Category: Game Recaps

After a lackluster first period, the Upper Montgomery Lightning turned it on over the final two periods of play against Churchill 2. The team finally looked like what the coaching staff and program supports envisioned the team would be this season. The convincing 9-1 victory over the last place and winless Churchill 2 Bulldogs increased the Lightning’s record to 2-7 on the season. The first half of the Lightning’s schedule was loaded with both private school opponents and public school opponents ranked in the top twenty in the state. How far the team goes this year in the postseason will be determined over the second half of the schedule where the Lightning will be favored in most of their remaining games.

Upper Montgomery forward Philip Shkeda got the Lightning on the board three and a half minutes into the game. Lightning defender Owen Robbins broke up play in his defensive zone along the right wing boards. Robbins knocked the puck up ice to Lightning forward Nathan Cassel on the side wall. Cassel passed the puck over to Upper Montgomery senior co-captain Chris Hassett exiting the defensive zone. Hassett went around a pinching Bulldog defender and raced up the ice with Shkeda on a two on one rush. As he was entering the offensive zone, Hassett sent the puck to Shkeda in the high slot. Shkeda sent a wrist shot from the inside edge of the left faceoff circle high glove side where there was lots of open net. The puck eluded Bulldogs netminder Nicholas Nelson to open the scoring. With the assist, Hassett reached fifty career assists. The milestone assist automatically qualified the senior pivot for induction in the Maryland Student Hockey High School Hall of Fame.

Halfway through the first period, Hassett would score what would ultimately become the game winning goal. Hassett collected the puck in his defensive zone and flipped the puck into the neutral zone along the left wing boards. Shkeda skated into the puck and entered the offensive zone where he sent the puck to the high slot area. The pass was intercepted by the Churchill 2 defense. While attempting to leave the defensive zone, the puck squirted away from the Bulldogs defender. Hassett jumped on the puck and rifled a wrist shot high blocker side into the top corner of the net for an unassisted goal.

With just under four minutes remaining in the period, Churchill 2 would get on the board. From behind his own net, Churchill 2 defender Auryan Abyaneh ramped the puck to his left along the left wing side boards. Before the puck reached center ice, Churchill 2 forward Tye Glazer controlled the puck. He sent a pass across the ice to Churchill 2 forward Cash Levenberg who was along the right wing board in the neutral zone. Levenberg cut in between the two Lightning defenders outside the blue line. As he entered the offensive zone, Levenberg shot low along the ice from distance and beat Shterenberg five hole. It was a weak goal to have given up.

At the end of the period, the Lightning heard from a displeased and animated coaching staff. The intermission talk seemed to fire up the Lightning who appeared to be much more engaged in the game to begin the second period. About three and a half minutes into the period the top line scored for the third time in the game. A Churchill 2 defender was skating the puck to exit his defensive zone. A devastating hit by Hassett forced a turnover with the puck heading straight to Cassel. The other Churchill 2 defender fell allowing Cassel to go in alone on a breakaway. Cassel shot past Nelson’s glove side low for an easy goal.

On the same shift, the first line increased the lead further to 4-1. From deep in his defensive zone Robbins once again pushed the puck to Cassel, this time on the left wing boards. Cassel sent an outlet pass to Hassett in the neutral zone. Hassett then dumped the puck into the Churchill 2 defensive zone as he reached the center red line. Hassett stepped around the nearest Churchill 2 defender and outraced him to the puck in the right corner. He turned and passed out in front of the net to Shkeda who fired a forehand shot just inside the near post past Nelson’s glove.

Just over halfway through the period, the Upper Montgomery coaching staff lifted Shterenberg and replaced him with senior netminder Landon Bernard. It was a change made to give the struggling starting netminder some work in a game in which Upper Montgomery had now taken control. Just ten seconds after the goalie change, Upper Montgomery extended its lead to 5-1. From a faceoff at center ice, Lightning senior co-captain Hunter Cameron won the faceoff back to Lightning 9th grade defender Miles Wendland. From his left defensive position at the Upper Montgomery defensive blue line, Wendland dumped the puck down the left wing boards into the Churchill 2 defensive zone. Cameron, who was playing center in this game, retrieved the puck and skated around the Churchill 2 right defender. From in close he sent a backhander past Nelson’s glove hand low along the ice.

As the period wound down, Upper Montgomery continued the pressure. A make shift forward line of Brandon Bernard centering Olivia Robbins and Adam Levine had control of play for almost two minutes in the Churchill 2 defensive zone. The three seniors rarely play together. Simply to relieve the pressure, the Churchill 2 defense cleared the zone sending the puck to center ice. Lightning defender Brady Berkhammer hit the puck over to Bernard on the left wing as Robbins and Levine scrambled to exit the offensive zone. Bernard raced into the zone along the left wing. At the top of the left faceoff circle he pulled up and fired a wrist shot far side past Nelson’s glove hand just before the buzzer went off. It was the second consecutive game for the Lightning in which a goal was scored in the final second of a period, and the third time this season.

Three minutes into the third period Lightning center Bradley Cupples took an unnecessary roughing penalty along the boards on the other side of the ice from the play. Upper Montgomery was able to eliminate all threats on the Churchill 2 powerplay to keep the score at 6-1. With the Lightning in total control skaters began cherry picking up the ice and taking excessively long shifts. This was a major departure from the way in which Upper Montgomery wants to play and will surely be addressed by the coaching staff prior to next week’s game.

Halfway through the third period, Cameron would score his second goal of the game to reach a six goal spread and put the game into running clock the rest of the game. Olivia Robbins had the puck in the right faceoff circle in the Lightning defensive zone. She sent an outlet pass to Cameron in the neutral zone. Cameron stormed into the Churchill 2 defensive zone and down into the right corner where he pulled up. He flipped a pass back to Cupples along the right wing boards. Cupples returned the puck to Cameron on a give and go passing play. Cameron shot from the low right faceoff circle past Churchill 2 backup netminder Lucas Petrosyan who had entered the game at the beginning of the third period.

With under five minutes to play, Upper Montgomery would tally once more. Berkhammer carried the puck into the Churchill 2 defensive zone down the left wing. He went around the net and passed to Cassel who was covering at the left point. Cassel’s shot went short side and the puck just missed hitting the goal post. Cassel followed the play and chased down the puck in the corner. He sent a spinning backhand pass through the slot to Lightning senior defender Jake Roth at the right point. Roth passed to the left along the blue line to Berkhammer at the left point. Berkhammer’s shot was blocked into the corner. The puck was dug free by Brandon Bernard who shot wide behind the net. Shkeda retrieved the puck and passed over to Cassel in the low slot. Cassel’s backhand shot beat Petrosyan five hole.

A minute later Upper Montgomery’s ninth tally would be Cassel’s hat-trick goal. Shkeda checked a Churchill 2 defender off the puck in the left faceoff circle. Hassett picked up the loose puck in the slot and fed Cassel near the right post for a tap in goal to finish off the scoring.

Game Notes:

• Upper Montgomery badly outshot Churchill 2 by a 40-14 margin, including a combined 28-7 over the second and third periods.
• Top Lightning defender Andrew Botti made his season debut after returning from an upper body injury suffered just before the start of the season.
• Ilan Shterenberg started his fourth consecutive game in goal for the Lightning and picked up his second career varsity victory.
• Upper Montgomery did not have a powerplay in the game which was fortuitous as the team remained 0-20 on traditional powerplays for the season, excluding Nathan Cassel’s penalty shot goal which technically counts as a powerplay marker.
• Upper Montgomery will try to build upon the victory over Churchill 2 when the team returns to action next Friday, December 15th in a rematch of the season opener against the Whitman Vikings. Game time is 8:20 pm at Rockville Ice Arena.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Chris Hassett—Upper Montgomery Center—1 Goal, 3 Assists
Second Star—Nathan Cassel—Upper Montgomery Forward—3 Goals, 2 Assists
Third Star—Hunter Cameron—Upper Montgomery Center—2 Goals

The Upper Montgomery Lightning were simply outclassed by the top ranked Churchill Bulldogs on Monday evening at Cabin John Ice Rink. The final score was 8-0. It was clear from the outset of the game that the Bulldogs had not forgotten last year’s Montgomery Hockey Conference playoff matchup between the programs. As heavy underdogs, the Lightning took the eight time Maryland Student Hockey League state champions to a shootout after playing to a one all tie through regulation and overtime. Upper Montgomery eventually succumbed by a single penalty shot goal in a five round shootout skills competition.

The first period of the game was actually pretty competitive even through Churchill had the greater percentage of possession time. Both teams fired six shots on goal during the opening period of play. Unfortunately for Upper Montgomery, a fifteen second span four minutes into the game spelled doom. With the puck in the Upper Montgomery defensive zone, the puck was swept behind the net and was collected by Churchill forward Alex Zhang. He skated toward the left point and passed the puck to his forward partner Asher Wang. Wang skated high in the offensive zone near the mid-point of the blue line. His wrist shot was several feet far wide of the net near side. The puck bounced off the boards and into the back of Lightning 9th grade goalie Ilan Shterenberg’s legs and then caromed back into the net. The unfortunate ricochet put Churchill in front on a play where if the shot was closer to the net it would have been saved by Shterenberg, or Shterenberg would have remained in his crease and the the puck would have caromed into the slot instead of off of the young netminder.

On the same shift fifteen seconds later, the score would grow to 2-0 Churchill. With an Upper Montgomery defender skating with the puck behind their own goal, the puck bounced off the skates of Churchill forward Aiden Pham in the right corner. Pham had entered the offensive zone heavy on the forecheck. Churchill center Daniel McNelis picked up the loose puck and cut hard to the net. While on his backhand he stuffed the puck through Shterenberg’s five hole. It was a second broken play goal in a very short amount of time. At the six minute mark of the first period Upper Montgomery went to the powerplay when Churchill goalie Mac Glazer was called for a delay of game penalty. The Upper Montgomery powerplay struggled to control possession of the puck and yet another skater advantage went to waste for the Lightning who have failed to score on the powerplay all season long.

A minute into the second period Lightning forward Henry Honacki was called for checking from behind. Upper Montgomery went to the penalty kill but would not have Honacki available for twelve minutes as the checking from behind penalty also comes with an automatic ten minute misconduct penalty. Upper Montgomery was fortunate to make it through the two minute disadvantage as Churchill continually fired pucks at Shterenberg.

Four minutes into the second period, the onslaught commenced. Wang scored again to make the game 3-0 and effectively ended the competitive portion of the contest. Churchill had possession of the puck in the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. The puck was poke checked to Wang and he skated around the outside of the right faceoff circle. He continued around the circle and cut towards the net while firing a wrist shot from a bad angle along the goal line short side high over Shterenberg’s left shoulder.

A minute and a half later, McNelis tallied his second goal of the game. Churchill defender Matthew Kim had control of the puck on the left wing of his defensive zone. He passed the puck up the left wing to Churchill forward Qin Lai in the neutral zone. Lai skated into the Lightning defensive zone where he was met by Lightning forward Bradley Cupples. Cupples knocked Lai off the puck and sent the puck to the left side of the defensive zone. McNelis reached the puck first and skated back through the slot to the right faceoff circle. McNelis fired the puck back across the grain far side past Shterenberg’s stick and into the net.

