forward Adam Levine contributed two assists in his first career playoff game subbing in on the top line for regular first line forward Philip Shkeda. Shkeda missed the game with an illness.
• Shots on goal for the game were even with Upper Montgomery firing 33 shots on goal and Blair countering with 30.
• Upper Montgomery’s epic futility on the powerplay seems a distant memory. The Lightning converted on the powerplay for the second consecutive game and their second consecutive powerplay opportunity.
• Upper Montgomery returns to action next Friday night against the Whitman Vikings in a rubber match game. The teams split the regular season series with Whitman defeating the Lightning 7-2 on opening night. In mid-December, the Lightning won the rematch 3-2. The winner of next week’s Montgomery Hockey Conference quarterfinal game earns a spot in the coveted Maryland Student Hockey League state playoffs. Game time is 8:15 pm at Cabin John Ice Rink.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Chris Hassett—Upper Montgomery Center—2 Goals, 2 Assists
Second Star—Landon Bernard—Upper Montgomery Goalie—Win, 1 Goal Against, 29 Saves, .967 Save Percentage
Third Star—Brady Berkhammer—Upper Montgomery Defense–PPG Goal, Assist

On Monday afternoon, the Upper Montgomery Lightning met the highly touted Bullis Bulldogs for the first time in the club’s history. The growth of the Lightning program, culminating with this season’s upperclass laden roster, has reached a level where the top private high school ice hockey programs are eager and willing to schedule Upper Montgomery as a non-conference opponent. Upper Montgomery has consistently risen up and played well against top tier competition. The Lightning beat Quince Orchard and tied both BCC and Churchill last year, beat Walter Johnson and Whitman this year, and took the top ranked public high school program in the state, Oakdale, to the final five minutes of the game with a lead.

Typically, the formula for Upper Montgomery’s success against these high powered opponents has been to focus on defense and drag the game into a quagmire. The top teams want to rush up ice and score goals, and the Lightning have been content to play a smothering defensive game, block shots, compete hard against the boards and in the corners, and make sure that they have numbers back on defense. There has been a lot of dump and chase hockey against top opponents where Lightning skaters reach the red line and then simply flip the puck deep into the opposition’s defensive zone. With all Upper Montgomery skaters focused on defense, it makes it challenging for the opponents to bring the puck all the way up ice (not turn the puck over) and create high leverage scoring chances.

The game against the Bulldogs was no different. Upper Montgomery stayed in a five skater shell for most of the game. While the Bulldogs were able to dominate the shots on goal, Upper Montgomery did an outstanding job at frustrating the Bullis skaters and disrupting their flow and tempo. Early in the game it became clear that Bullis had no answer for the Lightning’s defensive alignment. Rush after rush up ice yielded little in the way of grade A offensive chances for Bullis. The lack of early success led Bullis to continually try to press the action. The Bulldogs began to get restless and reckless with the puck. This impatience led to more and more Bullis turnovers. Upper Montgomery stuck with their game plan, just content to dump the puck out of their defensive end and make Bullis regroup and try to re-enter the offensive zone. When Bullis was able to break through the Lightning defense, Upper Montgomery senior netminder Landon Bernard was there to turn away shot after shot. The Bulldogs began to get even more frustrated as Bernard played one of his finest games for Upper Montgomery and thwarted many of Bullis’ better chances throughout the game.

Five minutes into the game, Lightning junior defender Cole Howerton was called for a roughing minor penalty. Bullis put tremendous pressure on the Lightning penalty killers, but Bernard stood tall and made several fabulous saves. Halfway through the opening period, a minute after the Bulldogs powerplay ended, Bullis was able to jump in front. After an Upper Montgomery shot missed the net, the puck was picked up along the left wing board by Bullis forward Liam Grapes. Grapes skated up ice along the left wing into the Lightning defensive zone. With the Upper Montgomery defense sagging back in to pack the crease area, Grapes sent the puck across the ice to Bullis forward Ben Kaplan in the right faceoff circle. Kaplan’s shot to the far side of the net beat Bernard high past his blocker.

