Coming off their most complete game of the season, a 6-2 win over top conference opponent Rockville, the Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity team returns to action on Sunday night versus Northwest. Game time is 7:20 pm at Skate Frederick. This will be the second to last game of the season for the junior varsity who are now 3-3 in conference play and 3-4-2 on the season. The Lightning need to finish the season strong to gain ground in the conference standings and avoid having to play in the opening round of the junior varsity post season playoff tournament.
The outcome of the game may come down to three factors. First, which student athletes from both teams are available to play due to the recent uptick in COVID cases in Montgomery County. Second, will any of the Upper Montgomery student athletes have travel team conflicts with the Sunday night game. And third, how well does Upper Montgomery handle Northwest’s best student athlete, do everything defender Brady Graham who is a standout on the Jaguars varsity team. Graham leads the Montgomery Hockey Conference junior varsity student athletes with eleven goals in six games. In net for the Jaguars will be inexperienced Joseph Dean who is 3-3-1 on the season with a 3.55 goals against average and a low save percentage of .763%.
In net for the Lightning will be Landon Bernard, coming off a strong outing versus the Rams giving up only two goals. His strong play in goal was one of the main reasons for the win. Bernard’s performance in net against Northwest and particularly Graham will be key to Upper Montgomery coming away with a second straight victory.
On defense the Lightning will likely skate with four defenders. Stephen Shkeda will play down from varsity to be a stabilizing influence for the young Lightning junior varsity defense of Patrick Sell and Cole Howerton. It is anticipated that a rotation of forwards will skate some shifts on defense. Pairings are expected to be Shkeda with Sell and Howerton with the forward rotation. The defense will be looking to stymie Graham as well as the rest of the Jaguars forwards.
Offensively, the Lightning’s offense has begun to kick into gear. With eleven goals in its last two games, the team is finally getting more balanced scoring to take the pressure off the defense. Brandon Bernard leads the team in scoring (8 GP, 4 G, 6 A). Bradley Cupples, coming off a strong game versus Rockville with two goals and an assist, is next with (6 GP, 3 G, 4 A). Joshua Miller leads the team with five goals in nine games including several outstanding breakaway goals. Josh Nadler has chipped in and scored three goals so far in his first high school season. Then, the scoring thins considerably. The Lightning need the additional depth scoring to continue if they are going to beat Northwest. Controlling Brady Graham will be the primary key, and if successful, the Lightning will earn their fourth win of the season.