The score remained 4-0 for the next nine minutes even though Churchill continued to press and wound up badly outshooting Upper Montgomery seventeen to four in the second period. In the final twenty two seconds of the middle period, the Churchill lead would explode. First, Churchill high scoring forward Zachary Silver scored to make it 5-0. In the Upper Montgomery defensive zone, Wong passed the puck across the zone to the left faceoff circle. Silver’s one time slap shot from the left faceoff circle was saved by Shterenberg. Behind the net, the rebound was collected by Wang. The puck bounced in front past Lightning forward Brandon Bernard. Silver immediately fired once again from the bottom of the left faceoff circle and beat Shterenberg short side on his second chance.

In an effort to preserve the young goaltender, the Lightning coaching staff inserted senior netminder Landon Bernard into the game. Without time to properly warm up, Bernard was pierced on his first shot attempt. McNelis beat the buzzer and extended the Churchill lead to 6-0 as the horn sounded. Deep in his defensive zone, Churchill defender William Standish reversed the puck behind his net to his defensive partner Alexander Bazyluk in the left corner. Bazyluk sent the puck up ice to Lai in the neutral zone. Lai passed the puck down the left wing to McNelis who was streaking into the Lightning defensive zone. McNelis shot from the bottom of the left faceoff circle past Bernard short side low. For McNelis it was his hat-trick goal.

The third period was played with much less intensity than the opening two periods of the game. The McNelis goal with one second remaining in the second period pushed the game into running clock for the entirety of the third period. Five minutes into the third period Wang scored his hat-trick goal. Glazer stopped the puck behind his net and passed the puck into the left corner to Kim. Kim nudged the puck further up the left wing boards to Wong. Facing the boards, Wong made a nifty between the legs breakout pass to Silver firing out of the defensive zone. Silver went past a pinching Lightning defender at the point and skated all the way into the Lightning defensive zone. On a two on one break with Wang, Silver fed Wang in the slot. Wang’s shot went into the far side of the net past Bernard.

A minute later McNelis was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for complaining to the referees in a 7-0 game. Upper Montgomery again failed to score on the powerplay, but the extra skater advantage was not without excitement. While shorthanded, Wong was hooked from behind on a clear breakaway by Lightning forward Nathan Cassel. Wong was awarded a penalty shot. He came down the left side of the ice and weaved through the slot before heading back to the left hand side of the ice. His forehand wrister high to the stick side was shoved away by Bernard’s blocker.

As the game was winding down, with just over a minute remaining, Churchill would score their final goal of the night. At center ice, Upper Montgomery’s defense attempted to dump the puck into the Churchill defensive zone. The puck hit Zhang and careened forward sending him down the left wing alone on a breakaway. He cut to the center of the ice, faked a forehand, and wrapped the puck around Bernard’s left leg pad.

Game Notes:

• Upper Montgomery was outshot by Churchill 32-18, including 17-4 in the second period.
• Philip Shkeda’s four game goal scoring streak ended.
• The Lightning’s futility on the powerplay continued. Upper Montgomery is now 0-20 on traditional powerplays on the season, excluding Nathan Cassel’s penalty shot goal which technically counts as a powerplay marker.
• Upper Montgomery will try to get back on the winning track when the team meets the Churchill 2 Bulldogs on Friday, December 8th. Game time is 10:00 pm at Rockville Ice Arena.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Daniel McNelis—Churchill Center—3 Goals
Second Star—Asher Wang—Churchill Forward—3 Goals, 1 Assist
Third Star—Joshua Wong—Churchill Forward—2 Assists

The Upper Montgomery Lightning upset the second ranked Walter Johnson Wildcats prevailing 8-7 in a wild game Tuesday afternoon at Rockville Ice Arena. The game had just about everything; fake goals, blown leads, lots of complaining about poor referring, and through all of the action, at the final buzzer Upper Montgomery was able to hold on and earn its first win of the season. The 1-6 Lightning have one more supremely difficult game on the schedule against top ranked Churchill before the strength of the opponents weakens over the second half of the season.

Upper Montgomery exploded right from the opening faceoff against Walter Johnson and inexperienced goalie Isaac Russ. The Lightning lit up Russ for three goals in the opening two and a half minutes of the game. Upper Montgomery center Ryan Jacobson started the scoring off of a two on one rush. From the left faceoff circle in the Lightning defensive zone, Jacobson won the faceoff behind his own net. Lightning defender Owen Robbins pushed the puck from the right corner to the right wing boards over to Lightning forward Brandon Bernard. Bernard avoided the pinching Wildcat defender at the blue line and sent the puck up ice to Upper Montgomery forward Henry Honacki in the neutral zone. With the Wildcat defender now out of position, Honacki and Jacobson skated up ice on a two on one rush. Honacki sent the puck across to Jacobson at the top of the slot. Jacobson chopped at the puck and sent a wobbling puck over the stick side shoulder of Russ to put the Lightning in front less than a minute and a half into the game.

On the next shift, before the game was two minutes old, Upper Montgomery cashed in once again. Rewinding at center ice, Upper Montgomery defender and senior co-captain Hunter Cameron sent the puck up ice from just inside his own blue line. He pass was intended for Upper Montgomery center and senior co-captain Chris Hassett. Hassett missed the pass but was able to chase down the puck in the right corner. He carried the puck around the net from right to left and found Lightning forward Bradley Cupples alone in the low slot. From the crease, Cupples stuffed the puck far side into the empty net as Russ overplayed to his right anticipating a shot coming from Hassett as he curled around the net. Cupples’ first goal of the season extended the Lightning lead to 2-0.

Twenty five seconds later on the same shift, Cupples scored once again to pad the Lightning lead. From behind his own net, Cameron sent an outlet pass up the right side of the ice to Hassett. Hassett made a nifty catch of the puck out of mid-air with his stick and immediately sent the puck wide to Cupples ahead of the left Wildcat defender. Cupples skated into the Walter Johnson defensive zone on the right wing. From inside the right faceoff circle he fired a wrist shot across to the top left corner of the net, beating Russ above his blocker and right shoulder. Inexplicably poor play by Walter Johnson had allowed Upper Montgomery to jump out to a 3-0 lead less than two and a half minutes into the game against the heavily favored Wildcats.

With eight and a half minutes remaining in the first period, Hassett would score as the lead swelled to 4-0. With the puck in the left corner of the Walter Johnson defensive zone, Hassett nudged the puck to Lightning forward Nathan Cassel. Cassel sent a pass toward the slot for fellow forward Philip Shkeda. The puck went through Shkeda back to Cameron at the center point of the blue line. Cameron’s slap shot was deflected by Hassett right as the puck was about to hit Russ’ glove hand. The puck caromed off of Russ’ helmet and bounded up in the air before landing on the ice behind the netminder, and then trickling just over the goal line.

A minute after Hassett’s goal had extended Upper Montgomery’s lead to 4-0, Walter Johnson got one back. Jacobson had the puck in the neutral zone where he was checked off the puck. Walter Johnson defender Patrick Murphy picked up the puck at center ice. He skated into the Upper Montgomery defensive zone and went past three Lightning skaters in defensive position. From the right side of the ice, Murphy fired a wrist shot far side just over Lightning 9th grade netminder Ilan Shterenberg’s right leg pad.

The rest of the first period was a series of Walter Johnson meltdowns. First, Walter Johnson forward Ruslan Titov was called for a checking from behind penalty. The call took the highly talented forward off the ice for two minutes and then the automatic ten minute misconduct penalty. Next, after Lightning defender Owen Robbins was called for holding, while with possession on the delayed penalty being called, Walter Johnson was deemed to have had too many skaters on the ice when the extra attacker joined the play prior to Russ reaching the bench area. This was not the case and inflamed the Walter Johnson coaching staff. The too many skaters on the ice penalty negated what would have been a Wildcat powerplay. Then, with a minute and a half left in the period, Wildcat forward Jaden Luskin was called for a phantom high sticking penalty. All three Wildcat penalties were called by the same referee who is well known to be a subpar official. The first period came to a close with Upper Montgomery ahead 4-1 while outshooting the Wildcats nine to seven.

Upper Montgomery began the second period on the tail end of what would become their second unsuccessful powerplay of the game. As the powerplay was ending, top Wildcat defender Jonathan Corwin was also called for high sticking. He argued the penalty and was assessed a ten minute misconduct penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. So, the Wildcats had both a top scoring forward, Titov, and their best defender in the penalty box for extended game action. Unfortunately, the Lightning could not take advantage of the ensuing powerplay and the score remained 4-1. Just after the minor penalty to Jonathan Corwin expired, his brother Matthew was whistled for tripping. Powerplay number four for Upper Montgomery turned out to be a disaster and jump started the Wildcat comeback.

With Upper Montgomery on the powerplay five minutes into the second period, Wildcat forward Henry Horwell stole the puck at the right point. He skated up ice diagonally from his left to his right and then into the Lightning defensive zone. Facing back pressure, Horwell fired from the right faceoff circle. Shterenberg made the save. The rebound went directly back to Horwell in stride as he continued toward the net. His second shot beat Shterenberg short side along the ice for the unassisted shorthanded goal. Instead of increasing their lead while on the powerplay, Walter Johnson was now back in the game trailing only 4-2 with still more than half of regulation game time remaining.

As the game reached the halfway mark, Walter Johnson closed the margin even further. From a skirmish behind the Upper Montgomery net, the puck was stolen from Upper Montgomery defender Brady Berkhammer. Titov kicked the puck free to the side of the net where Wildcat forward Adam Pyott lifted the puck over the right shoulder of Sheterenberg. As the second period wound down, the Lightning had to kill off a rouging penalty to Robbins to maintain the slim lead. The second period ended with Upper Montgomery clinging to a one goal lead and setting the stage for a wild and chaotic final fifteen minutes of action.

The third period erupted in a way that no one could have anticipated. Eleven seconds into the period Upper Montgomery again reclaimed a two goal lead. Off the center ice faceoff to open the period, Hassett won the draw back to Cameron at his right defensive position. Cameron returned the puck to Hassett in the middle of the ice. Hassett immediately swung the puck wide to Cassel down the right wing. Cassel entered the offensive zone and returned the puck to Hassett as he was cutting down the slot. As Hassett converged on Russ, he passed the puck to his left to Shkeda alone at the left post. With Russ playing Hassett to shoot, Shkeda easily dunked the puck to the back of the net. Upper Montgomery five, Walter Johnson three.

On the same shift thirty seconds later, Hassett stole the puck behind his own net. He headed up ice along the left wing boards. Hassett sent a pass to Cassel at the Upper Montgomery defensive blue line. Cassel held the puck before he sent it back to Hassett in the neutral zone. Hassett split the Walter Johnson defenders as he cruised into the slot. From in front of the crease he fired a forehand shot high glove side past Russ. Upper Montgomery six, Walter Johnson three with fourteen minutes remaining.

As with their early first period lead, Upper Montgomery could not close down the game. Wildcat defender Lucas Chang raced to keep the puck in at the right point of the blue line. Three Upper Montgomery skaters attacked the point in an attempt to get the puck cleared to center ice. Instead, Chang dumped the puck down low to Sam Mayster. Mayster returned the puck to Chang on a give and go play as Chang cut to the right faceoff circle. Chang fired a wrist shot low short side past Shterenberg to make the score Upper Montgomery six, Walter Johnson four with twelve and a half minutes remaining.

Thirty seconds later, Pyott would add his second goal of the game. Walter Johnson had possession of the puck in the left corner. Once again a defensive breakdown occurred as three Upper Montgomery defenders went with the puck carrier. Shterenberg made a save with the puck rebounding into the corner to Pyott. As Upper Montgomery recovered its defensive positioning, Pyott centered the puck in front. The puck bounded off Titov to the slot where Horwell fired quickly at Shterenberg. The shot was blocked but fell at the side of the net directly at Pyott’s feet. Pyott tapped the puck past Shterenberg. The score was now Upper Montgomery six, Walter Johnson five with twelve minutes remaining. Four goals in four minutes and Upper Montgomery’s three goal lead was back down to the slimmest of margins.

