Category: Game Recaps

In what was his signature game at the junior varsity level, Upper Montgomery junior goaltender Landon Bernard stole the show Wednesday afternoon. His goaltending performance in the Lightning’s game against top ranked Walter Johnson was superb. Bernard stopped 37 of 39 shots on goal including five breakaway chances in Upper Montgomery’s 3-1 loss to the Wildcats. Both Wildcats goals were scored on two additional late third period breakaway chances. The final score was not representative of how the game played out as Upper Montgomery was winning with less than six minutes remaining in the game.

Going into the contest the coaching staff was expecting the game against Walter Johnson to be challenging. The Wildcats had only given up three goals in their four previous games. Upper Montgomery responded by playing better and tougher than they had in several games and that effort is what kept the team in the game in the opening period. Outshot 9-1 in the frame and having to kill off two Wildcats powerplay chances limited the team’s ability to get into the flow of the game. Still, finishing off the first period tied gave the Lightning confidence that they could compete against Walter Johnson.

Upper Montgomery jumped to the lead very early in the second period. Wildcats forward Sam Mayster was called for hooking 19 seconds into the period. The Lightning would capitalize immediately only ten seconds later while on the ensuing powerplay. Steven Shkeda won the faceoff directly behind him in the right faceoff circle. TJ Gottesman nudged the puck back a few feet to the right point. Behr Schickler was able to collect the puck at his defensive position along the blueline. He took one stride to the center of the ice and fired a wrist shot toward the net. The shot deflected off of a Wildcat defender and then Wildcats goalie Joseph Villatoro’s goalie stick. The puck ricocheted up in the air and into the far side of the net. For 9th grade defender Schickler, it was his first career high school goal and put Upper Montgomery in front 1-0.

From there it was the Landon Bernard show. The ice was tilted, and Walter Johnson dominated the rest of the period. Among his 17 saves in the second period, Bernard stopped three Wildcat breakaway chances and he made several additional acrobatic saves. Meanwhile, after Schickler’s goal, Upper Montgomery managed just two shots on goal over the remainder of the period. This included spending time on a short lived 5-3 powerplay opportunity that was wiped out by a tripping penalty called against Lightning defender Cole Howerton.

The Lightning had a powerplay early in the third period as well when Gianluca Megna was called for roughing. Upper Montgomery could not capitalize. As Megna’s penalty was expiring, Shkeda was called for roughing on a good hard back check that should not have been ruled a penalty. The Lightning and Bernard held strong and limited the Wildcats to puck possession around the perimeter and long range shots from the points.

Halfway through the third period Walter Johnson would finally break through against Bernard. Walter Johnson defender Patrick Murphy blocked a Lightning shot attempt deep in the crease area in front of Villatoro. Unassisted, Murphy skated the puck up ice on the right wing. He skated past the Lightning defense and curved in alone on Bernard. A lefty shot, Murphy flicked a wrist shot far post above Bernard’s leg pad and past his blocker to tie up the game.

With 3:07 left in regulation, Wildcats defender Jaden Luskin was called for interference as he tussled with Lightning forward Jason Woodman. The late powerplay was an opportunity for the Lightning regain momentum. Possibly, if they could put a late goal past Villatoro, maybe come away with the upset win.

A weak Wildcat clearing attempt went toward the left point where Howerton had a bead on the puck. As he skated in, he attempted to one time the puck toward the net. In one of those hockey plays, the puck slid under his stick and out into the neutral zone. With Howerton’s momentum heading into the offensive zone, Wildcat forward Megna was heading out of the zone in the same direction as the puck. Megna collected the puck and raced up ice by himself. Lightning defender Jake Roth skated hard up the ice and he tried to impede Megna from getting off a clean shot on Bernard. With Roth bothering him, Megna was still able to get off a backhanded shot that somehow got between Bernard’s glove side and his body. The puck barely tricked over the goal line before Bernard could turn and keep the puck out of the net. The shorthanded goal put the Wildcats in front with 2:09 left in the game.

The late shorthanded goal was demoralizing, but the Lightning kept up the pressure for the second half of the powerplay and continuing with Bernard pulled for the extra attacker. With timing running down, Wildcat defender Lucas Chang was able to gain possession of the puck deep in the Wildcat defensive zone and bang the puck up the right wing boards. Megna won a puck battle at the defensive blue line. He skated up over the red line before shooting from next to the boards into the empty net to seal the Wildcats’ hard fought victory.

The effort from the Lightning junior varsity student athletes was non-stop throughout the entire game. Although more talented, Walter Johnson barely escaped with the victory thanks to Bernard’s performance. The last three games, all against the top teams in the Montgomery Hockey Conference, should prepare Upper Montgomery for the remainder of the schedule which begins this upcoming Sunday versus bottom dweller Churchill. The Lightning will need to avoid complacency and playing down to Churchill’s level. The team needs to bring it right from the start of the game and not let up to rack up the two standings points.

Game Notes:

• The Lightning were badly outshot by the Wildcats by a wide 40-8 margin.
• Behr Schickler scored his first career high school goal, a powerplay goal early in the second period.
• TJ Gottesman extended his personal career high points streak to all five games he has played in this season (5GP, 1G, 6A). His seven points on the season leads the Lightning junior varsity.
• Upper Montgomery killed off all five Wildcat powerplays and has now successfully killed off ten straight opponents’ powerplay opportunities.
• The Upper Montgomery junior varsity next returns to action on Sunday afternoon against lowly Churchill. Game time is 1:30 pm at Laurel Ice Gardens.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Landon Bernard—Upper Montgomery Goalie—37 Saves, 2 GA, .949 Save Percentage
Second Star—Gianluca Megna—Walter Johnson Forward–2 Goals including SH GWG
Third Star—Lucas Chang—Walter Johnson Defense–1 Assist

In a rematch of last season’s junior varsity championship game, the Upper Montgomery Lightning dropped a tight game against the Richard Montgomery Rockets Sunday morning at Wheaton Ice Rink. Absent a consistent offensive attack, the Lightning lost 3-1 after Richard Montgomery scored into an empty net with twenty seconds left to clinch the victory. For the Rockets, it was a measure of revenge after their undefeated season last year was ruined by the Lightning in the junior varsity championship game. Junior goaltender Landon Bernard played well once again stopping 22 of 24 shots. As with the last few games, he was let down by the team’s play in front of him on both Richard Montgomery goals.

The start of the game got off to a sleepy start. Not surprising considering the 9:15 am Sunday morning start time. Richard Montgomery was able to get their legs going first and broke on top a little over three minutes into the game. Off a faceoff in the Lightning defensive zone, the puck was won sideways to the left wing boards by Rockets forward Jack Evans. Connor Rosier sent the puck from the side boards into the low slot on a shot or pass that went right to Jaxson Hartle. Hartle was unguarded at the back post. He had plenty of time, enough to settle the puck and push it into the open far side of the net. Upper Montgomery musted just one shot during the opening period.

