Category: Lightning Strike Blog

The Upper Montgomery Lightning and their families are enjoying the winter holiday break. It is a well deserved rest for the team. The 2024 – 2025 high school ice hockey season has zoomed past with the Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity and varsity squads right in the thick of the conference standings. Once the teams return from winter break, there will be four varsity regular season conference games remaining and the junior varsity will be looking for a long run in the junior varsity playoffs.

The Lightning junior varsity has received outstanding goaltending from ninth grade goalie Porter Stutsrim-Lyons coupled with some timely goal scoring to finish the regular season with a 4-2-2 record, 4-1-2 in conference play. A big win in the regular season finale over Whitman secured the number four seed in the conference playoffs and a home game against fifth seeded Churchill. The win advanced the Lightning directly into the quarterfinals and out of having to play an opening round game (Richard Montgomery at Whitman, Blair at the DC Stars, and Rockville / Magruder at Northwest / Quince Orchard).

Stutsrim-Lyons has posted two shutouts to go along with a 1.98 goals against average and a .927 save percentage. He has a chance over the remainder of the season to set junior varsity program records for goals against average and save percentage. He will need to play strong in net to help the Lightning advance deep in the playoff tournament.

The junior varsity’s leading scorer is senior forward AJ Marks (8GP, 5G, 7A). He is followed in scoring by two newcomers to the Lightning program ninth grade forward Siddy Bhasin (6GP, 5G, 4A) and sophomore Jake Hudson (6GP, 5G, 3A). Sophomore Aiden Zheng has stood out offensively and with his hustle and effort. He scored a hat-trick versus Blair and has produced (6GP, 6G, 1A) leading the team in goals.

Defensively, the junior varsity has been led by senior defender and team captain Cole Howerton (6GP, 4G, 3A). Senior Patrick Sell is playing the best hockey of his high school career. Sophomore Miles Wendland (5GP, 3A) has provided a steadying influence for the younger junior varsity defenders, Avery Evans (5GP, 2G, 4A), Lillian Robbins (3GP, 1G, 4A), and Matt Rivera (8GP, 5A) all of whom have contributed while gaining valuable experience. The Lightning head into the playoffs with its entire roster healthy and ready to make a deep run similar to the 2021 – 2022 squad that won the junior varsity county championship.

The Upper Montgomery varsity is off to its best start in the last four seasons playing to a 5-3-1 record and 5-2-1 in conference play. The team’s only losses are against opponents ranked in the top fifteen in the state, Wootton twice and against Urbana. With a reasonable second half schedule, the Lightning have a chance to finish the 2024 – 2025 regular season with a winning record. It would be the first time since the 2018 – 2019 season that the Lightning could finish the season above .500.

In net sophomore Ilan Shterenberg has handled the majority of the goaltending duties. He has shined in some games making 49 saves in the Lightning’s 3-1 loss to Wootton early in the season and 44 saves in the recent overtime victory over the DC Stars. His play is typical for an underclass student athlete moving up from his staring role on the junior varsity where he set or tied numerous program records last season; tying for most wins in a season, and setting the lowest goals against average and highest save percentage in junior varsity program history. Shterenberg has a solid save percentage of .892. His goals against average is a strong 3.82 having been negatively impacted by the Lightning’s poor defensive performances against both Urbana and in the second Wootton game.

Defensively, junior 16U AA defender Brady Berkhammer has upped his game this season. He is providing much more offense (9GP, 2G, 8A) than in his first two seasons of varsity play. He had a four point game earlier in the season against Northwest / Quince Orchard with two goals and two assists. Sophomore defender Miles Wendland has played important minutes against the opposition’s top forward lines. He has accelerated his game from his ninth grade season. Senior Cole Howerton has stepped into a regular role on the varsity playing mostly with Wendland. Howerton has played some of his best hockey in his final high school season. His play stood out in the Lightning’s win over Richard Montgomery. Ninth grade AA defender Lillian Robbins has seen regular action this season and contributed three assists in the game against Richard Montgomery. She has played in five games and has dished out four assists. Senior Patrick Sell scored his first career high school varsity goal in the Northwest / Quince Orchard game. His size and presence on the blue line has caused problems for the opposition. Ninth grade Matt Rivera and sophomore Avery Evans have each gained valuable experience at the varsity level in their limited play. Getting time in varsity games now will help them in future seasons as they take on larger roles with the team.