With just under ten minutes remaining, Upper Montgomery went back on the powerplay after a roughing penalty called on Wildcat defender Jonathan Corwin. Continuing its season long string of powerplay ineptitude, Upper Montgomery failed to capitalize yet again on the extra skater advantage. However, ten seconds after the Wildcats returned to even strength, Upper Montgomery would score to provide a bit of breathing room.

Deep in his own zone, Berkhammer skated around the net from left to right. He found fellow defensive partner Robbins with a short pass. Robbins passed the puck to Jacobson up the right wing. At the red line, Jacobson backhanded the puck down the boards into the offensive zone. Robbins, who had trailed the play up the ice, raced in and was first to the puck. His centering pass to the slot hit off of a skate and went instead to the front of the net. Honacki sent a backhand shot from the left post across the crease and past Russ’ right skate into the net. Upper Montgomery seven, Walter Johnson five with seven and a half minutes remaining.

Fifteen seconds later Upper Montgomery would again grow the lead back to a three goal differential. Off the ensuing center ice faceoff, Walter Johnson dumped the puck into the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. An Upper Montgomery outlet pass was broken up by the Walter Johnson defense but Cassel was able to control the puck in the neutral zone. He passed to Hassett just inside the offensive blue line. Hassett took the puck down into the corner and around the net from right to left. Emerging over the goal line, Hassett found Shkeda alone in the crease with Russ way out of position. Once again, Russ had been focusing on Hassett carrying the puck. With Russ spinning unsuccessfully to get back into the play, Shkeda had his second easy tap in goal of the game.

A minute later Wildcat forward Gianluca Megna took a holding penalty putting the Lightning back on the power play, their sixth of the game. With six and a half minutes remaining in the game, Upper Montgomery had an opportunity to ice the game. With a three goal lead and the extra skater all Upper Montgomery needed to do was stay out of trouble for the next two minutes. And, this is where the drama began.

Yet another uneventful Upper Montgomery powerplay was going to waste. Walter Johnson was pressuring and had the better of puck possession. As Upper Montgomery was trying to keep the puck in at the point, the puck glanced off the glove of Wildcat defender Matthew Corwin. The puck was picked up by Wildcat forward Oliver Curtis. Curtis skated up ice down the left wing into the Lightning defensive zone. He fired a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle that clanged off the cross bar and up ice. With the referee way out of position, he could not tell which bar the puck ricocheted off of and awarded Walter Johnson a shorthanded goal, their second shorthanded goal of the game. The referee made a horrible call / bad mistake. There is no video replay review in high school hockey so the Upper Montgomery coaching staff had no recourse. And, off course video review after the game confirmed that the puck hit the cross bar and never went into the net.

With under five minutes to play, Walter Johnson was gifted a goal they did not earn and the momentum had clearly swung in the Wildcats direction. A minute later Titov scored to close the margin to 8-7 Upper Montgomery with three and a half minutes remaining in the game. A shot from the right point by Jonathan Corwin went wide far side of the net. The puck circled around back to the left point to Murphy. Murphy’s shot was deflected by Titov wide of the net. The puck was picked up by Matthew Corwin in the right faceoff circle. He centered to Titov who got off a quick shot that went far side past Sheterenberg’s stick side.

The final minutes of the game were tense. Cameron was called for a high sticking penalty with just under three minutes to play. Upper Montgomery had a big penalty kill upcoming. After controlling play in the Lightning defensive zone, Walter Johnson pulled Russ leading to a six on four skater advantage. Several blocked shots, several missed shots, and several timely saves by Shterenberg got the Lightning through the penalty kill. After Cameron returned from the penalty box, Upper Montgomery was able to keep the Wildcats off the board over the final minute of action to hang on and escape with a huge win.

Game Notes:

• The win was goaltender Ilan Shterenberg’s first career varsity victory.
• Upper Montgomery was outshot by Walter Johnson 37-30.
• Chris Hassett’s six points, two goals and four assists, were a career high for points and assists in a game.
• Philip Shkeda has now scored in four consecutive games.
• Henry Honacki scored for the third time in four games.
• Beating the 2nd ranked Wildcats equaled the program’s most impressive victory in program history. Upper Montgomery also beat 2nd ranked Quince Orchard last season.
• The Lightning’s futility on the powerplay continued. Upper Montgomery is now 0-18 on traditional powerplays on the season, excluding Nathan Cassel’s penalty shot goal which technically counts as a powerplay marker.
• Upper Montgomery will try to make it two major upsets in a row when the team returns to action after the Thanksgiving break. The top ranked Churchill Bulldogs await on Monday, December 4th. Game time is 6:30 pm at Cabin John Ice Rink.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Chris Hassett—Upper Montgomery Center—2 Goals, 4 Assists
Second Star—Bradley Cupples—Upper Montgomery Forward—2 Goals
Third Star—Philip Shkeda—Upper Montgomery Forward—2 Goals

The Upper Montgomery Lightning competed hard and very well on Wednesday afternoon against highly rated Mount St. Joseph before falling to one of the top ranked private school programs in the region. In the losing effort the Lightning program received many accolades for how well the team played. Looking to spark the team, the Upper Montgomery coaching staff started 9th grade goaltender Ilan Shterenberg in net. Shterenberg continues to be undefeated at the junior varsity level having begun his high school career with four straight victories, two shutouts, and having given up only four goals in those four games. The change in net seemed to energize the team as the Lightning carried play early on in the game.

Mount St. Joseph looked to intimidate the Lightning directly from the drop of the opening faceoff. The Gaels’ skaters began running around trying to check Upper Montgomery skaters all over the ice. The tactic backfired as the Gaels often found their skaters out of position and needing to hook and impede Upper Montgomery’s attack through the neutral zone. The undisciplined play led to a boatload of penalties beginning with a hooking penalty to forward Timothy Trimble on the backcheck. Upper Montgomery had some effective zone time on the first powerplay of the game but could not convert in what would become a common theme for the Lightning. However, two minutes after Trimble’s penalty expired the Lightning would strike for the first goal of the game.

Off of a faceoff in the right circle in the offensive zone, Upper Montgomery controlled possession of the puck. Lightning center Ryan Jacobson tool possession of the puck and skated down below the goal line. As he was cutting back to the right faceoff circle he passed over to his right winger, forward Nathan Cassel. Cassel reversed the flow and skated down into the right corner once again before approaching the slot. He shoveled a backhander toward the net. Jacobson whacked at the puck as it went by, pushing the puck under the leg pads of Gaels goalie Nate Carr. Lightning forward Philip Shkeda was camped out at the side of the net and he also jabbed at the puck, finally pushing the puck over the goal line short side low along the ice.

The Gaels undisciplined play continued with defender Henry Boarman called for interference. Continuing their streak of futility on the powerplay, the Lightning failed to extend the lead. Upper Montgomery did not score on any of the team’s first eight powerplays of the season. But, with four minutes left in the period, Upper Montgomery would score its first ‘powerplay’ goal of the season, kind of. As he was skating up ice in the clear, Cassel was hooked from behind at the offensive blue line by Mount St. Joseph forward Liam Nilan. The hook sent the puck into the corner preventing Cassel from any offensive opportunity and earned the talented forward a penalty shot. With just himself and the goaltender involved in the penalty shot sequence, Cassel started down the left wing side of the ice. From the left faceoff circle, Cassel cut over to the slot area on his forehand. As he shifted to make a move on Carr, going from backhand to forehand, Cassel lost control of the puck. The puck slid away from him toward the net with Cassel continuing his move. The puck beat Carr five hole just inside the right post as he was moving over to make what he thought would be a save on Cassel’s impending forehand shot attempt.

With their two goal lead, Upper Montgomery began to play with some confidence, something that had not been present for much of the season to date. As the first period ticked under a minute remaining, Mount St. Joseph would get on the board. Off of a faceoff in the right faceoff circle in their defensive zone, the puck was pushed behind Shterenberg’s net. A Mount St. Joseph forward gained possession of the puck and sent a pass along the boards back to the left point. The Gaels defender sent the puck back down the boards where Lightning forward Henry Honacki attempted to get the puck out of his defensive zone. The puck was kept in at the left point and fired at the net by Gaels forward Ryan Joyce. The puck was deflected on the way toward Shterenberg by Gaels forward Aiden McIntyre. Shterenberg made the initial save but during the ensuing scramble in front, McIntyre fought off the Lightning defense and stuffed the puck home. Just before the buzzer sounded to end the first period, Lightning forward Brandon Bernard was called for a tripping penalty on a lazy backcheck. A very fast paced and action filled period ended with Upper Montgomery in the lead 2-1, and having outshot Mount St. Joseph thirteen to ten.

It was clear from the tongue lashing provided to the Gaels bench during intermission that their coaching staff was not pleased with the effort displayed during the initial fifteen minutes of action. The white and purple jersey contingent responded immediately capitalizing on their powerplay with a minute and a half gone in the middle period. After a legal Upper Montgomery icing while on the penalty kill, Mount St. Joseph’s forward Trimble, playing defense on the powerplay, retrieved the puck deep in his own end. He began the scoring play by heading up the right wing boards. Using some tick tack passing with fellow forward Emory Mager, Mager avoided the Lightning penalty killers. He curled toward the net where his shot was saved by Shterenberg. As the puck laid behind the young netminder, Gaels forward Ryan Currie slammed home the loose puck before the puck could be cleared from harm by the Upper Montgomery defense.

Back to back penalties on Gaels’ little used forward Jackson Powell for roughing and then on Nilan for interference away from the play gave the Lightning an opportune time to convert on the powerplay. Unfortunately, the anemic Lightning powerplay fizzled yet again failing to score with the two skater advantage. At the nine minute mark of the second period, the Lightning coaching staff put in starting netminder, senior Landon Bernard to play the second half of the game. Shterenberg was very solid in net saving sixteen of the eighteen shots he faced. Just after the goalie switch, Lightning forward Olivia Robbins was called for a slashing penalty.

And, as circumstances usually go, the Lightning failed to score on a long two skater advantage…the Gaels scored on the powerplay for the second consecutive time to jump into the lead. Joyce retrieved the puck in the neutral zone and carried the puck down the left wing as he entered the offensive zone. He passed the puck to Trimble near the left point. Trimble’s shot was saved by Bernard with the rebound caroming into the left faceoff circle. Currie got to the puck first and curled around the faceoff circle toward the center point where he passed off to Boarman. Boarman’s slap shot was blocked in front by traffic, hitting Mager stationed in front of the net in the back of the pants. The puck changed direction and dropped right in front of Currie for a tap in shot at the far side of the net that easily went past Bernard’s glove.

Taking the lead did not stop Mount St. Joseph from continuing its undisciplined play. With three minutes left in the second period, another of the Gaels’ little used forwards, Aidan Folmer was called for hooking. Joyce, unhappy with the penalty call, mouthed off to the officials and drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. With a full two minutes of five on three powerplay time, Upper Montgomery had extensive zone time, but could not get the puck past Carr to tie up the game. Failing to score on either of their two long five on three powerplays doomed Upper Montgomery.