In the second period, the Lightning played better and began to take the body more frequently. The game stalemated for most of the period which was mainly played in the neutral zone. Each team failed to convert on their lone powerplay opportunity. Just after the Rockets killed off a tripping penalty to Evans, a defensive breakdown gave the Rockets the break they needed to extend their lead. Evans controlled the puck in the Rockets defensive zone along the left wing boards. He skated up ice and was able to clear the Lightning defense at the offensive zone. He cut toward the net from the left wing boards in alone on Bernard. His forehand shovel shot was a body blow that squirted between Bernard’s glove hand arm and his side, just nudging over the goal line for an unassisted goal.

Two minutes later Upper Montgomery cut the lead in half. Similar to the Rockets first goal, Upper Montgomery scored off of a faceoff from the left wing circle. Stephen Shkeda won the face off to the left wing boards. TJ Gottesman controlled the puck and sent it around the boards behind the net to Shkeda. Shkeda sent a perfect centering pass from the right corner boards out front. Standing alone in the slot was Branson Hughes. Hughes had his stick on the ice and fired a quick snap shot along the ice five hole through the pads of Rockets’ netminder Gregory Saffell to bring Upper Montgomery to within one.

The third period was a quagmire with neither team able to generate many high quality scoring chances. Richard Montgomery had the better of play simply because of two powerplay opportunities over the first half of the third period. The Lightning killed off both penalties with Bernard making a few nice saves to keep the score 2-1. With a late powerplay opportunity of their own, Upper Montgomery was not able to capitalize. Needing to push at the end to tie up the game, the Lightning were not able to generate much offensive flow finishing the third period with just three shots on goal. A late empty net goal scored by the Rockets’ Benjamin Giblin cemented the win for the Richard Montgomery.

The Lightning’s collective team play was much better against Richard Montgomery. The game followed a practice session where the coaching staff focused on body checking, positional play, and being more responsible with the puck. Competing hard against the second place team in the conference was a step in the right direction for the young junior varsity squad. The effort and compete factor will need to ramp up even further for Upper Montgomery in the upcoming week. Next up on the schedule is a non-conference game against Walter Johnson’s top ranked junior varsity team.

Game Notes:

• The Lightning were outshot 25-8 by the Rockets.
• TJ Gottesman extended his personal career high points streak to all four games he has played in this season (4GP, 1G, 5A).
• The Lightning penalty kill had its best performance of the season killing off all three Rockets’ powerplay opportunities.
• The Upper Montgomery junior varsity next returns to action against Walter Johnson in a non-league game on Wednesday afternoon. Game time is 1:45 pm at Rockville Ice Arena.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Jack Evans—Richard Montgomery Forward—GWG Goal, 1 Assist
Second Star—Landon Bernard—Upper Montgomery Goalie—2 GAA, 22 Saves, .917 Save Percentage
Third Star—Jaxson Hartle—Richard Montgomery Forward–1 Goal

The Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity dropped their second consecutive game on Tuesday afternoon 4-2 against BCC at Rockville Ice Arena. The game seemed headed toward a tie until a late defensive miscue cost the Lightning a chance at a point. In the non-conference game, BCC controlled play from the outset and Upper Montgomery seemed to be chasing the game for the better part of two and a half periods. Junior goaltender Landon Bernard played well and was let down by the team’s play in front of him.

Halfway through the opening period BCC would score first. On the powerplay with Lightning center and team captain Josh Nadler in the penalty box for high sticking, BCC worked the puck around the perimeter off of a faceoff win in the offensive zone. From the right point, Luke Burns passed the puck across the blue line to Alex Elias at the left point. Elias’s low snap shot was saved by Bernard’s leg pads. The rebound went directly to an unguarded Peter Lanpher just outside the crease and he easily smacked the puck into the open side of the net.

Upper Montgomery battled right back tying the game just 45 seconds later. In a corner battle in the Lightning defensive zone, Cole Howerton knocked the puck free to the side boards where the puck was collected by Henry Honacki. Honacki used his speed to race out of the Lightning defensive zone all the way into the offensive zone. He cut from the left wing boards into the center of the ice. From the top of the circles, Honacki fired a wrist shot by Baron’s netminder, Vivienne Boyle, high to the blocker side for his fourth goal of the season. Upper Montgomery was able to use momentum from that goal combined with a too many skaters on the ice penalty to the Barons to finish the period tied at one. Shots on goal for both teams during the period were low, BCC had five and Upper Montgomery had only two.

The Lightning spent the beginning of the second period on the penalty kill after Nadler was called for a double minor penalty for slashing and roughing. It was a double whammy for Upper Montgomery as the team follows a protocol of sitting student athletes when they have picked up three penalties in a game. This is done to prevent that student athlete from inadvertently taking a fourth penalty within the same game and thus being suspended from the next upcoming game. Losing Nadler for the remainder of the game hurt the team. Line combinations needed to be juggled and Upper Montgomery did not have the services of a high quality center for the final two periods.

On the ensuing powerplay, BCC would strike again. It was their second powerplay goal of the game. On the skater advantage, Barons forward Evan Williams scored the first of what would be his three goals in the game. He took possession of the puck on the side boards and muscled through a check by Honacki skating into the slot area. His first shot was blocked by the Lightning defense, but unluckily the puck bounced right back to him. Bernard had committed to make the initial save and was unable to reposition quickly enough to prevent Williams’s second wrist shot from sliding along the ice into the empty side of the net.

Upper Montgomery was able to kill off the second half of Nadler’s four minutes in the box and another penalty at the beginning of the third period to Howerton for interference. Preventing BCC from scoring another powerplay goal enabled the team to hang around and remain in the game. After a penalty to the Barons Evan Rich for roughing, Upper Montgomery would tie the game with seven and a half minutes left in regulation. Off of a faceoff in the defensive zone, Stephen Shkeda lost the draw a few feet behind the Barons center. TJ Gottesman hustled to the puck and pushed it forward a few feet where Shkeda controlled the puck. He skated the length of the ice into the offensive zone along with Jason Woodman on a two on one break. Shkeda elected to shoot the puck. His shot was saved by Boyle’s leg pads. The rebound caromed directly into the crease where Woodman had charged toward the net. Woodman beat the Barons’ defense and Boyle to the puck pushing a backhanded shot into the net to tie the game and record his first career high school goal.

Shortly thereafter, the Lightning had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Barons forward Michael Butkiewicz was called for high sticking. Unfortunately, the Lightning were unable to mount any significant chances with the extra skater advantage. With just over two minutes remaining in the game, disaster struck.

Williams collected the puck deep in the BCC defensive zone at the right circle after a drop pass from Burns. He skated up the left wing board and avoiding an ill-timed pinch on by a Lightning defender. Then, as he approached the attacking blue line, another Lightning defender was beaten by a head and shoulder fake. Williams found himself on a breakaway from the blue line in alone. He faked a forehand shot and got deeper toward the net before shooting high over Bernard’s glove hand into the top right corner of the net. BCC had the lead with only two minutes left in regulation. The disappointing feeling on the goal was that the Lightning had two of their more experienced defenders on the ice for that shift and both badly misplayed the individual rush up ice by Williams.

With Bernard pulled for the extra skater and time trickling down, Williams would salt away the game with an empty net goal. He was assisted by Benjamin Lyons who started the play by blocking a Lightning shot behind the net and Elias who passed the puck up to Williams who had fled the zone early. Williams skated in uncontested for the tap in hat-trick goal.