Offensively, the Lightning knew they would have to replace Maryland Student Hockey League Hall of Fame standout Chris Hassett who graduated after last season. Unexpectedly, junior Ryan Jacobson left to play junior hockey in Michigan. Then, last season’s leading returning scorer Nathan Cassel (2GP, 3G, 1A) has missed most of the early portion of the season with an upper body injury. His hat-trick against Rockville / Magruder helped the Lightning to a 5-5 tie against the Rams. Cassel is expected back for the senior night game on Friday, January 3rd against Northwest / Quince Orchard.

The Upper Montgomery coaching staff moved AAA junior defender Owen Robbins to center as a means of generating additional offense. The move has paid off as Robbins authored a hat-trick in the Lightning’s season opening win over BCC and scored four times against Richard Montgomery. The Lightning’s season opening victory over BCC was the program’s first ever win against the Barons. The team followed that win up with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over BCC last week to complete the season sweep. Robbins has been near the top of the Lightning’s leading scorers the entire season with (7GP, 7G, 4A). He is just behind Upper Montgomery’s leading offensive threat senior center Henry Honacki who now leads the team in goals with (9GP, 9G, 2A). Honacki scored the game winning goal in the last two Lightning victories, beating the overtime buzzer by scoring with eleven seconds remaining in the extra period to defeat the DC Stars and scoring on the powerplay late in the third period against BCC. Honacki also leads the team in powerplay goals with four. His production on the powerplay is more than half of the teams powerplay goals (7 for 18, 38.9%). Junior forward Philip Shkeda has also been an offensive threat with (7GP, 4G, 6A).

A couple of sophomores have stepped in and filled important roles on the team. Returning forward Aiden Zheng has (9GP, 2G, 5A) continuing his assent from last season’s breakout during the Montgomery Hockey Conference varsity playoff tournament. Newcomer Jake Hudson has used his size well getting the puck out of the defensive zone along the boards leading to numerous rushes up ice. Several of the odd skater rushes have led to goals. He has (7GP, 6A) including dishing out three assists against Richard Montgomery. With depth an issue, several student athletes who have played the majority of their high school careers with the junior varsity team are receiving playing time this season with the varsity. Senior forward TJ Gottesman scored his first career varsity goal in the Northwest / Quince Orchard game and senior forward AJ Marks contributed an assist in that same game. Ninth grader Siddy Bhasin has dressed and played in several varsity games. His play is starting to ramp up and he has (6GP, 1G, 3A). Senior Josh Nadler missed the beginning of the season while he was out-of-the country. He is looking to elevate his game heading into the new year.

It’s time for the Lightning squads to go on runs in early 2025. The junior varsity will be looking to claim a spot in the Montgomery Hockey Conference junior varsity championship game for the second time ever. While the varsity will be looking to finish the regular season strong to earn a preferred seeding in the Montgomery Hockey Conference varsity playoffs and once again advance to play for an opportunity to qualify for the Maryland Student Hockey League state playoffs for the first time ever.

#Make Some Noise, #Second Half Fury, #A Green and Gold 2025, #UML, #Bleed Green, #Go Bolts!

The first half of the 2024 – 2025 high school ice hockey season has zoomed past with the Upper Montgomery Lightning varsity and junior varsity squads right in the thick of the conference standings. As the Thanksgiving holiday break concludes, the sprint to the Montgomery Hockey Conference post season playoff tournament is in full flight with both Upper Montgomery teams looking make some noise and finish the season strong.