And, once again as circumstances usually go, fifteen seconds after returning to even strength, Mount St. Joseph increased their lead to 4-2. Off of a faceoff win in the offensive zone, Lightning defender Brady Berkhammer was stripped of the puck along the blue line. Gaels forward Matt McQueeney pushed the puck into the neutral zone coming in on a two on one rush with Gaels forward Aaron Werner. From the bottom of the right faceoff circle McQueeney fired a shot on Bernard. Bernard made the save with the puck deposited behind the net. McQueeney gained possession of the puck as he was circling the net. He passed out in front to Werner who had stopped in the low slot. Uncovered, Werner fired a high shot near side that beat Bernard’s blocker. The Gaels had started to tilt play when not in the penalty box scoring four straight goals to erase Upper Montgomery’s 2-0 lead. Mount St. Joseph had outshot Upper Montgomery sixteen to five in the second period. Upper Montgomery mustered only five shots on goal with the two long five on three powerplay opportunities.

The third period was another action packed back and forth frame. Each time it looked like Mount St. Joseph would pull away, the Lightning would fight back and close the gap. Three and a half minutes into the period McIntyre would score his second goal of the game to extend the Gaels lead to 5-2. A faceoff in the right faceoff circle in the offensive zone was won by Currie. The puck went back to the top of the circle where Mager fired a wrist shot on net that was saved by Bernard’s leg pads. McIntyre got behind the Lightning defense to grab control of the puck. He made a backhand to forehand deke before tucking the puck around Bernard’s right leg.

On the next shift, a minute later, the Lightning would score to close the margin to just two goals. Upper Montgomery took possession in their defensive zone. Senior defender Jacob Roth bumped the puck forward to Cassel in the high slot of the defensive zone. Cassel sent an outlet pass to Shkeda on the left wing as he exited the defensive zone. Shkeda returned the puck to Cassel cross ice along the right wing boards in neutral ice. Cassel took the puck all the way into the Mount St. Joseph defensive zone where he circled the net. Coming out the left side of the net, he curled around and fired a high wrist shot short side that beat Carr over his blocker.

With six and a half minutes remaining in the game, Mount St. Joseph’s would be back up by three goals. A dump in behind the Upper Montgomery net was controlled by the Lightning’s defense. The puck was stolen by Mager who immediately wrapped the puck around the front of the net past an unprepared Bernard. Mager had snuck the puck past Bernard’s feet using his backhand going short side just inside the near post.

Six seconds after Mager’s goal, Jacobson cut the lead back to 6-4. From center ice off the faceoff, Jacobson controlled the puck in the neutral zone. He exploded into the offensive zone down the left wing past the Gaels defense. From the left faceoff circle, Jacobson fired a wrist shot far side just under Carr’s outstretched leg pad. It was two consecutive unassisted goals in six seconds, one for each team.

With five minutes to play, Mount St. Joseph would score its final goal to extend the margin once again. A puck battle behind the Upper Montgomery net resulted in a clearing of the puck around the boards to the left point. As the puck approached, Boarman took an innocent slap at the puck firing it at the net from distance. Seeming to loose track of the puck, it sailed high past Bernard’s blocker. It was a very soft goal to allow and ended any real chance for the Lightning of fighting back to tie the game.

A minute and a half later Upper Montgomery would tally once more to close the score back to 7-5, and show how important the last Gaels goal would prove to be. Lightning senior center and co-captain, Chris Hassett picked up the puck in the slot area of the Upper Montgomery defensive zone while on the backcheck. He skated up ice through the neutral zone on a wide offensive zone entry down the left wing. From a bad angle at the bottom of the left faceoff circle, Hassett dished in front with his backhand to Honacki charging toward the front of the net. Honacki got his backhand on the pass and swiped the puck into the far side of the empty net to close out the scoring.

Game Notes:

• The start in net was Ilan Shterenberg’s first career varsity appearance.
• Jacob Roth’s assist was his first career varsity point.
• Henry Honacki scored for the second time in three games.
• Upper Montgomery was outshot by Mount St. Joseph’s 38-25, getting dominated over the final two periods of play, 28-12.
• Nathan Cassel’s penalty shot goal was the Lightning’s first penalty shot in at least four seasons.
• The Lightning are now zero for twelve on traditional powerplays for the season excluding Cassel’s penalty shot goal which technically counts as a powerplay marker.
• Upper Montgomery will try again to secure its first victory of the season when the team returns to action after a two week break on Tuesday afternoon, November 21st, taking on the 2nd ranked Walter Johnson Wildcats. Game time is 3:10 pm at Rockville Ice Arena.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Emory Mager—Mount St. Joseph’s Forward—1 Goal, 3 Assists
Second Star—Nathan Cassel—Upper Montgomery Forward—2 Goals, 1 Assist
Third Star—Ryan Currie—Mount St. Joseph’s Forward—2 Goals, 1 Assist

Friday evening’s game against BCC was the start of a tough four game stretch for the Upper Montgomery Lightning. Judging by the result, a convincing 7-2 BCC victory in which the Barons were in control from the beginning of the contest, the next three games may be similarly difficult if the Upper Montgomery defense and goaltending does not quickly improve. The loss continues the Lightning’s winless start to the season, now at 0-5, and which could easily grow with Mount St. Joseph’s, second ranked Walter Johnson, and top ranked Churchill upcoming over the next three games.

The Lightning coaches knew that this game was going to be difficult. In addition to the highly talented opponent, Upper Montgomery was going to be missing leading scorer Chris Hassett, super talented defender Andrew Botti who is still out with an upper body injury, and the squad would also be missing Ryan Jacobson. Both Hassett and Jacobson separately would be missing the game traveling with their external travel team being out-of-town.

The shorthanded Lightning put forth a decent effort to start the game. The team packed in tight defensively and made it difficult for the Barons to get many quality looks on Upper Montgomery’s netminder, Landon Bernard. The effect of the packed in defensive style was that the team barely mustered quality scoring chances of their own. The Lightning registered just four shots on goal in the first period with none of the shots on net threatening to beat BCC goalie Vivienne Boyle.

BCC would jump to an early 1-0 lead off of an unfortunate bounce. An Upper Montgomery turnover on the side wall went to BCC forward Aleksander Talty. Talty fired from the left faceoff circle. His shot was blocked by the Upper Montgomery defense and the puck ricocheted through the slot right onto the stick of BCC forward Evan Williams. Bernard went down too early and from the bottom of the right faceoff circle Williams flipped the puck over the prone goaltender.

Midway through the first period, Upper Montgomery went on the powerplay for the first time when Barons’ defender Danny Loughlin was called for roughing. As has been the case the entire season, the Lightning failed to convert with the extra skater, and on this opportunity they failed to generate any offensive threat. But, with Upper Montgomery focusing almost entirely on defense, the score was still very competitive with BCC only leading by one goal with two minutes remaining in the first period.

However, with less than two minutes remaining in the first period, Loughlin sent the puck down the boards into the left corner. Upper Montgomery’s defense sent the puck around the net from defender to defender. The upcoming outlet pass to breakout of the defensive zone was deflected back toward the Lightning goal directly onto the stick of Williams once again. Williams curled into the right circle and fired high far side past an unsuspecting Bernard. Even though the Lightning had been outplayed, it was two bad deflections that led directly to both Barons’ goals.

Early in the second period BCC would end the competitive portion of the game. Barons’ defender Collin Eccles while spinning and falling in the neutral zone pushed the puck to Barons’ forward Peter Lanpher. Lanpher traveled down the left wing into the Lightning defensive zone. He then left a drop pass for Eccles’ defensive partner Grady Jiggens. From between the top of the left faceoff circle and the blue line, Jiggens let loose with a wrist shot high glove side that bounced out of Bernard’s glove over his body and into the net. It was a deflating goal that sucked the energy out of the Lightning bench. The remainder of the game took on the feel of a scrimmage lacking in intensity, with Upper Montgomery running around all over the ice just trying to get the puck outside of their defensive zone.

Showing how dominant BCC was in the period, the shots on goal were tilted in favor of the Barons eighteen to five. Upper Montgomery was under siege while killing a tripping penalty assessed to Henry Honacki. With under four minutes to go in the middle frame, Barons center Matthew Duffy would score an unassisted goal to enlarge the Barons lead to 4-0. BCC dumped the puck into the Lightning defensive zone. Lightning defender, senior co-captain Hunter Cameron cleared the puck back out to center ice. Duffy picked up the puck and came back into the Lightning defensive zone. He faked around an Upper Montgomery defender and lifted a backhander over Bernard’s blocker and right shoulder short side high. As the period mercifully neared its conclusion, high scoring Lightning forward Nathan Cassel was given a ten minute misconduct penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Fifteen seconds into the third period Duffy struck again. He won the opening faceoff back and over to Eccles on the left wing side of the ice. Eccles playing this shift at forward passed the puck along the blue line over to Sebastian Harrison on the right side of the ice. Harrison sent the puck back to left along the blue line to Jiggens. Jiggens hit Eccles in the center of the neutral zone with a pass. Eccles skated down the left wing and left a drop pass for Duffy in the left faceoff circle. Duffy ripped a wicked wrist shot just under the crossbar high blocker side past Bernard who had little chance on the play.

Thirty seconds later BCC went up 6-0. The Barons exited their defensive zone along the right wing. Lanpher passed the puck up to Harrison who sent it back to Lanpher. Lanpher skated through the neutral zone and into the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. Lanpher found Eccles all alone in the slot after a missed Lightning defensive assignment. Eccles had a clean look at the net and beat Bernard far side past his stick and blocker.

Halfway through the final stanza, Upper Montgomery took back to back penalties. First Cameron was called for tripping and then Lightning forward Philip Shkeda was called for roughing. Just prior to Cameron’s penalty expiring, BCC scored a five on three goal powerplay goal. Duffy won a faceoff in the left circle back to the Eccles at the mid point along the blue line. Skating to the right faceoff circle, Eccles unloaded a shot that was saved by Bernard’s leg pads. Talty retrieved the puck along the left wing boards and sent it up to Duffy who was now stationed at the center mid point along the blue line. Duffy’s low wrist shot through traffic went in along the ice stick side to the far corner of the net for his hat trick goal.

With four and a half minutes left in the game, Upper Montgomery would spoil Boyle’s shutout bid. Shkeda collected a rebound of a BCC shot in his right defensive corner. He skated the length of the ice up the left wing boards deep into the offensive zone. He fired a wrist shot from a bad angle that was saved by Boyle. The rebound was pushed behind the net. A bad BCC clearing attempt was kept in at the left point by Lightning defender Brady Berkhammer. Berkhammer passed the puck to Shkeda in the slot. Shkeda skated to his right into the right faceoff circle where he lifted a backhander toward the net which was deflected by a backchecking BCC forward up over Boyle’s glove into the top right corner of the net.

The Lightning would close out the scoring with just over a minute left in the game. Berkhammer blocked a BCC shot and swatted the puck over to Lightning forward Bradley Cupples. Cupples exited the Lightning defensive zone and skated down the left wing into the offensive zone. Cupples’ attempted pass back over to Berkhammer at the right point hit a leg and laid in the high slot. Lightning senior Olivia Robbins was trailing the play and she collected the loose puck. Robbins patiently waited for a screen to develop in front of the net before shooting. Her low shot stick side beat Boyle for her first goal of the season.