The Lightning’s collective team defensive and physical play was lacking. There was too much stick poking and swinging in an attempt to win the puck and transition to offensive play. BCC controlled play as evidenced by the wide margin in their shot advantage for the game, 25-9. Upper Montgomery played too much on the perimeter and did not get into the tough areas of the ice. The schedule for the junior varsity does not ease up. The next two games Upper Montgomery will face off against the top two teams in the Montgomery Hockey Conference, Richard Montgomery and Walter Johnson. Much better efforts will be needed if the Lightning are to be competitive in either game.

Game Notes:

• The Lightning were outshot by the Barons 25-9, including 11-3 in the pivotal third period.
• Jason Woodman scored his first career high school goal, the Lightning’s first powerplay goal of the season.
• Henry Honacki scored his team leading fourth goal of the season.
• TJ Gottesman has a point in all three games he has played in this season.
• The Upper Montgomery junior varsity next returns to action against Richard Montgomery on Sunday morning, December 4th, at 9:15 am at Wheaton Ice Rink for a showdown (and rematch) of last season’s junior varsity title game won by the Lightning.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Evan Williams—BCC Forward—3 Goals
Second Star—Luke Burns—BCC Defense—2 Assists
Third Star—Henry Honacki—Upper Montgomery Center–1 Goal

The Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity was wiped out on Friday afternoon by Wootton 9-2 in a game that was not competitive. Upper Montgomery struggled all game long to contain Wootton’s run and gun offensive style. The defense played poorly and left Lightning junior goaltender Landon Bernard out to dry throughout the entire game. Just as troubling was Upper Montgomery’s inability to generate much offense with Wootton not focused at all on the defensive side of the game and with Wootton skater Mitchell Golub playing in goal for the Patriots. It was just Golub second career start in net.

Upper Montgomery mustered just three shots on goal in the first period. No shots on goal during a 1 minute and 29 second 5-3 powerplay. Two defensive breakdowns led directly to both Wootton goals and the Patriots had a 2-0 lead after the first period of play. The second period was just as bad as the Patriots would skate around and past Lightning defenders poking and waiving sticks at the puck. The Patriots played with pace while a stationary Upper Montgomery side watched and chased the Wootton forwards around the ice. The score had jumped to 5-0 with eight minutes remaining in the second period before Upper Montgomery would get one back.

Adam Levine dumped the puck in from center ice to the left corner of the offensive zone. He outraced the Patriots defense and backhanded the puck sharply around the net. The puck deflected off a Wootton defender in the right corner, a sharp change of direction which took the puck over to Henry Honacki at the top of the right faceoff circle. Levine had curled into the slot and set a perfect screen as Honacki sent a wrist shot just past Levine’s legs five hole on Golub to put Upper Montgomery on the board. Off the ensuing faceoff, Honacki and Levine forechecked hard. Honacki’s pressure caused a bad Wootton pass that was intercepted by Levine. Levine sent a smooth pass ahead to Honacki who skated around the defense and sent a sharp, low backhander that amazingly went right into Golub’s glove as the goalie slid across the crease badly out of the play. The Patriots outshot Upper Montgomery 15-4 in the second period, illustrating just how much Wootton had outplayed the Lightning.

In the third period, the Lightning’s substandard play continued as the Patriots scored three more uncontested goals. Chris Hassett was inserted into the game in goal simply to give Bernard a break as the Upper Montgomery position skaters had played so poorly in front of him. One nice moment in the middle of the third period was an outstanding hustle play by senior center Stephen Shkeda. Shkeda lost a faceoff in the left circle of the Lightning defensive zone. He outhustled the Wootton defense to the puck. He skated up ice along the left wing alone against two Wootton defenders. As he entered the offensive zone, he attempted to go wide around the Wootton left defender. As he pulled even with the defender, he fumbled the puck. Battling to regain control of the puck, he was able to get off a shot low to the short side. The puck slid along the ice between Golub’s pad and the near post for an unassisted goal, his first goal of the season.

The Lightning know they will have to play significantly better if they want to be competitive against the top junior varsity teams in the Montgomery Hockey Conference. The team needs better puck movement, better positional play, to be better at taking the body to separate the opposition skaters from the puck, to make better decisions with the puck, to play with more intensity, and to have a better understanding of what is needed to be successful. With that said, it is incredibly hard to win eight straight games in a row so the team needs to quickly put this clunker versus Wootton out of mind.

Game Notes:

• The Lightning were outshot by the Patriots 29-10.
• Henry Honacki scored his team leading third goal of the season.
• The Upper Montgomery power play was 0-5, including a lengthy 5-3 advantage early in the game.
• The Lightning will be looking to bounce back from this poor performance in a non-conference matchup versus the BCC Barons on Tuesday, November 22nd at 2:30 pm at Rockville Ice Arena.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—#49—Wootton Forward—5 Goals, 2 Assists
Second Star—Justin Heller—Wootton Forward—1 Goal, 4 Assists
Third Star—Matvei Shaposhnikov—Wootton Forward–2 Goals

The Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity increased their winning streak to eight games (dating to last season) with an impressive 4-2 road victory over the Glenelg Gladiators on Monday afternoon. In the non-conference game, Upper Montgomery controlled play from the outset and was never really threatened. Junior goaltender Landon Bernard had one of his easiest outings as Glenelg rarely mustered offensive pressure. The victory keeps the Lightning undefeated on the season with their two consecutive victories to begin the 2022 – 2023 campaign.

Upper Montgomery dominated the first period and could have scored many more goals than just the two late ones that found their way past Gladiators goaltender Gavin Coons. Upper Montgomery possessed the puck in the offensive zone for much of the period but had trouble finishing. It wasn’t until just over two minutes remained in the period that the Lightning were able to finally break through. Patrick Sell took possession of the puck in his defensive zone along the left wing boards. He chipped the puck up the boards to left winger James Hyman, who was just inside the defensive zone blue line. Hyman fired a perfectly timed pass to TJ Gottesman cutting up the middle of the ice from his right wing position. Gottesman received the pass at the red line and powered his way through the neutral zone past both Gladiators defenders coming in alone on a breakaway. Gottesman did not make much of a move, but fired the puck past Coons’ glove hand, up high, for his first goal of the season.

A minute later the Lightning would gain full control of the game. In the defensive zone, Cole Howerton won a race for a loose puck along the right wing boards. He shoveled the puck on to Gottesman at the blue line. Gottesman passed the puck left into the center of the ice to Henry Honacki. The pass was well timed and sprung Honacki on a two on one break with left winger AJ Marks. Honacki’s pass for Marks was just out of his reach and slid into the left wing corner in the offensive zone. Marks won the race to the puck and while being tied up by a Gladiators defender, he kicked the puck loose to Honacki. Honacki brought the puck into the left circle, swung around and fired a wrist shot short side and high, upstairs above Coons’ stick and blocker.

The second period was almost a carbon copy of the first period. Upper Montgomery dominated and spent most of the period in the offensive zone. With many open looks shot high or wide, the Lightning again scored just two goals. Halfway through the second period the Lightning would increase their lead to 3-0. Cole Howerton intercepted a pass in his defensive zone. From his location on the right side of the defensive zone, he advanced the puck to TJ Gottesman. Gottesman skated around a pinching Glenelg defender at the blue line which created another two on one break with Marks. Gottesman carried the puck and entered the offensive zone. He then passed the puck across to Marks. Gottesman’s pass was behind Marks who has to contort his body to bring the puck into shooting position. Once he had control in the mid-slot area, Marks fired a wrist shot high blocker side past Coons.

