The Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity came away with an important win over the combined Quince Orchard/Sherwood junior varsity squad Saturday evening at Cabin John Ice Rink. With the 3-2 win, the Lightning are now 2-1 in conference play and 2-2-1 overall. Upper Montgomery currently occupies the fourth spot in the ten team division standings.
The Lightning were led offensively by Josh Miller who had two goals and Brandon Bernard who had a goal and an assist. Landon Bernard stopped 21 of 23 shots for the victory.
The first period was a feeling out period for both teams. For the Lightning there were many rushes up ice that did not materialize into quality scoring chances. For Quince Orchard/Sherwood, there were many rushes up ice with shots that missed the net. The shots on goal at the end of the first period were even at three shots for each team.
The action picked up in the second period. A period in which the Lightning capitalized on their scoring chances. At the 3:22 mark of the second period, the Lightning would take the lead on an unassisted goal by Josh Miller. A Quince Orchard/Sherwood defender tried to skate abound the net with the puck but ran into Miller who was in on the forecheck. Miller stole the puck and fired a wrist shot from below the right faceoff circle high glove side beating Quince Orchard/Sherwood goalie Ryan Stillwell.
A little more than two and a half minutes later the Lightning would double their lead. Once again it was Miller who provided the offense. Off of a faceoff in the Quince Orchard/Sherwood zone, Brandon Bernard won the draw sideways. The puck slid toward the net and over to Miller. In one motion, Miller spun and slid a backhand shot past the leg pads of Stillwell far post. Upper Montgomery almost made it to the second period intermission with its two goal lead. With just eight seconds remaining in the period, and while the teams were skating four on four, Quince Orchard varsity forward Jack Mendelow fired a wrist shot from the left point past Landon Bernard.
Upper Montgomery would quickly reclaim a two goal lead early in the third period. Brandon Bernard received a pass along the blue line in the Lightning defensive zone from Patrik Sell. Bernard skated up the right wing boards, encountered traffic and cut diagonally left into the Quince Orchard/Sherwood offensive zone. From the left faceoff dot, he fired a wrist shot that went past Stillwell and into the net. With the two goal lead restored, the Lightning did an excellent job of holding off Quince Orchard/Sherwood and the two varsity student athletes they had playing in the game. The Lightning surrendered only five shots on goal during the third period. Mendelow would close out the scoring with an unassisted shorthanded goal off of a rush up ice with 1:37 remaining in the game. That goal would provide some nervous moments over the final minute and a half of the game for the Lightning faithful in attendance. Quince Orchard/Sherwood pushed to tie the game with Stillwell pulled for an extra forward. In the end, Upper Montgomery had enough to hold strong and claim a hard fought victory.
Game Notes:
- Josh Miller leads the team with four goals in five games.
- The Lightning powerplay was 0-5 in the game and is now 0-16 on the season.
- Once again, the Lightning gave up a late short-handed goal.
- Shots on goal; Upper Montgomery 15, Quince Orchard/Sherwood 23.
- The Lightning junior varsity is next in action on Sunday, December 19 at 7:20 pm facing off against Northwest at Skate Frederick.
Three Stars of the Game:
First Star—Josh Miller—Upper Montgomery Forward—2 Goals
Second Star—Jack Mendelow—Quince Orchard/Sherwood Forward—2 Goals
Third Star—Brandon Bernard—Upper Montgomery Center—1 Goal, 1 Assist