Game Notes:

• Upper Montgomery gave up three more goals in the third period. The team now has a minus thirteen goal differential in the third period over the first five games of the season.
• Upper Montgomery was badly outshot by BCC 43-14, getting dominated over the final two periods of play, 33-10.
• Since getting its first ever points in a tie against BCC last season, the Barons have won the next two games by scores of 8-2 and 7-2.
• Upper Montgomery again looks to secure its first win of the season when the team returns to action on Wednesday afternoon, taking on private school powerhouse Mount St. Joseph’s. Game time is 4:00 pm at Laurel Ice Gardens. This will be the first ever meeting between the programs.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Matthew Duffy—BCC Center—3 Goals
Second Star—Evan Williams—BCC Forward—2 Goals
Third Star—Collin Eccles—BCC Defense—1 Goal, 3 Assists

For the first half of Tuesday evening’s game, it looked like the Upper Montgomery Lightning would secure their initial victory of the 2023-2024 season. Then, the Sherwood Warriors stormed back and made it a haunted Halloween evening for the green and gold. The loss dropped the Lightning’s record on the season to 0-4, with defensive miscues, late game collapses, and shaky goaltending continuing to impact the team’s performance. A very tough stretch of games is upcoming with BCC, Mount St. Joseph’s, Walter Johnson, and Churchill looming on the schedule over the next month of action.

The Lightning controlled play from the opening faceoff attacking and firing shots on Sherwood’s backup netminder Alexander Crotzer-Scartascini who drew the starting assignment against Upper Montgomery. In the opening minutes of the game, Lightning senior center and co-captain, Chris Hassett had a semi-breakaway that was stopped by Crotzer-Scartascini’s leg pads. However, six minutes into the game Hassett would get redemption putting Upper Montgomery ahead to start the scoring. Lightning forward Nathan Cassel intercepted a Sherwood clearing attempt along the right wing boards in the offensive zone. He cut toward the middle of the ice and was hooked from behind. While spinning to the ice he sent a backhand twirl pass over to Hassett standing at the left post. Hassett spun a backhand shot through Crotzer-Scartascini’s five hole from a forty-five degree angle to put Upper Montgomery ahead.

Two minutes later Upper Montgomery would increase its lead with the same forwards once again combining on the scoring play. This time it was Hassett who set up Cassel for the tally. A bouncing puck was batted around in the neutral zone. A Sherwood defender shot the puck off of Hassett’s skates with the puck deflecting to Cassel. Cassel cut into the offensive zone down the left wing where he lost possession of the puck while going around the Sherwood defense. He kicked the puck back onto his stick before he too went five hole, finishing on his forehand.

A minute later the barrage continued. Upper Montgomery 9th grade defender, Miles Wendland bumped a Sherwood forward off the puck in the slot in front of Lightning netminder Landon Bernard. Wendland’s poke check separated the Sherwood skater from the puck. The puck laid in the slot until Upper Montgomery forward Henry Honacki bumped the puck forward to Lightning senior Brandon Bernard who headed up ice into the neutral zone. Bernard skated down the right wing with his speed enabling him to beat the Warriors’ defender wide. Bernard cut to the front of the net and scored on the forehand, again going five hole. With six minutes left in the first period, the Lightning led 3-0 and Crotzer-Scartascini’s night was over having been replaced in net by Sherwood’s starting goalie, Samuel Hutt. Shots on goal in the first period were even with Bernard making saves on all nine Sherwood shots and the Warriors’ goalies facing ten total shots.

The start of the second period brought with it the beginning of an ominous final two periods of play for the Lightning. A little over a minute into the frame, Sherwood forward Cameron Colandro would get the Warriors on the scoreboard. Off the rush, Upper Montgomery turned the puck over just inside of the Sherwood blue line. Colandro sent a pass up ice to Sherwood center Aiden Cook. Cook skated through the middle of the neutral zone but fumbled the puck into the right corner. He retrieved the puck and sent a pass up to Colandro along the side boards. Colanrdo sent a return pass to Cook who then sent a backhand shot wide of the net. Colandro recovered the puck and lifted a backhander of his own over Bernard’s left leg pad.

Upper Montgomery was not deflated by the initial Sherwood goal. A minute and a half later the lead was back to three goals. Cassel rewound in the neutral zone and passed cross ice to Hassett at the left wing boards. Hassett entered the offensive zone under control and sent a cross ice feed into the empty right corner. Cassel retrieved the puck and fed Lightning defender Brady Berkhammer at the right point. Berkhammer’s near side snap shot was deflected by Hassett up over Hutt’s pads and into the net.

As the clocked moved under ten minutes remaining in the second period, Berkhammer was called for hooking. Upper Montgomery was within ten seconds of killing off the penalty when Sherwood again closed to within two goals. Upper Montgomery cleared the puck down the ice behind Hutt’s goal. Hutt handed the puck off to Sherwood’s leading scorer and extremely talented forward Grayson Winckler. Winckler sent a pass to Sherwood’s other dynamic skater, center Noi Jonasson who rocketed through the neutral zone down the right wing and around the Lightning defense. Jonasson cut in on Bernard who made the initial save. Jonasson was able to gain control of the puck and rewind for another drive toward the net this time from the left side of the ice. Bernard again made the save on Jonasson’s shot, with the puck rebounding into the slot where Oz Sacks fired to the roof of the net over Bernard’s glove hand.

Two minutes later the Upper Montgomery lead would shrink further. Off of a misplay in the neutral zone by the Lightning defense, Winckler sped around the Lightning defenders and into the offensive zone. He pulled up at the right faceoff circle and fired past Bernard stick side. A minute later the score was tied as Winckler had his second goal of the same shift. Sherwood defender Tyler Payson cleared the puck around his own net to Winckler on the right wing. Winckler skated through the middle of the neutral zone and split the Lighting defense with some nifty stickhandling. In alone on Bernard, he lifted a backhander up over Bernard’s blocker and stick. Sherwood’s three goals in three minutes evened the score at four with five minutes left in the second period.

With two minutes remaining in the second period, Sherwood would take its first lead of the game. Payson cleared the puck from in front of his own net to a streaking Jonasson charging up ice along with Winckler. The outlet pass sprung both of Sherwood’s most talented skaters in on a two on one rush. Jonasson passed the puck wide to Winckler on the right wing heading into the offensive zone. Winckler unleashed a slap shot on Bernard which the netminder saved using his right leg pad. The rebound squirted out in front and was kicked into the net by Jonasson at the far post. High school hockey does not employ replay and there are no coaches challenges so the goal was allowed to stand.

Upper Montgomery would respond on the very next shift a mere thirty seconds later. In the offensive zone, the Sherwood defense turned the puck over again. Honacki fanned on his shot attempt with the puck going directly to Brandon Bernard. Bernard’s shot from the right faceoff circle was saved by Hutt. Honacki had crashed the net and poked the loose puck under Hutt’s leg pads to even the score. A wild second period saw Sherwood score five times, including four consecutive goals, and Upper Montgomery tally twice turning a comfortable Lightning lead into a one period slugfest to determine the victor.

Playing with a short bench for much of the opening portion of the season, the Lightning have had difficulty finishing games. Their play in the third periods of games has looked ragged and sloppy. The final fifteen minutes against Sherwood was no different. Thirty seconds into the third period, Sherwood had regained the lead. Jonasson sent an outlet pass to a streaking Winckler down the right wing entering the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. Winckler skated around the Upper Montgomery defense and into the slot. He faked backhand to forehand and went high over Bernard’s glove.

With Upper Montgomery trying to claw back even, Sherwood would increase their lead to two goals with just under nine minutes to play. From his defensive right corner, Sherwood defender Roman Khrizman sent the puck up the left wing boards to his defensive partner Payson. Payson cruised diagonally through the neutral zone, into the Upper Montgomery defensive zone, and pulled up at the top of the right faceoff circle. He dished the puck to Warriors’ forward Ryan Green. Green’s shot from far outside the right circle along the right wing boards deflected off Lightning defender, senior co-captain Hunter Cameron stationed in front of the goal and past Bernard.

Two minutes later, Sherwood’s lead would increase to 8-5. Payson stopped the puck at his own blue line and advanced the puck to Winckler headed up ice. Tired Upper Montgomery skaters were changing behind the play. The poor line change provided Winckler and his running mate Jonasson another two on one rush. Winckler stick handled into the slot and pushed the puck over to Jonasson. Jonasson stick handled back into the slot from the bottom of the right circle and slid a backhanded shot past Bernard stick side.

Upper Montgomery would not quit. Ten seconds after Jonasson’s goal, the Lightning would be right back in the game. Off of the ensuing faceoff at neutral ice, Hassett won the draw by kicking the puck left over to Cassel. Cassel motored up ice and cut to his right entering the offensive zone. He went wide. At the bottom of the right faceoff circle Cassel sent a pass across the net to Lightning forward Philip Shkeda. From in front, Shkeda’s first shot was saved by Hutt, but he stayed with the play and banged in the rebound.

A little over a minute later, the game was back to a one goal game. Cameron fought for the puck in the corner and cleared the puck up the boards. The puck took a funny bounce and was collected by Hassett. Hassett skated the puck into the Sherwood defensive zone. From the outer edge of the right circle he sent a pass to Honacki. Honacki cut to the slot and shot at Hutt. Hutt made the save with the puck rebounding to the side of the net where it was knocked home by Cassel at the left post.

With six minutes left, Sherwood now led 8-7. Unfortunately for the Lightning faithful, that would be as close as Upper Montgomery would get. Closing to within one goal seemed to take all of the energy out of the team with Sherwood controlling most of the play in the waning minutes of action. Upper Montgomery had difficulty establishing in the offensive zone, and could not get Bernard out of the net for an extra attacker until there were 45 seconds remaining in the game. Then, once Bernard had been pulled for the extra skater, Payson was able to get to a loose puck in his defensive zone. From the bottom of the left faceoff circle, he turned and fired down ice into the empty net sealing the come from behind victory for the Warriors.

Game Notes:

• Upper Montgomery gave up four more goals in the third period. The team now has a minus twelve goal differential in the third period over the first four games of the season.
• Upper Montgomery was outshot by Sherwood 34-26, getting dominated over the final two periods of play, 25-16.
• Upper Montgomery blew a three goal lead in the first period and again after regaining their three goal lead halfway through the game.
• Wendland’s assist was his first career high school point.
• Upper Montgomery did not have a powerplay for the second consecutive game.
• Upper Montgomery looks to secure the first win of the season when the team returns to action on Friday evening, taking on the BCC Barons. Game time is 8:50 pm at Rockville Ice Arena.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Grayson Winckler—Sherwood Forward—3 Goals, 3 Assists
Second Star—Nathan Cassel—Upper Montgomery Forward—2 Goals, 3 Assists
Third Star—Noi Jonasson—Sherwood Center—2 Goals, 2 Assists

The Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity completed a fabulous regular season finishing with a 9-0-1 record and earning the second seed in the Montgomery Hockey Conference junior varsity playoffs. The club eagerly awaited the announcement of the tournament bracket and quickly learned that it drew the worst imaginable opponent possible in the quarterfinal round of the junior varsity playoffs. Friday night’s game played out exactly how the coaching staff expected.

BCC is really not a bottom junior varsity squad. Within the rules, teams with varsity and junior varsity eligible student athletes pick and choose how to manage the maximum and minimum games requirement. BCC places a couple of dual varsity and junior varsity eligible students in their junior varsity game day lineup each game during the regular season to help stabilize the action. All student athletes play in enough games to become junior varsity playoff eligible. Then, when the playoff arrive, all of the BCC dual rostered students compete, often playing on the same line. Thus, BCC’s junior varsity playoff roster is much better than their results during the regular season would indicate.