Glenelg continued to play hard and was able to eventually get one past Bernard on a nice individual play. Stephen Killorin picked up a loose puck at his own blue line and raced up ice. He split in between two Lightning defenders and beat Bernard with a wrist shot high blocker side from in tight. That goal gave Glenelg some life and the Gladiators had a momentary push. However, just 16 seconds before the second period’s conclusion, Upper Montgomery added to their lead. A bad turnover in the defensive zone doomed Glenelg. Honacki intercepted a stretch pass that was headed up the high slot area. He immediately fired a wrist shot five hole past Coons before the goalie could get into position to make the save. For Honacki, it was his first career high school two goal game.

The third period saw the high school goaltending debut of Lightning varsity center Chris Hassett. With only one goaltender in the program, Upper Montgomery needs an emergency goaltender to play in junior varsity games if Bernard is unavailable. Once Hassett entered the game, the Lightning defense began to struggle giving up way too many high quality chances. Hassett made more saves in the third period than Bernard did in his two period of play, including stopping a breakaway and an uncontested shot from the low slot. With five minutes left in the game, Glenelg did score on Hassett to make the game interesting down the stretch. Off of a face off loss in the defensive zone, the Lightning failed to possess or clear the puck. The puck entered the left corner where Dylan Hubbard took possession and began to skate around the net. Before he went around the net, Hubbard passed the puck into the slot to Eliot Horwath. Horwath’s shot beat Hassett along the ice toward the far post and just inside the goal to cut the Upper Montgomery lead to 4-2.

The Lightning’s collective team defensive and skating then took over and prevented Glenelg from having many more good chances, squashing any hope of a Gladiators comeback. A good win for Upper Montgomery, but an effort that the team knows will need to improve as the Lightning face stiffer league competition beginning later this week.

Game Notes:

• The Lightning outshot the Gladiators 34-20 for the game, including 22-9 over the first two periods of play.
• AJ Marks scored his first career high school goal.
• TJ Gottesman set a career high with three points.
• Chris Hassett made his high school goaltending debut stopping 10 of 11 shots in the third period.
• There were no penalties called in the game, a first for the Lightning junior varsity.
• Upper Montgomery junior varsity next returns to action on Friday, November 11 at 4:00 pm for an MHC conference matchup against Wootton at Rockville Ice Arena.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Henry Honacki—Upper Montgomery Center—2 Goals
Second Star—TJ Gottesman—Upper Montgomery Forward—1 Goal, 2 Assists
Third Star—AJ Marks—Upper Montgomery Forward–1 Goal, 1 Assist

The Upper Montgomery Lightning began defense of their junior varsity championship with a shutout victory over the DC Stars. The game was played at historic Fort Dupont Ice Arena in downtown Washington, DC. Playing without several key student athletes, Upper Montgomery controlled play throughout the game and clamped down in the third period to help Landon Bernard notch his first career high school shutout in the victory. Five Lightning student athletes made their team debuts in the win.

The first period started off slowly. Both teams were feeling their way through the period. While the Stars had played one game earlier in the season, a tie versus Rockville/Magruder, it was the season opener for Upper Montgomery. For the Lightning the slow start could be chalked up to a combination of continuously changing offensive lines and taking quick shifts to stay fresh throughout the game. Just over halfway through the period, Upper Montgomery would strike first.

Henry Honacki collected the puck in the neutral zone and backhanded the puck off the side boards to TJ Gottesman standing near the offensive blue line. Gottesman made an aggressive move with the puck into the middle of the ice at the Stars blue line. Just as he moved inside the blue line, the Stars defense took the body on Gottesman and the puck flittered away into the high slot. Patrick Sell had moved up from his left defense position to join the rush. Sell got to the loose puck first and quickly fired a wrist shot that went mid-height glove side on Stars starting netminder Gabriel Sokol. For Sell it was his first career high school tally.

Playing with the lead for the second half of the first period, the Lightning stifled the neutral zone creating many turnovers which negated much of the DC Stars offensive game. Shots on goal in the first period were Upper Montgomery seven and the DC Stars four.

The second period was far more entertaining and far more offensive. Upper Montgomery fired eleven shots on goal and the DC Stars had ten shots on Bernard, including a few sequences in tight where Bernard also made saves on the rebound chances. Henry Honacki had multiple breakaway chances and just could not get a puck to go past Sokol. With five minutes to go in the middle period, the Lightning would stretch the lead to 2-0.

After a defensive zone faceoff to the left of Bernard, the puck squirted over to the bottom of the right circle in the Lightning defensive zone. Jake Roth cleared the puck up ice forcefully and apparently close enough to the Stars defense that icing was immediately waived off. Stephen Shkeda and Adam Levine outraced the Stars defense back to the puck which was now sitting below the goal line to the right of Stars backup netminder Anton Tracy. Shkeda collected the puck and swung around the net going left to right while Levine when to the top of the crease and stopped. Shkeda maneuvered around the backtracking Stars defense and centered the puck to Levine. Levine wasted no time and fired a low wrist shot between Tracy’s leg pad and the near post. Going back to last season, it was the third straight junior varsity game in which Levine has scored.

The third period was controlled by the Lightning. The Stars struggled to gain possession of the puck and generate any offense. The Lightning had several chances to extend the lead but couldn’t find the back of the net. Most of the third period was played in the Stars defensive zone or in the neutral zone. The Stars generated just one shot on goal in the third period as they tried to claw back into the game. However, the Lightning’s collective team defensive effort and intensity prevented the home team from mounting any sort of a comeback. A good win to start the season and a well deserved victory for the effort that the Lightning junior varsity put forth.

Game Notes:

• The Lightning outshot the Stars 30-15 for the game.
• Landon Bernard posted his first career high school shutout.
• Patrick Sell scored his first carrier high school goal.
• The Lightning penalty kill was a perfect three for three in the game.
• The Lightning held the Stars to one shot on goal in the third period.
• The Lightning junior varsity next return to action on Monday, November 7 at 3:00 pm against Glenelg at Columbia Ice Rink.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Henry Honacki—Upper Montgomery Center—1 Assist
Second Star—Stephen Shkeda—Upper Montgomery Center—1 Assist
Third Star—Landon Bernard—Upper Montgomery Goalie–15 Save Shutout Victory

Looking to bounce back from last week’s loss to Richard Montgomery, its first loss since early November, the Upper Montgomery Lightning came out flat Friday night. A talented Sherwood Warriors team took advantage scoring three goals in the first ten minutes of the game on their way to a 6-4 victory in the cross division matchup. With the loss the Lightning drop to 5-5-1 on the season with a tough contest looming on Monday night at the Washington County Northstars.