Now trailing, Upper Montgomery stuck with its defensive game plan. The Lightning were hard on the puck and it resulted in a hooking penalty called against Bulldogs forward Brian Zheng trailing the play. Upper Montgomery’s powerplay, putrid to this point in the season, failed to muster any offensive thrust. The Lightning had difficulty just entering the offensive zone with puck possession. With under a minute remaining in the first period, Lightning defender senior co-captain Hunter Cameron was called for cross checking for taking out a Bulldog skater in front of the net. Upper Montgomery handled the Bullis powerplay pressure better on the second opportunity and prevented the Bulldogs from extending their lead. It was a first period controlled by Bullis, outshooting the Lightning by a wide thirteen to four margin, but Upper Montgomery was in the game and building confidence with the success of their team defensive play.

The opening half of the second period played out like the first period. Bullis pressed the tempo of the game, buoyed by beginning the second period on the powerplay as Cameron’s penalty bridged the first and second periods. Upper Montgomery repelled each Bullis rush up ice after rush up ice. The Lightning were content to bat pucks back into the neutral zone and dump pucks into the Bullis defensive zone. This approach allowed the Lightning to change skaters and remain fresh. The rested skaters sat back and waited for the next Bullis threat.

Midway through the period the Lightning were rewarded with their second powerplay of the game. Credit to the Upper Montgomery coaching staff for changing up the powerplay attack prior to last Friday’s game against Rockville/Magruder. The season long 0-for on the powerplay, reaching 43 consecutive failed powerplays to begin the season in the first period, was having an impact on the Lightning’s ability to produce offensively against the good teams. This powerplay also did not begin well for Upper Montgomery. After a poor Upper Montgomery passing sequence, Bullis had a shorthanded breakaway. As he did all game long, Bernard made a sparkling glove save to keep the score 1-0.

After the puck hit Bernard’s glove, it bounced into the right corner where it was banged all the way around the net to Lightning defender Brady Berkhammer at the defensive blue line. Berkhammer put the puck into open ice where Lightning senior center and co-captain Chris Hassett swooped in. Hassett brought the puck up ice out of the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. He then passed the puck diagonally up ice from the right side of his own blue line to forward Philip Shkeda stationed the left side of the Upper Montgomery offensive blue line. Shkeda left a drop pass to fellow forward Nathan Cassel at the left point. Cassel skated a few strides to the top of the left faceoff circle where he let loose with a snap shot. Cassel’s shot was blocked and the puck fell into the crease. Lightning defender Owen Robbins, playing forward in front of the net on the powerplay, tussled with both Bullis defenders. The puck squirted free to Hassett on the left side. Hassett immediately sent the puck across the ice to Shkeda standing at the right post. Shkeda wasted no time sweeping the puck into the open net to tie the game at one. At long last (16 games and 43 failed extra skater chances) Upper Montgomery scored on the powerplay!

Upper Montgomery had to kill a hooking penalty to Robbins a few minutes later. The third Bulldogs powerplay resembled the first two. A lot of pressure. Several good saves by Bernard. No Bullis goals. The second period concluded with the game tied at one. Upper Montgomery was in the game after thirty minutes of play although being badly outshot 28-11, and outchanced, but by no means being run out of the rink as many of Bullis’ spectators had anticipated. The teams were tied with fifteen minutes remaining with Bullis acting in disbelief that Upper Montgomery was able to continuously repel their attack and remain competitive in the game.

The first minute of the third period was a tough one for the Lightning. After a faceoff in the left faceoff circle in the Upper Montgomery defensive zone, the Lightning had control of the puck and pushed it to the side wall on the left wing. A weak clearing attempt was kept in the offensive zone by Grapes’ skates. Kaplan came over to help jumping into the board battle. As he was being checked to the ice by Hassett, Kaplan passed the puck to Bullis forward Ethan Liu in the slot. From the inside edge of the right faceoff circle, Liu’s wrist shot went high blocker side beating Bernard and putting the Bulldogs back in front 2-1.