The first period was full of hard hits which began right from the opening faceoff. The referees did not have control of the game right from the outset, and it would show later as the game continued. BCC forward Brady Page through a few nice big hits. While shots on goal in the period were fairly even, five for Upper Montgomery and four for BCC, the territorial play was constantly in the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. This was true even when Upper Montgomery was playing with an extra skater while on both of their first period powerplays. BCC forward Ramin Jacobs was called for tripping just over three minutes into the contest and BCC defender Benjamin Lyons was called for roughing halfway through the period. Upper Montgomery barely had possession of the puck in the offensive zone on either powerplay.

With just under five minutes remaining in the opening period, BCC jumped out to a one to zero lead. From deep in the BCC defensive zone to the left of his net, BCC defender Nathaniel Shullman sent a backhand pass up the left wing boards to BCC forward Kiran Maltby. Maltby skated the puck down the left side and into the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. He curled up in the left faceoff circle and looked back toward the left point. With the point empty, he fired a cross ice pass through the crease. The puck went directly to Page standing a few feet outside the right goal post. Page shot quickly after stopping the pass beating a sliding Lightning netminder Ilan Shterenberg low to the stick side.

At the beginning of the second period, Lightning defender Cole Howerton was called for roughing. The stellar Upper Montgomery penalty kill prevented BCC from increasing their lead. When Lightning defender Miles Wendland was called for roughing halfway through the second period, the Lightning penalty kill again came through stymieing the Barons once again. With five and a half minutes left in the second period, the game resembled so many of Upper Montgomery’s regular season games, low scoring with the Lightning defending all over the ice, unblemished penalty killing, and Shterenberg making saves to keep the team in the game. Then, disaster struck. BCC cleared the puck to just outside the Upper Montgomery defensive blue line. The puck was misplayed by a Lightning defender leading to a breakaway opportunity for BCC forward Henry Swann. Swann chose to shoot a forehand shot from the crease that beat Shterenberg five hole to open up a two goal lead for the Barons.

Trailing by two goals, Upper Montgomery got out of their structure and style of play trying to force offense. BCC netminder Tycho Narrod-Malcolm had a super easy game through two periods of play with five innocent shots on goal during the first period while making just three saves in the second period. Shterenberg on the other hand was incredibly busy making highlight reel saves in the second period as BCC fired seventeen shots at him.

The play that put the game out of reach occurred near the end of the second period when BCC scored what seemed to be an insurmountable third goal. BCC advanced the puck from their defensive zone in the right corner up the right wing. Inside the Upper Montgomery defensive zone, the puck was played toward the net from the right wing boards. The puck was cut off by Howerton who cleared the puck out of the slot back over to the right wing boards. Lukas Hartnett-Mueller then sent a cross ice pass to Nicholas Mencher standing alone just outside the left post. Unguarded, Mencher sent a one-time shot past Shterenberg stick side.

The Lightning were granted a late second period powerplay when Lyons was called for slashing. Upper Montgomery was not able to generate any offensive chances. After two periods of play BCC led three to zero and the Lightning’s cinderella season was slipping away. The Lightning, who were playing without three regular skaters, were tiring. Offensively, they could generate very few chances and only fifteen minutes remained in the season.

Early in the third period, Upper Montgomery began to pressure Narrod-Malcolm more than over the previous thirty minutes of play. With just under twelve minutes left in the game, Upper Montgomery would break through. Howerton picked up the puck in his defensive one and skated diagonally up ice from the right side of the ice down the left wing. Entering the offensive zone, he carried the puck to the left circle where he unleashed a wrist shot on goal. The rebound shot out to the opposite side of the ice and to Lightning forward Sean Levine. From in front, Levine was able to bunt push the puck with his forehand into the open portion of the net past Narrod-Malcolm’s glove.

At three to one the chance of a comeback was still alive. Then, with nine and a half minutes left, the comeback became much more difficult. Lightning defender Patrick Sell was called for a major penalty for checking from behind as he leveled BCC defender Jeronimo Castano-Tellez into the side boards. The five minute major penalty sidetracked the comeback effort as the Lightning would have to kill off the five minute penalty. Causing even more harm was that a second position skater was going to have to serve the penalty. So, starting the game with nine skaters, and then dropping down to eight with Sell’s ejection for the major penalty, and then having another skater serve the penalty left the Lightning with seven skaters to kill the five minute shorthanded situation.

Led by Adam Levine, Josh Nadler, Aiden Zheng, and AJ Marks up front and by Howerton and Wendland in back, the Lightning excelled. While shorthanded, Sean Levine was assessed an elbowing penalty putting the Lightning in an even more precarious position. BCC had a five on three skater advantage for one minute and eighteen seconds and Upper Montgomery had only six skaters to utilize to kill the BCC powerplays. It was an unbelievable display of effort and desire by the remaining Lightning skaters to fight through the BCC powerplay. Upper Montgomery first neutralized the remainder of the five on three advantage and then the rest of Sean Levine’s minor penalty. Having to utilize so much energy on the defensive side and having multiple skaters play extended long shifts with several of the skaters also having to double shift due to the lack of skaters negated any real opportunity for a comeback. Upper Montgomery was not able to generate an offensive thrust over the final four minutes of the game once Sean Levine returned to the ice and then when Jason Woodman who was serving Sell’s five minute major rejoined game action.

BCC would seal the game with an empty net goal with 45 seconds remaining. Mencher finished off a nice passing sequence off of another cross ice pass from Hartnett-Mueller. Shullman who had started the play up ice and fired wide of the net was credited with the secondary assist. Shortly thereafter, the buzzer sounded on Upper Montgomery’s magical season. With many of the student athletes eligible to return again next season, new rising incoming ninth graders, and an expected influx of several student athletes from other high schools, the bar set by the 2023 – 2024 Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity will be very difficult to replicate. Senior Adam Levine, junior Josh Nadler, junior Cole Howerton, junior Patrick Sell, and junior TJ Gottesman have the distinction of being on the 2021 – 2022 Upper Montgomery Lightning squad that won the Montgomery Hockey Conference Junior Varsity Championship and also being on the 2023 – 2024 squad that went undefeated during the regular season.

Game Notes:

• Upper Montgomery junior Josh Nadler fell one goal short of tying the junior varsity program record for goals in a season.
• Upper Montgomery senior Adam Levine fell one assist short of tying the junior varsity program record for assists in a season.
• Shots on goal for the game were lopsided in favor of BCC with 27 and Upper Montgomery with only 14.
• Upper Montgomery ninth grade goalie Ilan Shterenberg suffered his first career junior varsity loss.
• Upper Montgomery’s penalty finished the regular season perfect with a true goalie in net killing off four more penalties in the game. The Lightning killed off a five minute major to Patrick Sell and a 5-3 disadvantage to close the regular season 27-27 on the penalty kill with a goalie in net.
• Senior Sean Levine scored in his final high school hockey game.
• The Upper Montgomery junior varsity concluded the season with a 9-1-1 overall record. The nine wins in a season are a program record. The .863 winning percentage is also a program record.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Lucas Mueller—BCC Forward—2 Assists
Second Star—Ilan Shterenberg—Upper Montgomery Goalie—24 Saves, .899 Save Percentage
Third Star—Brady Page—BCC Forward—1 Goal

The Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity faced off Tuesday evening against the Oakdale Bears a top non-conference opponent. Entering the game, the talent of Oakdale placed the Lightning’s eight game season opening undefeated streak in jeopardy. Further complicating Upper Montgomery’s chances of beating Oakdale was that Lightning varsity senior co-captain Chris Hassett (a position skater) would be playing goalie in place of standout ninth grade netminder Ilan Shterenberg. All of the pre-game worry was for naught as the game quickly turned into a blowout. With the victory, the Upper Montgomery junior varsity tied the program record for wins in a season with their eighth victory.

Entering the game Oakdale goalie Zachary Sanford seemed to give the Bears a decided advantage. He played goalie whereas Upper Montgomery would be hoping that Hassett could make enough saves to provide the squad with an opportunity to stay in the game. Maybe having a position player in net lit a fire in the Lightning. Maybe the opportunity to set the team record for wins in a season was the ignitor. Whatever the motivation, the team erupted offensively and shellacked the Bears, completely outplaying Oakdale in a one-sided 10-4 destruction.

Upper Montgomery scored its first goal on the second shift of the game. Upper Montgomery center Josh Nadler scored the first of his career high four goals. It was as if Sanford was allergic to stopping anything Nadler put toward the net. His first goal came off of a faceoff in the right circle where he won the puck to the side boards. Lightning forward Jason Woodman kicked the puck back to the point to Upper Montgomery defender Miles Wendland. Wendland dumped the puck down along the boards and around the net where Upper Montgomery’s other forward, TJ Gottesman rushed over to retrieve the puck. Gottesman tripped and fell. Upon standing up, Gottesman and Woodman worked the puck free of the Bears defense. Gottesman then pushed the puck to Nadler in the left faceoff circle. Nadler’s wrist shot from a bad angle went far side along the ice and past Sanford’s left leg pad.

At the tail end of the same shift, Nadler would increase the Lightning’s lead to two. Wendland sent the puck around the boards in the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. Nadler picked the puck up along the right wing boards. He then chipped the puck by the Bears defense into neutral ice. He raced after the puck and beat the Oakdale defense to the puck. Upon entering the offensive zone, he fired a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle. The shot went far side past Sanford’s blocker into the net.

Three minutes later the Upper Montgomery lead would swell to three. Lightning defender Patrick Sell held the puck at his own blue line along the right wing boards. He flung a pass cross ice to Upper Montgomery ninth grade forward Aiden Zheng. Zheng took possession of the puck at the red line along the left wing boards. Zheng skated the puck into the offensive zone and went around the net from left to right. Nearing the right corner he turned and centered the puck to the crease where Upper Montgomery center Adam Levine used his backhand to redirect the puck under Sanford’s right leg pad. The goal was Levine’s sixth straight game recording at least one point setting the Upper Montgomery junior varsity program record.

Just five and a half minutes into the game Upper Montgomery led 3-0. To their credit, Oakdale did not quit on the game. With just under six minutes left in the first period, Oakdale cut the lead to 3-1. Off of a faceoff in the left faceoff circle, Oakdale won possession along the left wing boards. Joshua Rath skated the puck down into the left corner where he fought through the Upper Montgomery defense. As he headed toward the net underneath the red goal line he dished the puck over to Oakdale forward Ryan Baez. Baez then fed the front of the net where Bears center Shaun Hulton poked a quick backhand shot along the ice short side past Hassett.

Fifty seconds later Gottesman would provide Upper Montgomery with another three goal lead. Gottesman pressured at the right point in the Upper Montgomery defensive zone forcing a weak shot attempt towards Hassett. The shot was intercepted by Lightning forward AJ Marks. Marks skated until he was one step outside the defensive zone blue line and fired a pass up to Gottesman who had skated past the Bears defense. Marks’ pass was right on the money. Gottesman collected the puck as he crossed the offensive zone blue line onsides. Gottesman advanced to the top of the faceoff circles before he fired a wrist shot across his body to the far side of the net. The puck went low past Sanford’s glove hand just inside the right goal post.

With a minute and a half left in the period, Zheng would tally to finish the Lightning’s first period scoring onslaught. Wendland attempted to clear the puck out of the defensive zone. His clearing attempt hit Woodman and deflected over to Lightning forward Sean Levine in the right circle of the defensive zone. Levine banked the puck out of the defensive zone off the boards. Zheng chased the puck down and skated into the offensive zone down the right side of the ice. As he neared the right corner, he cut to the middle of the ice and sent a backhand shot five hole on Sanford. For a team that had difficulty scoring goals entering the game, Upper Montgomery had erupted for five goals on just eight shots on net in the period. Meanwhile, Hassett had made seven saves allowing only one goal. A couple of Hassett’s saves were of the high quality variety and earned him stick taps of appreciation from his teammates.