Jeremy Isaacs got the Warriors off to a quick start scoring an unassisted goal just 1:11 into the contest. A turnover in the defensive zone squirted over to Isaacs unguarded in the lower right circle. He made no mistake quickly firing a shot past Lightning netminder Will Mellen to put Sherwood out in front early. Exactly five minutes later the Lightning were caught up ice. Thomas Russell made a save on a shot from the high slot. Riley Shearer outraced the Lightning forwards to the puck in the right corner. His stretch pass up the left wing boards found Jarden Reed in the neutral zone. Coming down the left wing on a two on one break, Reed pulled up at the top of the left faceoff circle and ripped a snapshot high, short side above Mellen’s blocker and into the net for a 2-0 Sherwood lead.

Three minutes later, Christian Winckler finished off a nice passing sequence. Ryan Warner started the scoring play in the neutral zone along the right wing boards. His pass was on the money for Grayson Winckler who skated into the offensive zone and found his brother in the slot with a nifty pass. Christian Winckler’s shot beat Mellen glove side and the Warriors were threatening to turn the game into a rout.

Just before the end of the first period, the Lightning got on the board to cut the lead to 3-1 at intermission. Nathan Cassel passed the puck into the slot area for Chris Hassett. Hassett’s shot attempt was blocked in front with several bodies crowded in the crease area. The puck bounced loose to the right side of the net where Ryan Jacobson was waiting. His quick wrist shot, low and to the glove side of Russell, found the back of the net. Right after Jacobson’s shot went in the goal, he was leveled by Warriors defender Payton Mages. George Benedick took exception. Both Mages and Benedick were sent to the penalty box for coincidental roughing minors. Upper Montgomery had some hope heading into the second period. Shots on goal in the first period were Sherwood 18 and Upper Montgomery 16.

The Lightning went on the powerplay very early in the second period after a slashing penalty was assessed to Christian Winckler. With an opportunity to cut into the Warriors lead, Upper Montgomery was instead caught pinching to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Isaacs collected the puck and skated up ice with Reed on another two on one break. Isaacs slid the puck over to Reed who easily converted past Mellen and the Warriors had reclaimed their three goal lead.

After giving up the shorthanded goal, the Lightning carried play for the next ten minutes of game action clawing their way back into the contest. Off of an offensive zone faceoff from in left faceoff circle, Chris Hassett won the draw into the slot, directly to Jacobson. He wasted no time and fired the puck low, glove side past Russell for his second goal of the game. A minute later the Lightning went on an important penalty kill as Bradley Cupples was called for roughing. The outstanding Lightning penalty kill was up to the task, keeping the Warriors at bay and the team seemed to gain momentum from the shorthanded effort.

With five minutes remaining in the second period, the Lightning would strike to pull within one goal at 4-3. James Botti kept the puck in the offensive one at the left point. He was able to swipe the puck forward a few feet to Nathan Cassel. Cassel collected the bouncing puck along the right wing boards and fired a shot wide of the net on the short side. The puck caromed around back to James Botti at his left point position. He shoveled the puck down low into the left corner finding Hassett. Hassett stick handled along the boards and pushed the puck over to Cassel behind the net. Cassel tried a stuff attempt that was blocked off and the puck flipped high in the air through the slot toward Ethan Hockey at the right point. Hockey judged the arc of the puck. Just as the puck bounced off the ice he unloaded a booming slap shot from the right faceoff dot that went flying past Russell high, glove side for his second goal of the season. While still trailing by one goal, the Lightning had all the momentum.

With two minutes remaining in the second period a defensive zone coverage breakdown doomed Upper Montgomery. The Warriors gained possession of the puck in the Lightning defensive zone, working the puck down low in the right corner. The puck was then centered into the slot where it eluded two Lightning skaters and found Christian Winkler alone in front. Mellen made a terrific save on Winckler’s quick shot from the low slot. The puck bounced up and off the back end boards where Aidan Sachs fired a quick wrist shot past Mellen low, glove side as he scrambled back into position. The failed clear deflated the Lightning who had fought so hard to get back in the game. The Lightning outshot Sherwood by a wide margin, 19 to 8 in the second period.

Four minutes into the third period Noi Jonasson ended the competitive portion of the game scoring a “Michigan Goal”, lacrosse style to add insult to Upper Montgomery. Warriors’ defender Timothy Rocca retrieved the puck in the neutral zone along the right wing boards. He passed the puck up ice to Jonasson at the attacking blue line. Jonasson skated past three Lightning defenders and curled around the net on his backhand from left to right. He collected the puck, then scooped and spun, flinging the puck past Mellen’s left shoulder into the net making the score 6-3.

Upper Montgomery would score a power play goal with 29 seconds remaining to close out the scoring. Hassett scored on a wrist shot from just right of the slot off assists from James Botti and Benedick. But, by then, it was just a matter of the final score in a game in which the Lightning started slowly and could never quite get over the hump.

Game Notes:

• The loss was the Lightning’s second straight defeat since a five game winning streak ended.
• The Lightning outshot Sherwood 46-34 for the game.
• Will Mellen gave up the most goals he has allowed all season (six). He made 28 saves on the night.
• The Lightning penalty kill was excellent once again smothering all three Warriors’ powerplay opportunities. The Upper Montgomery penalty kill is now 40 of 43 on the season, 93.0%.
• The Lightning powerplay finished the game 1-4, but the powerplay tally came with 29 seconds remaining in the game after the outcome had been decided.
• The Lightning gave up their fifth shorthanded goal of the season in the second period. Upper Montgomery has lost all five games in which they have allowed a shorthanded goal.
• The Lightning are next in action on Monday, January 24th at 7:00 pm when they travel to Hagerstown to take on the Washington County Northstars.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Jarden Reed—Sherwood Forward—2 Goals
Second Star—Ryan Jacobson—Upper Montgomery Forward–-2 Goals
Third Star—Thomas Russell—Sherwood Goalie—Win, 42 Saves, .913 Save%, 1 Assist

The Upper Montgomery Lightning completed a run for the ages by defeating top seed and undefeated Richard Montgomery 2-1 to win the Montgomery Hockey Conference junior varsity championship game Thursday afternoon at Laurel Ice Gardens. The win completes a stunning turnaround from last season when the Lightning finished dead last in the conference standings, a season in which they were not very competitive. This year, after a slow start to the season, the Upper Montgomery Lightning won their final six games and will forever be CHAMPIONS!

Upper Montgomery was a substantial underdog coming into the championship game against Richard Montgomery even while finishing in second place in the regular season conference standings. The Rockets had blown through the regular season and their first two playoff games to arrive at the championship final with a 10-0 record and having outscored their opponents 53-12. In conversations leading up to the game, it was felt around the league that the final would be a coronation of the experienced and talented Rockets team. Upper Montgomery’s appearance in the final was a nice story but the team had no real chance to prevail. The confident Lightning squad thought otherwise. They were out to prove they belonged and were a worthy adversary.

At the opening faceoff, Richard Montgomery started five student athletes who were all juniors or seniors and saw regular playing time on the Rockets varsity squad. However, it was clear from the beginning of the game that the Lightning would not be intimidated or pushed around. The Lightning competed all over the ice and did not allow Richard Montgomery to generate speed through the neutral zone or many good scoring opportunities. The Lightning forwards backchecked hard and did not allow any outnumbered rushes up ice. With 3:46 seconds left in the first period, the Lightning went on the first powerplay of the game. Rockets forward Jacob Swivel was called for roughing on a check without an attempt to play the puck. As was the case for most of the season, the Lightning generated very little on the abbreviated powerplay which was cut short after only a minute when Lightning center Josh Nadler was called for slashing.