The go ahead goal energized the Bulldogs who began to take the play to the Lightning. With ten minutes remaining the additional pressure earned Bullis their fourth powerplay of the game when Lighting senior forward Olivia Robbins was called for and interference penalty. Bernard made acrobatic saves to keep the game a one goal affair as the Bulldogs were able to constantly break down the Lightning penalty kill formation. As the period trudged on, Bullis kept up the offensive pressure and Upper Montgomery had very little offensive thrust. Bullis outshot Upper Montgomery sixteen to three in the third period. However, Bullis was unable to extend their lead thanks to Bernard and it wound up costing them late in the game.

With a minute and a half remaining in regulation play, an errant Bulldogs pass was taken by Olivia Robbins at the Upper Montgomery defensive blue line. She sent an indirect pass up ice off the left wing boards as she was headed off the ice on a line change. Her pass was on the money to Shkeda battling through a stick check from a Bulldog defender. Shkeda continued down the left wing into the left faceoff circle in the offensive zone where he fired a pass across the crease to the far right goalpost. Scampering down the slot Cassel raced in and extended his stick. Looking to make contact with the puck, he tapped the puck past Bulldogs goalie Lang. Now, somehow, the game was tied late in regulation

Unfortunately for the Lightning, they could not close the game as the very next shift proved costly. An Upper Montgomery dump into the Bullis defensive zone hit Bulldog forward Derek Tripp in the stomach. He was able to travel up ice on the left wing through the neutral zone taking the puck deep into the Lightning defensive zone. From the left corner he sent a pass to the slot to Bullis forward Jovi Greene. Greene did not field the pass cleanly and tripped as he stepped on the puck. The puck squirted to the side to Zheng. Zheng’s initial shot was saved by Bernard’s left leg pad. However, Bernard could not control the rebound. As he tried to push the puck out of harm’s way, Bernard sent the puck directly back to Zheng. Zheng calmly popped the puck over the prone Lightning goalie with 39 seconds remaining in the game to shatter Upper Montgomery’s chance at playing the mighty Bulldogs to a tie.

Upper Montgomery should gain confidence and momentum from the performance against Bullis. Heading into Friday night’s all important first round game of the Montgomery Hockey Conference playoff tournament against Blair, the Lightning are well positioned to make a run at qualifying for the Maryland Student Hockey League state playoffs for the first time in program history. If Upper Montgomery can replicate and execute its game plan in the playoffs the same way the team performed against Bullis and Oakdale, making the state playoffs is a real possibility for the Lightning.

Game Notes:

• Bullis badly outshot the Lightning 44 to 14. Each period was lopsided in favor of the Bulldogs. The third period was the most egregious with Bullis firing sixteen shots on goal and Upper Montgomery countering with just three.
• Upper Montgomery’s epic futility on the powerplay finally ended. After failing on their opening powerplay of the game, Upper Montgomery finally tallied with the extra skater. Philip Shkeda’s powerplay goal ended a team record 0-43 slump with the skater advantage to begin the season.
• Landon Bernard set a personal career high with 41 saves in the game.
• Upper Montgomery returns to action on Friday evening, February 3rd. The Lightning enter the Montgomery Hockey Conference playoff tournament ranked sixth in the conference standings and the team will play eleventh seeded Blair. Game time at Rockville Ice Arena is 8:20 pm. The game is a quick rematch of a regular season matchup with Upper Montgomery recently having shut out the Blazers 5-0 on senior night.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Landon Bernard—Upper Montgomery Goalie—41 Saves, .932 Save Percentage
Second Star—Ben Kaplan—Bullis Forward—1 Goal, 1 Assist
Third Star—Philip Shkeda–Upper Montgomery Forward—PPG Goal, 1 Assist