With a four goal bulge and the ability to play freely, Upper Montgomery began to press forward offensively. The game began to take on the appearance of a pick up game and play design details began to escape both teams. Nadler scored his third goal at the ten minute mark to push the Upper Montgomery lead to 6-1. Lightning defender Jake Roth kept the puck in at the blue line after a weak Oakdale clearing pass. He passed to Nadler wide open in the high slot. Nadler skated in a few steps closer down the slot. He fired a wrist shot low to the stick side along the ice just inside the left post for his hat-trick goal.

A minute and a half later a loud roar overtook the rink. Upper Montgomery ninth grade defender, Avery Evans picked up the puck in her defensive zone. She skated down the ice as if fired out of a cannon all the way through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone. From the bottom of the left circle and from a bad angle, Evans shot the puck toward the net. The puck went over Sanford’s leg pads and under his glove before settling over the goal line. It was Evans’ first career high school goal and the jubilant team celebration added to the night’s festivities.

With a six goal lead in the second period, the game turned into running clock. Oakdale was called for the first penalty of the game for too many skaters on the ice with just over three minutes left in the second period. Upper Montgomery’s condensed powerplay due to the running clock was disastrous. With the large lead, the Upper Montgomery coaching staff utilized skaters not normally used on the powerplay. The Bears took advantage. Oakdale defender Daniel King retrieved an Upper Montgomery dump in deep in the Bears defensive zone. From the right faceoff circle he skated up ice along the right wing boards heading out of his defensive zone. He skated past Upper Montgomery’s left defender and then the right defender overplayed the play. King cut around the second Lightning defender to the middle of the ice. Entering the offensive zone he drifted left to the inside edge of the left faceoff circle. King then shot back across from where he had just skated into the far side of the net. The puck whizzed past Hassett’s left leg pad under his glove for the unassisted shorthanded goal.

The second period ended with the score 7-2 in favor of the Lightning. Hassett again made seven saves. Through two periods he had stopped 14 of 16 shots on goal. Sanford had a better period making saves on five of the seven shots fired at him during the second period. However, through thirty minutes of game action he had made eight saves and had allowed seven goals.

At the end of the second period, Sell took an interference penalty. Up until this point in the season, Upper Montgomery had been perfect on the penalty kill. Oakdale would end that streak with the qualifier that Hassett was in net. The puck was dumped into the Upper Montgomery zone and went on net. Hassett steered the puck aside into the right corner. Hulton raced in and retrieved the puck before the unassuming Lightning penalty killers (who had all anticipated that Hassett would play the slow rolling puck up ice to one of the skaters or directly out of the zone on his own). Hulton skated behind the net with the puck, then reversed course and came out in front near side. His short pass to Oakdale forward Morgan Venezie at the right post was immediately wristed past Hassett’s glove as Hassett was trying to track down where the puck might be on the transition from behind the net to out in front.

The score had closed to 7-3 with nearly the entire third period to be played. A minute later any Oakdale comeback thoughts were erased by Nadler. Nadler broke up the play in the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. Woodman made an outlet pass up to Gottesman through neutral ice. Gottesman took the puck into the offensive zone along the right side. Gottesman’s pass from the right side was behind both Nadler and Woodman. Woodman hustled to the left wing boards and crashed into the boards and the Bears defending forward. While doing so, he was able to knock the puck further down the boards to Nadler. Nadler took the puck directly at the net shooting into and ultimately past Sanford’s feet.

Two minutes later Gottesman would score his second goal of the night off of a Bears turnover. The puck was in the Oakdale defensive zone behind the net. The Bears defender chipped the puck off the boards on the left wing side. Nadler stepped in front of the puck and played the puck forward a few feet to Gottesman in the left faceoff circle. Gottesman fired far side into Sanford’s leg pads. He followed up his shot and knocked the rebound into the net five hole.

Even though there was still 11:30 left in the game, at 9-3 with running clock the game was effectively over. Gottesman threw a bad hit in the corner to earn a boarding penalty and a ten minute misconduct ending his evening early. The Lightning easily killed off the Bears powerplay this time. Then, after Upper Montgomery returned to even strength, Wendland was called for tripping. It was more a penalty in light of the score rather than an actual penalty. With the game out of hand, and with back to back penalty kills, the Upper Montgomery coaches utilized different skaters on the second penalty kill. King would score his second unassisted goal of the game with six minutes left. He had possession of the puck behind his own net and went end to end on a rush up ice. Entering the Lightning defensive zone down the left wing, he skated around the Lightning defender and cut to the net. He sent a backhand shot far side past Hassett’s left leg pad.

As the clock wound down with under two minutes left, Marks would tally Upper Montgomery’s tenth and final goal of the game. After Hassett made a save, Roth banged the puck around the net up the right wing boards. Sean Levine carried the puck up to the blue line along the right wing boards. Levine was tripped up. The puck was then swatted out of the defensive zone by Roth and went straight to Marks in the neutral zone. Marks stickhandled and weaved his way up ice into the Upper Montgomery offensive zone. From the inner edge of the right faceoff circle, he shot far side low over Sanford’s left leg pad.

Upper Montgomery closes the regular season with an important game against the Blair Blazers. The team has earned an opening round bye in the upcoming Montgomery Hockey Conference junior varsity playoffs. A victory over the Blazers would set the junior varsity program record for wins in a season and would earn the Lightning a top two seed in the playoff tournament. On Thursday, history could be made!

Game Notes:

• Josh Nadler set a career high in goals with four. He also added an assist for a five point game, tied for second all time in program history for points in a game.
• Josh Nadler now has a team leading eleven goals on the season.
• Adam Levine scored a goal increasing his consecutive game points streak to six straight games with at least one point, also a junior varsity team record.
• Jason Woodman had three assists, a career high in assists in a game and points in a game.
• TJ Gottesman leads the junior varsity in scoring with eight goals and five assists for thirteen points. His eight goals extend his career high.
• Shots on goal for the game were basically even, Oakdale with 24 and Upper Montgomery with 22.
• Upper Montgomery’s penalty kill gave up two goals with Chris Hassett in net ending a run of 22 straight successful penalty kills to begin the season.
• The Lightning need to win their final conference game of the season to secure a top two seed in the upcoming Montgomery Hockey Conference junior varsity playoffs.
• The Upper Montgomery junior varsity returns to game action on Thursday evening, January 4th for their final regular season conference game against Blair. A victory over the Blazers would set a program record for wins in a season with nine. A victory over the Blazers would cap an undefeated regular season at 9-0-1. Game time is 5:45 pm at Wheaton Ice Rink.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Josh Nadler—Upper Montgomery Center—4 Goals, 1 Assist
Second Star—TJ Gottesman—Upper Montgomery Forward—2 Goals, 2 Assists
Third Star—Jason Woodman—Upper Montgomery Forward—3 Assists

With an experienced and deep roster, the Upper Montgomery Lightning scheduled several games against private school opposition this season. The growth of the program has elevated to a level where the mid-range private school teams are willing to play Upper Montgomery thinking that they would use the games against the Lightning as early season tune up games. On the other hand, the Lightning fully expect to compete with and beat the private school teams. Tuesday’s game was an evenly matched contest until late in the game. The Lightning’s short bench (Hunter Cameron missed the game) and the debilitating season opening injury to top defender Andrew Botti both contributed to a late game collapse allowing the Falcons to skate away with a hard fought 6-3 victory.

Upper Montgomery had jump right from the outset of the game, peppering Falcons netminder Zach Stone with eighteen shots on goal in the period. The attack zone pressure broke down the Falcons defense on several occasions with the first defensive breakdown leading to Upper Montgomery’s initial goal of the game just three and a half minutes in. A faceoff in the Lightning’s defensive zone to the right of Upper Montgomery netminder Landon Bernard was cleared out of the zone by Good Counsel all the way to their own defensive end of the ice. Dual pressure was applied by Lightning forwards Nathan Cassel and Adam Levine. The Falcons defender played the puck under duress and simply dumped the puck out of the defensive zone.

With Cassel and Levine both curling to exit the zone and get back onside, Lightning co-captain, senior center Chris Hassett took possession of the puck rushing up ice at full speed. He entered the zone onside skating down the center left hand side of the slot. Hassett made a move to his right pulling the puck back to his forehand. Now in the right faceoff circle he uncorked a wrist shot low to the glove hand of Stone and past the Falcons netminder giving Upper Montgomery the lead. The unassisted goal was the Lightning’s active career scoring leader’s first goal of the season.

At the eight minute mark of the first period, Lightning defender Owen Robbins was called for hooking. While on the powerplay, Good Counsel evened the score. Falcons defender Nick Krauze skated the puck down the right wing into the offensive zone. He stopped and passed the puck back to Good Counsel forward Billy Harrison covering at the right point. Harrison sent the puck to the half wall to Colby Bluestein as he interchanged with the other Falcons defender. With motion drawing the focus of the Lightning penalty killers, Bluestein sent the puck to the Falcons Parker Jones at center point. Jones wound up and unleashed a slap shot from the top of the zone just inside the blue line. The low shot went past Bernard to his glove side.

The tying goal seemed to energize Good Counsel. The Falcons effort increased with extended periods of play in the Lightning defensive zone over the next couple of shifts. With just under five minutes remaining in the period, a Lightning clear and slow line change led to Good Counsel’s second goal. Krauze retrieved the Upper Montgomery dump in and skated around the net to the right wing side wall. He layered the puck to Falcons forward Kiptoo Soi. Soi bumped the puck forward to Harrison. Harrison carried the puck up the right wing into the Lightning’s defensive zone. He continued into the lower portion of the right faceoff circle where he returned the puck to Soi cutting down the slot. Soi’s snap shot was saved by Bernard. The rebound went back to Soi and his follow up forehand attempt beat Bernard stick side.

Now down two to one, Upper Montgomery would respond two minutes later. Lightning forward Ryan Jacobson who was playing defense in this game because of Botti’s injury and Cameron’s unavailability stepped forward in the neutral zone to snatch the puck. He rocketed down the right wing avoiding one attempted check and then fought through two other Falcons skaters. He stepped around the Falcons left defender and shot to the far side past Stone’s blocker and stick. It was the Lightning’s second unassisted goal of the game and evened the score at two.

The Falcons would charge right back. Soi collected the Lightning’s attempted dump in inside the right faceoff circle in his defensive zone. He spilt the oncoming two Lightning forwards and skated all the way into the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. Soi jump cut inside to the inner edge of the right faceoff circle, and while doing so shot far side low past Bernard’s blocker and stick for his second goal of the period, an unassisted tally. The wildly entertaining first period came to a close with five total goals and thirty total shots on goal.

Upper Montgomery dominated the second period firing fourteen shots on net at Good Counsel’s second netminder Connor Buss. With play heavily concentrated in the Falcons zone for extended shifts, Bernard had a relatively easy fifteen minutes of action only needing to make three saves. Upper Montgomery’s pressure paid off with the tying tally with five and a half minutes left in the second period.