A rather uneventful first period ended with no score and low shots on goal totals for both teams. Richard Montgomery had five shots on goal and Upper Montgomery had four shots on goal in the period. The flow and feel of the game was that the first goal would be critical to deciding the eventual champion. As the game went along in the second period, it appeared that Upper Montgomery continued to gain confidence with the score still tied 0-0. The Lightning were skating strong and playing fast. They exited the defensive zone well and continued to get pucks in behind the Rockets defense. Bradley Cupples found himself in alone chasing down a puck rolling toward the net, but he was only able to get a whack at the puck sending it on net. He was unable to lift the puck high enough to get it over the glove hand of Rockets netminder Ian Hutchinson. Richard Montgomery continued to be thwarted entering the Lightning defensive zone and they were not generating many good offensive scoring chances.

With five minutes remaining in the second period, the Lightning were back on the powerplay after Rockets defender Ellison Mohan was called for hooking. Upper Montgomery had good puck movement and some opportunities with the advantage but were unsuccessful in getting one past Hutchinson. After the powerplay ended, the coaching staff made a subtle line change with Cupples centering Joshua Miller and Adam Levine. Levine who had been out on the recent powerplay for the first minute, was substituted in at right wing. Off of an offensive zone faceoff, Cupples won the draw from the left faceoff circle back to the right point. Lightning defender Geroge Benedick controlled the puck at the blue line and skated left toward the center of the ice as Levine fell back and covered at the right point. With the Rockets blocking up the center of the ice, Benedick dropped the puck down to Cupples in the left corner and retreated back to his right defense position. Levine who had been covering for Benedick at the right point, broke down the center of the slot and received a nice pass from Cupples while in stride. Levine shot low, stick side, back across from where Hutchinson had just moved coming across the goal crease to face up to the impending shot. Levine’s shot slid just inside the left post giving Upper Montgomery the lead late in the second period with 2:38 remaining. It was the monumental moment in the game as the Lightning had grabbed the lead against the heavy favorites.

A holding penalty late in the second period to Lightning defender Andrew Gean provided some tense moments for Upper Montgomery. Once again, the Lightning penalty kill was up to the task and did the job. The second period ended with Upper Montgomery on top 1-0. Shots on goal in the second period were Richard Montgomery again with five while Upper Montgomery had nine. The shots on goal totals through two periods were Richard Montgomery ten and Upper Montgomery 13.

The Upper Montgomery faithful were noticeably tense as the team tried to protect the one goal lead. The Richard Montgomery faithful were also noticeably tense as they never expected to be trailing heading into the third period. The Rockets’ tenseness was palpable on the ice as Richard Montgomery student athletes began trying to do too much and Upper Montgomery was able to create turnovers and easy clearing attempts. Although Richard Montgomery began directing more pucks on net, the shots were from far out near the blue line or very wide bad angle shots outside the faceoff circles. Landon Bernard did not have any difficulty making the saves.

With just over five minutes left in the game, the Lightning would score a very important insurance goal. Stephen Shkeda kept the puck in the offensive zone at the left point after a Rockets’ clearing attempt was not fired hard enough around the boards from the far right corner. He fired a rising wrist shot toward the net. It appeared to be a harmless shot that Hutchinson was following all the way in. As the puck went past him in the left faceoff circle, Joshua Miller stuck his stick out waist high and deflected the puck causing it to begin flipping end over end. The trajectory of the shot changed enough that the puck floated up over the catching glove of Hutchinson and into the top right corner of the net. Now up 2-0, the goal gave Upper Montgomery added energy and a small amount of breathing room. It also created a very nerve wracking five plus minutes of high drama.

Richard Montgomery immediately turned up the offensive zone pressure after falling behind by two goals knowing that their season was slipping away. The Rockets’ renewed tenacity was rewarded when a turnover in the Upper Montgomery defensive zone helped cut the lead to 2-1 with 3:22 left in the game. Off the turnover, Tyler Senko found the puck loose in a pig pile in front of the crease and fired it past Landon Bernard (19 saves, .950 save percentage) setting up a wild finish to the championship.

The final three minutes of the game were intense with Richard Montgomery pressing to score the tying goal. Upper Montgomery forwards and defenders were sliding all over the ice giving everything they had to get pucks across the blue line and out of the defensive zone. Once at the red line with possession, pucks were dumped deep into the Rockets end of the ice, a strategy that worked successfully for the next two and a half minutes of game action. With 47 seconds left in regulation, Richard Montgomery pulled Hutchinson for an extra skater. Upper Montgomery continued to defend with pressure on the puck and prevented the Rockets from getting clean looks at the net. Many Rockets shots were blocked in front, and others went wide of the net. One last clearing effort into the neutral zone as the clock reached zero coincided with the Lightning streaming off the bench in celebration. Sticks and gloves were thrown into the air and strewn across the ice as the team swarmed around Bernard celebrating the first championship in Upper Montgomery history.

Game Notes:

• Shots on goal in the championship game were relatively even, Richard Montgomery with 20 and Upper Montgomery had 18.
• The Lightning gave up only eight goals over their final six games of the season.
• Landon Bernard led all Maryland Student Hockey League (MSHL) junior varsity goalies with eight wins.
• Landon Bernard finished the season with an .880 save percentage and a 2.69 goals against average.
• Brandon Bernard led all Maryland Student Hockey League (MSHL) junior varsity skaters with nine assists. His 15 points led the team.
• Joshua Miller scored his team leading eighth goal of the season in the third period, a key insurance goal that eventually became the game winner.
• Greg Felder finished the season as the team’s penalty minutes leader with 32 penalty minutes in only six games played.
• Adam Levine scored goals in back-to-back games, his first two goals of the season. Both goals were the first goal scored by the Lightning in the semi-final game and also in the championship game.
• The Lightning penalty kill was again perfect in two opportunities against the Rockets and finished the season 43-48, 89.6%.
• The Lightning junior varsity finished the season winning six games in a row and were undefeated in their last seven games, 6-0-1.
• The Lightning finished the season with a record of 8-4-2. A significant turnaround from last season’s 1-6-1 record.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Adam Levine—Upper Montgomery Forward—1 Goal
Second Star—Landon Bernard—Upper Montgomery Goalie—Championship Win, 1 GAA, .950 Save %
Third Star—Bradley Cupples—Upper Montgomery Center—1 Assist

The Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity advanced to the Montgomery Hockey Conference junior varsity championship game with a dominating 6-2 win over Rockville/Blair on Wednesday. The Lightning will play undefeated and highly favored Richard Montgomery tomorrow afternoon at Laurel Ice Gardens. Game time is early at 4:15 pm.

After falling behind early on a fluky goal, the Lightning roared back with a complete team effort. Six different student athletes scored goals and only three student athletes had more than one point; Joshua Miller with one goal and two assists, Adam Levine with one goal and one assist, and Patrick Sell setting an Upper Montgomery junior varsity program record with four assists.

The game started ominously for the Lightning as just one minute and thirty seconds into the game the Rams went out in front 1-0. It was not a very good goal to give up. Rams’ defender Connor Combs innocently dumped the puck down ice from his own blue line. The puck went harmlessly on net and Lightning goalie Landon Bernard nudged the puck ahead three feet in front of the cage. Rams’ forward Ari Gardner outraced everyone on the ice from the Lightning blue line and knocked the puck past Bernard before he could re-set in the net. That sequence would be the only two shots on goal for Rockville/Blair in the first period.

Five minutes later the Lightning would start to take over and dominate the game. Controlling the puck in the neutral zone, Josh Nadler entered the offensive zone on the right wing. His snapshot toward the goal went wild and high over the net. Patrick Sell raced forward on the opposite side of the ice in an attempt to keep the puck in the offensive zone at the left point. He was able to bat the puck out of mid-air and down the left wing boards. Adam Levine gathered the puck, turned, and skated toward the bottom of the left faceoff circle. He directed a wrist shot on net from the sharp angle. His shot deflected off a Rams’ defender’s stick, down and past Rams’ goalie Sean Connelly for his first goal of the season.

Three minutes later James Hyman put Upper Montgomery in front 2-1 when he tapped in a rebound that snuck behind Connelly. Sell pushed the puck down the right wing boards to Joshua Miller. Miller fired a wrist shot from a bad angle on net. Connelly made the save, but the puck snuck behind his pads. Hyman beat the Rams defense to the puck and pushed it over the line with four minutes remaining in the period for his third goal of the season, all coming from the crease area.

With just under two minutes before the end of the period Brandon Bernard upped the Lightning’s lead. Both Levine and Bernard came back hard on the backcheck. The Rams turned the puck over just inside the Lightning defensive zone blue line. Levine nudged the puck forward to Bernard who had already circled around to race up ice. Bernard carried the puck down the center of the ice through the neutral zone and into the Lightning offensive end. At the top of the faceoff circles, directly in front of Connelly, he fired a wicked wrist shot high between both Rams defenders, and then by the blocker side of Connelly into the net. For Bernard it was his sixth goal and team leading 15th point on the season. With the majority of play in the offensive zone, at the end of the first period the Lightning had a 3-1 advantage and were outshooting Rockville/Blair 10-2.

Upper Montgomery extended the lead to 4-1 early in the second period. From just inside his defensive blue line, and while the Rams were in a line change, Sell banked the puck off the boards on a nice indirect pass. In stride, Miller collected the puck in the neutral zone and raced wide into the offensive zone on the right wing. He went around the Rams defense on a semi-breakaway and cut in toward the net. Connelly made the initial save on Miller’s forehand shot but was helpless when Bradley Cupples knocked in the rebound into the wide open left side of the net. The Lightning had a 4-1 lead and there was no real pressure being applied by the Rams.

Lightning defender Ethan Hockey was called for interference and Upper Montgomery had no difficulty killing off the minor penalty. Later in the second period, Lightning defender Andrew Gean was called for cross checking behind the net. Once again, the Lightning killed the penalty with ease. For the majority of the second period, the Lightning played responsible defensive hockey. Landon Bernard did not face many high quality scoring chances throughout the entire game.

With a three goal lead to start the third period, the coaching staff’s message to the team was to play disciplined hockey and to make the correct plays. Pucks out of the zone, pucks in deep behind the Rams net, and absolutely to avoid any extracurricular play after the whistle. Even with that message, Rockville/Blair scored just 45 seconds into the third period on a broken play. Off of a faceoff win from the left circle of the offensive zone, Rams center Brendyn Illif won the draw back to defender Aiden Ward. Ward wound up for a slapshot that was blocked by Ethan Hockey. A second attempt by Ward was also expertly blocked by Hockey. Unfortunately for the Lightning, both blocked shots went directly back to Ward. Ward’s third attempt went past the Lightning defense and also past a screened Landon Bernard to provide the Rams with momentum.

However, on the very next shift, momentum changed once again. Rams’ defender JJ St. Aubin was called for boarding Brandon Bernard. The Rams were forced to kill the penalty and all two minutes were played in their defensive zone. Momentum gone. While Upper Montgomery did not score on the powerplay advantage, the Lightning were able to change the momentum of the game after the Rams early third period goal. Ten seconds after the powerplay ended, the Lightning caught a break. Sell fired a wrist shot from the mid-point toward the net. TJ Gottesman was skating through the slot and bent over in an attempt to get out of the way of the puck. He could not and the puck hit him in the lower back. Somehow, the puck tricked over Gottesman’s right shoulder rolled forward and into the net just inside the right post. Gottesman’s first career high school goal again provided Upper Montgomery some breathing room with nine minutes left in the game.

With five minutes left in the contest, a late goal by Miller provided the finishing touch in a game that showcased how well the junior varsity has progressed since the beginning of the season. Miller took a pass from Ethan Hockey and fired a wrist shot past Connelly for the final tally. Tomorrow, the biggest challenge awaits the team in the junior varsity championship game. Upper Montgomery will need to find a way to conquer the Richard Montgomery Rockets who have outscored their opponents 53-12 on the season. The Rockets are undefeated with their 10-0 record, including a 5-2 victory over Upper Montgomery in early November. They have blown through the conference regular season and handled two very good teams in the playoffs. To win tomorrow, the Lightning will have play close to a perfect game and capitalize on the chances they are able to generate.

Game Notes:

• The Lightning held Rockville/Blair to only 14 shots on goal for the game, with just two shots on goal in the first period.
• Upper Montgomery scored on six of its 26 shots on goal in the game.
• The Lightning penalty kill was again perfect in two opportunities and is now 41-46 on the season, 89.1%. The penalty kill has been an area where Upper Montgomery has excelled all season.
• The Lightning junior varsity have won five games in a row.
• The Lightning have upped their record to 7-4-2 on the season with all seven wins coming against conference opponents.
• With the victory, the Lightning advance to play highly favored Richard Montgomery in the junior varsity championship game on Thursday, February 18th at 4:15 pm at Laurel Ice Gardens.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Joshua Miller—Upper Montgomery Forward—1 Goal, 2 Assists
Second Star—Adam Levine—Upper Montgomery Forward—1 Goal, 1 Assist
Third Star—Patrick Sell—Upper Montgomery Defense—4 Assists

The Upper Montgomery Lightning won its first ever junior varsity playoff game late Friday night with a come from behind 2-1 shootout victory over the Northwest Jaguars at Cabin John Ice Rink. With the win, Upper Montgomery advances to the junior varsity semi-final round hosting Rockville/Blair on Wednesday evening at 6:40 pm at Laurel Ice Gardens.

In a gritty and tightly contested game, Upper Montgomery defended all over the ice and limited the Jaguars to just nine shots on goal through regulation and overtime. The Lightning’s game plan was executed very well by the entire team, to identify and defend against Jaguars leading scorer, roving defender Brady Graham. By running multiple skaters at Graham all game long, and constantly applying pressure, the Lightning were able to hold him to a single assist on a broken play. Graham had entered the game scoring eleven goals in six junior varsity games and his eleven goals led the Montgomery Hockey Conference junior varsity by almost double the next highest scoring skater.