Bernard made a stick save on a routine Falcons shot from long range. Lightning center Bradley Cupples played the puck from the slot area out of danger to the right wing boards. Cassel was in position by the boards, and he sent a backhand pass to the middle of the ice to Brandon Bernard steaking out of the defensive zone. Cassel’s excellent pass sent Bernard in on a breakaway. Bernard made a move to his backhand and slid the puck around Buss. The puck hit the far post, caromed back into the goalie’s backside, and nestled over the goal line to tie the score at three. Upper Montgomery’s push extended until the horn ended play during the middle stanza. A break that was a welcome reset for the Falcons and brought with it a stern talking to by the Good Counsel coaching staff.

An unfortunate misplay four minutes into the third period led to Good Counsel reclaiming the lead. With an offensive zone faceoff in the right faceoff circle in the Falcons defensive zone, Hassett won the draw to the boards to Levine. Levine sent the puck back to the point to young Lightning defender Cole Howerton. Howerton’s attempted cross ice pass to his fellow defender was cut off by Harrison. With the Lightning offside defender backing up ready to shoot a one timer, and with the Lightning forwards headed toward the net to hunt down a rebound, Harrison was off on a breakaway from his own blue line. Harrison made a head fake as he neared Bernard and fired a shot past Bearnard’s glove at close range.

Two and a half minutes later Harrison would extend the Falcons lead. A bad pinch at the blue line by Upper Montgomery led to another odd skater rush up the ice for Good Counsel. Krauze came away from the boards with the puck. His pass to Harrison was knocked by the pinching Lightning blueliner to Soi. Harrison fired up ice and joined Soi on the rush. Soi carried the puck deep into the offensive zone where this time he returned the favor and fed Harrison in the slot. Harrison’s backhand shot was foiled by a nice stick save made by Bernard, who then could not recover to prevent Harrison’s second attempt from sneaking past him to widen the Good Counsel lead to five to three.

With just under five minutes remaining in the game, Robbins was called for a very soft hit from behind. In private school play, this is a five minute major penalty with no game misconduct or suspension. But, the major penalty meant that Upper Montgomery would play the remainder of regulation shorthanded, thwarting any realistic attempt at a comeback. Upper Montgomery did a decent job killing the first three minutes of the major penalty. Then, off a rewind in the neutral zone, Harrison kicked the puck up to Falcons forward Gavin Senko. Senko picked up the puck and skated down the right wing. He found Soi open in the slot. Soi’s first shot was blocked by Jacobson, but rebounded right back to him. Without striding, Soi fired for a second time into the empty side of the net, vacated when Bernard began tracking the first shot. It was a hat-trick for Soi and completed a third period in which Good Counsel outscored Upper Montgomery by three goals.

The game showed Upper Montgomery that it can compete with the private school teams. It also illustrated some of the flaws that the Lightning will need to shore up as the team progresses through the initial portion of the season. Defensively, there are too many odd skater chances created by the Lightning trying to do too much. There is no need to take unnecessary chances and give the opposition prime odd skater rushes. Without the full team in attendance at any game so far this year, the core skaters are not receiving enough rest to be effective late in games. The extra minutes played by the top skaters has led to tired and sloppy play late in games. The Lightning’s opponents are capitalizing on these plays. If these issues do not get fixed immediately, it will be a long season.

Game Notes:

• Upper Montgomery gave up three goals in the third period. The team now has a minus ten goal differential in the third period over the first three games of the season.
• Upper Montgomery outshot the Falcons 42-31 for the game with a lopsided advantage in the second period, 14-3.
• Upper Montgomery had no powerplays in the game.
• The Upper Montgomery penalty kill was pierced for goals on both Good Counsel powerplays.
• Upper Montgomery defender Owen Robbins was assessed a major for hitting from behind in the third period. The penalty occurred against a private school team using the private league high school rules. Thus, Robbins will not face supplemental discipline for the penalty.
• Good Counsel played each of their three goalies for one period in the game.
• Upper Montgomery returns to action next Tuesday evening, Halloween night, taking on the Sherwood Warriors. Game time is 6:30 pm at Cabin John Ice Rink.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Billy Harrison—Good Counsel Forward—2 Goals, 3 Assists
Second Star—Kiptoo Soi—Good Counsel Forward—3 Goals, 1 Assist
Third Star—Ryan Jacobson—Upper Montgomery Forward—1 Goal

DC Stars netminder Anton Tracy stole the show Friday evening backstopping the DC Stars to a 3-1 upset victory over the Upper Montgomery Lightning. Tracy stopped 36 Lightning shots and he was aided by friendly goal posts and the crossbar as six additional Upper Montgomery shots found iron and stayed out of the net. His play countered a dominating Upper Montgomery performance and left the Lightning with consecutive losses to begin the season.

Upper Montgomery was in a foul mood entering the contest having fallen to Whitman 7-2 in their season opener. The Whitman game was much closer than the final score would indicate. Playing with pace and aggression, Upper Montgomery attacked all over the ice off of the opening faceoff of the game. Lightning forward Nathan Cassel took it a bit too far and was called for an elbowing penalty forty seconds into the contest. The Lightning penalty kill bottled up the DC Stars and did not allow any quality scoring chances. Once the DC Stars powerplay was over, it was right back on the attack by Upper Montgomery.

The Lightning pressure kept the DC Stars bottled up in their own end for long stretches of play. The hard work paid off when DC Stars forward Thomas Johnson was called for hooking at 9:30 of the period. Although Upper Montgomery had plenty of zone time and shots on goal, Tracy turned everything aside. The zone time domination continued after the penalty to Johnson expired forcing the DC Stars into another penalty, this time an interference penalty to DC Stars defender Rodrigo Mattioli. As with the first Upper Montgomery powerplay opportunity, the pressure continued, and Tracy kept the game tied at zero making a few nice pad saves. As the first period ended, Mattioli was again hauled to the penalty box, again for an interference infraction. The shots on goal totals in the period illustrated how dominant Upper Montgomery had been, outshooting the DC Stars by a thirteen to four margin.

The second period was more evenly played only because Upper Montgomery began to tire having played only two lines for almost all of the game. The Lightning would finish the period with seven shots on goal and multiple near misses. The DC Stars fired eight shots at Lightning goalie Landon Bernard, however, a couple of the DC Stars shots were harmless attempts toward the net. Beginning the period with a powerplay, Upper Montgomery never threatened and fell to zero for three on the night with the extra skater.

With eleven minutes remaining in the middle period, Upper Montgomery would take its first lead of the season. With the puck deep in the DC Stars defensive zone, it was cleared to Lightning center Ryan Jacobson at the left point. His shot was saved by Tracy’s leg pads. The DC Stars again cleared the puck to the point. Jacobson, normally a center and playing defense because of an injury to Upper Montgomery defender Andrew Botti, sent the puck down the left wing boards for Lightning center Brandon Bernard. The puck eluded Bernard and went into the left corner where it was played by Upper Montgomery forward Bradley Cupples. Cupples returned the puck to Jacobson at the point. Jacobson sent a wrist shot floating high toward the far corner of the net. Tracy seemed to pick the puck up late and it went past his glove hand into the top right corner of the net.

Upper Montgomery had a one to zero lead turning its focus to conserving energy and bottling up the DC Stars. The DC Stars kept their focus and battled back earning two penalties over the second half of the period. The first call was on Lightning defender Owen Robbins for interference. The second penalty was on Upper Montgomery forward Philip Shkeda for roughing. Upper Montgomery did not yield much while shorthanded and took their one to zero lead into the third period.

The first two minutes of the third period were disastrous for Upper Montgomery. Just out of the penalty box Shkeda was called for interference in the slot of the offensive zone. It was a horrendous call as the DC Stars skater fell down without contact and the referees error put Upper Montgomery back on consecutive penalty kills. The DC Stars powerplay seemed to be going nowhere at the onset of their extra skater advantage. Then, a misstep by the Lightning defense allowed the DC Stars easy zone entry down the left wing boards.

Tracy passed the puck to DC Stars top defender Leo Nyberg to the left of the DC Stars net. Nyberg skated the puck to the blue line and sent the puck further up ice to DC Stars forward Thomas Cooperman. Cooperman entered the Lightning defensive zone after the Lightning defender fell. Cooperman took the puck behind the net where it was misplayed by the Lightning defense. DC Stars forward Peppin Thomas swooped in and sent a pass out front to Cooperman stationed at the bottom of the left faceoff circle. Cooperman’s shot beat Bernard low past his leg pads to even the score at one.

On the next shift a bad decision to pinch at the offensive blue line led to a jail break coming the other way. Off of an offensive zone faceoff the puck found its way behind the DC Stars net. Eventually, the puck was at the left point where Upper Montgomery defender Brady Berkhammer’s shot was blocked by DC Stars forward Egan Jeffries. The puck clicked over to Johnson. He avoided the opposite side Upper Montgomery defender pinching in at the blue line in an attempt to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Johnson poked the puck forward to a streaking Walter Bernstein. The DC Stars forward caught the puck in his skates and was off on a breakaway coming in alone on Bernard from his own blue line down the ice.

Bernstein faked to his left and Bernard sprawled to make an impressive right pad save. The puck went across the slot to the outside of the right post. Jeffries outhustled the Lightning defense down the ice. With Bernard net yet set, he fired the puck back through the crease missing the mostly empty net. The puck hit Johnson in the shin pad by the left post and bounced into the middle of the lower slot. Johnson collected the puck and shot it into the empty net as Bernard had moved over to prepare to make a save on Johnson by the left post. The poor defensive hustle to get back into the play by the five Upper Montgomery skaters was inexcusable.

Now down two to one, Upper Montgomery dialed up the pressure and fired at Tracy from everywhere. The barrage was interrupted a few minutes later by an interference call against Cassel. The Lightning killed the penalty with ease and had several outstanding shorthanded chances themselves. Still pressing, Upper Montgomery was caught up ice when Cooperman went in alone on his own breakaway. Bernard stoned him with a left leg pad save when Cooperman went to a forehand deke move.

The intense pressure put on by Upper Montgomery earned the Lightning a powerplay with five minutes remaining in the game when Nyberg was called for cross checking. Unfortunately, forty second later Robbins took an unnecessary hooking penalty in the offensive zone to negate the advantage. Upper Montgomery threw everything at Tracy over the final minutes of the game including while up a skater after pulling Bernard with 1:08 left in the contest. The Lightning had seventeen total shots on goal in the third period, all of which were stopped by Tracy. Three additional Upper Montgomery shots found iron.

With thirty seconds left in the game, a loose puck in the DC Stars zone caromed directly to Cooperman. He calmly fired down the ice from a step inside his own blue line into the empty net ending the Lightning’s hopes of extending the game into overtime. It was a frustrating end to a game that Upper Montgomery dominated but Tracy stole for a DC Stars upset victory.

Game Notes:

• It was the second consecutive year that Upper Montgomery has opened the season losing its first two games.
• Upper Montgomery outshot the DC Stars 37-21 for the game with lopsided advantages in the first and third periods, 13-4 and 17-9 respectively.
• Upper Montgomery has only scored three goals over the first two games of the season.
• Upper Montgomery has yielded ten goals over the first two games of the season and has been outscored by an 8-1 margin in the third period.
• Upper Montgomery went 0-4 on the powerplay and has not scored a powerplay goal in either game.
• Upper Montgomery returns to action on Tuesday afternoon, October 24th taking on the Good Counsel Falcons in a non-conference game. Game time against the private school opponent is 4:00 pm at Laurel Ice Gardens.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Anton Tracy—DC Stars Goalie—Win, 1 Goal Against, 36 Saves, .973 Save Percentage
Second Star—Ryan Jacobson—Upper Montgomery Defense—1 Goal
Third Star—Thomas Cooperman—DC Stars Center—2 Goals