The game started slowly as both teams were feeling each other out. A tripping penalty to Jaguars center Nikhil Mudunuri a minute and a half into the game gave Upper Montgomery an opportunity to jump out in front early in the game. However, the Lightning powerplay which has been inept all season failed to generate any good scoring chances. The first period would end with up and down skating, a lot of shots missing wide of the net, and a feeling that the game would be a battle right to the end. Shots on goal in the first period were a paltry four for Upper Montgomery and one for Northwest.

The second period could best be defined as a slog. Upper Montgomery was tough and physical and continued to clamp down on Graham. Coincidental roughing penalties to Graham and Upper Montgomery center Bradley Cupples opened the period. While they were in the box, Jaguars defender Micah Chin was also called for roughing. Upper Montgomery generated nothing on the four on three powerplay. More tight defensive play ensued until Lightning defender Patrick Sell was called for hooking halfway through the period. At this point the game opened up just a bit. Adam Levine sprung Brandon Bernard on a shorthanded breakaway with a nice indirect pass off the boards and immediately went to the bench for a line change (second period line change is the far bench). Bernard cut in alone and faked backhand, forehand and was stopped by Northwest goalie Joseph Dean’s pads. After his shot attempt was saved, Bernard wiped out in the offensive zone corner boards.

Graham collected the puck for the Jaguars in the defensive zone and skated past the Upper Montgomery defense leading to a two on one advantage with Ben Weiner. Graham centered the puck to Weiner in the slot and he whipped a quick wrist shot past Landon Bernard’s glove. The powerplay goal gave the Jaguars a 1-0 lead on just their third shot of the game. It was an unfortunate turn of events with both Lightning forwards caught up ice behind the play. At the end of the second period the shots on goal remained very low, seven for Upper Montgomery and three for Northwest.

The competition for every inch of the ice continued in the third period. With 9:30 left in regulation, Jaguars forward Josh Podsiadlik and Lightning center Josh Nadler were called for coincidental minors, Podsiadlik for roughing and Nadler for slashing. With five and a half minutes to play, the Lightning received the break they needed. Graham was called for hooking on the backcheck and Upper Montgomery went to the powerplay. The Jaguars most talented student athlete was in the penalty box and unable to defend in front of the Northwest net on their penalty kill.

The game tying goal started with a rewind from the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. Bradley Cupples corralled the puck along the left wing boards. He passed cross ice to George Benedick at the offensive blue line along the right wing boards. Benedick entered the offensive zone down the boards and centered the puck looking for Adam Levine cutting to the back post. The pass was intercepted by the Jaguars defense and the attempted clearing attempt was kept in at the mid-point of the blue line by Cupples. Cupples passed the puck over to Benedick at the right point. Benedick’s shot with Levine in front screening Dean was well wide of the net short side. Josh Nadler collected that errant shot behind the net and attempted a wrap around shot coming from behind the net from the right side to the left post. Both Northwest defender were occupied with Levine in the crease area and Nadler’s wrap around attempt banked into the net off the right goalie skate of Dean. With 4:45 left in regulation, the game was tied at one. It had been four games and 16 powerplay chances since the last Lightning powerplay goal.

The final minutes of regulation were played more wide open with both teams pushing up ice looking for the victory. At the end of regulation the shots on goal were Upper Montgomery 15 and Northwest eight. Junior varsity playoff overtime is played three on three for five minutes, and if scoreless, a five round shootout decides the winner. The five minute overtime period was full of wild action. Graham stayed on the ice for the full five minute overtime for the Jaguars and provided matchup problems for the Lightning with the extra open ice. Only five Lightning skaters played in the overtime period; Benedick, Cupples, Brandon Bernard, Cole Howerton, and Nadler.

Cupples found himself in alone on two separate breakaway attempts in overtime. Both coming in alone along the right wing boards toward the net. Dean made a nice glove save off of Cupples wrist shot on the first chance and a desperation pad save on a backhand, forehand move on the second chance with a minute and a half left in overtime. The second breakaway attempt drew a hooking penalty to Jaguars forward Schiab Younis. Upper Montgomery could not convert on the four on three overtime powerplay and the overtime period ended scoreless. Upper Montgomery outshot Northwest eight to one in overtime and for the first time in the game appeared to be the better team.

As the home team, Upper Montgomery had the choice of shooting first or second in the five round shootout. The Lightning coaching staff chose to shoot first.

Joshua Miller came in and faked backhand, forehand and easily scored around the left pad of Dean.

For the Jaguars, Micah Chin faked forehand, backhand and roofed a shot over Lightning netminder Landon Bernard’s outstretched pads and blocker.

Bradley Cupples was the second shooter for Upper Montgomery. He also faked backhand, forehand similar to Miller and scored over top of Dean glove hand.

The second shooter for the Jaguars was Graham. If he scored, the shootout would be tied two apiece and the Jaguars would have used their two most talented shooters in the first two rounds of the shootout. Graham skated in and attempted the same faked used by Chin. His backhand shot was not as high and Landon Bernard got enough of his right leg pad on the shot to block the shot into the goal post where it deflected wide into the corner giving the Lightning an early 2-1 lead in the shootout. It was an enormous save on the county’s most prolific offensive student athlete.

Next up for the Lightning was Josh Nadler. Nadler continued the theme of going backhand, forehand and easily deposited the puck into the top portion of the net putting Upper Montgomery in front 3-1.

Up next for the Jaguars was Ben Linteris. Linteris took a different approach and came in on Landon Bernard and sent a wrist shot on net from the high slot. The shot hit Bernard’s leg pads and bounced back at Linteris. The Lightning student athletes streamed off the bench in celebration. The only problem was that the shootout was not yet over. Upper Montgomery held a 3-1 lead with two rounds of the shootout remaining.

Upper Montgomery’s fourth shooter, Brandon Bernard, had a chance to end the game by scoring. He followed the pattern of all three shooters before him and used the exact same move, backhand, forehand. Bernard whipped his left handed wrist shot high above Dean’s blocker and into the net. A wild celebration ensued around both Bernards as Upper Montgomery won its first playoff game in program history. The gritty and well deserved win advanced the Upper Montgomery junior varsity into semi-finals.

The remaining teams alive in the junior varsity playoffs are:

Whitman (5) versus Richard Montgomery (1)

Rockville/Blair (3) versus Upper Montgomery (2)

Game Notes:

• The Lightning held Northwest to only nine shots on goal in 41 minutes of action.
• Upper Montgomery had eight of their 23 shots on goal during the five minute overtime period, including two breakaway chances for Bradley Cupples.
• The Lightning junior varsity have now won four games in a row.
• The Lightning powerplay finally scored after a four game and 16 opportunity drought. It was the biggest goal of the season thus far.
• All four Lightning shooters scored in the shootout. The first ever shootout in program history.
• With the victory, the Lightning advance to play Rockville/Blair in the junior varsity semi-finals on Wednesday, February 16th at 6:40 pm at Laurel Ice Gardens.

Three Stars of the Game:

First Star—Bradley Cupples—Upper Montgomery Center—1 Assist, Shootout Goal
Second Star—Joseph Dean—Northwest Goalie—1 Goal Against, 22 Saves, .956 Save %
Third Star—George Benedick—Upper Montgomery Defense—1 Assist