The Lightning junior varsity has received outstanding goaltending from ninth grade goalie Porter Stutsrim-Lyons coupled with some timely goal scoring to begin the season with a 3-1-2 record. Stutsrim-Lyons has posted two shutouts along with a 1.64 goals against average and a .939 save percentage. He has a chance over the remainder of the season to set junior varsity program records for goals against average and save percentage. Upper Montgomery’s junior varsity extended the program record unbeaten streak to sixteen games, 12-0-4 over three seasons, until inevitably, all things must come to an end. The long undefeated streak vanished in a 4-3 loss to BCC, the Lightning’s only regulation loss of the season. In the BCC game, the Lightning’s string of 36 consecutive shorthanded situations killed off also ended.

In a heroic effort, Upper Montgomery took Churchill to overtime playing with only seven available skaters. It was a monster performance to gut out a point with such a depleted roster. Up next for the Lightning junior varsity is a non-conference matchup against Annapolis / Arundel before closing out the regular season playing a very strong Whitman team. With the start of the playoffs just six weeks away, the Lightning junior varsity will need to continue to receive contributions from up and down the lineup. The junior varsity’s leading scorer is senior forward AJ Marks (6GP, 4G, 4A). He is followed in scoring by two newcomers to the Lightning program, sophomore Jake Hudson (5GP, 5G, 2A), and ninth grade forward Siddy Bhasin (4GP, 3G, 4A). Bhasin scored in his first three high school hockey games. Sophomore Aiden Zheng has stood out offensively and with his hustle and effort. He scored a hat-trick versus Blair and has (4GP, 5G, 1A). Lightning varsity goalie Ilan Shterenberg has skated out as a forward in some junior varsity games scoring two goals.

Defensively, the junior varsity has been led by sophomore Miles Wendland (4GP, 3A) and senior Cole Howerton (4GP, 2G, 2A), two varsity skaters who have played down to assist the junior varsity’s young defenders. Senior Patrick Sell is playing the best hockey of his high school career. Young defenders Avery Evans (3GP, 1G, 3A), Lillian Robbins (2GP, 1G, 3A), and Matt Rivera (6GP, 5A) have all contributed while gaining key experience. Due back to the lineup in time for the Lightning’s next junior varsity game are sophomore center Jackson Schickler and sophomore defender Max Curtusan.

The Upper Montgomery varsity is off to its best start in the last four seasons playing to a 3-3-1 record over the first half of the schedule. The teams only losses are against teams ranked in the top fifteen in the state; Wootton twice and Urbana. With a reasonable second half schedule, the Lightning have a chance to finish the 2024 – 2025 regular season with a winning record. It would be the first time since the 2018 – 2019 season that the Lightning could finish the season above .500.

In net, sophomore Ilan Shterenberg has handled the majority of the goaltending duties. He has shined in some games, making 49 saves in the Lightning’s 3-1 loss to Wootton early in the season, and he has struggled in other games. His play is typical for an underclass student athlete moving up from his staring role on the junior varsity where he set or tied numerous program records last season; tying for most wins in a season, and setting the lowest goals against average and highest save percentage in junior varsity program history. Shterenberg has a solid save percentage of .876. His goals against average which had been in the three’s ballooned to 4.75 after the Lightning’s poor defensive performances against both Urbana and in the second Wootton game. The three week Thanksgiving holiday break should provide him the opportunity to re-set and focus on the second half of the season.

Defensively, junior AA defender Brady Berkhammer has upped his game this season. He is providing much more offense (7GP, 2G, 5A) than in his first two seasons of varsity play. He had a four point game against Northwest / Quince Orchard with two goals and two assists. Sophomore defender Miles Wendland has played important minutes against the opposition’s top forward lines. He has accelerated his game from his ninth grade season. He has also contributed offensively with three assists in six games. Senior Cole Howerton has stepped into a regular role on the varsity playing mostly with Wendland. Howerton has played some of the best hockey in his final high school season. His play stood out in the Lightning’s win over Richard Montgomery. Ninth grade AA defender Lillian Robbins has seen regular action in the first half of the season and contributed three assists in the game against Richard Montgomery. She has played in four games and has dished out four assists. Senior Patrick Sell scored his first career high school varsity goal in the Northwest / Quince Orchard game. His size and presence on the blue line has caused problems for the opposition. Ninth grade Matt Rivera and sophomore Avery Evans have each gained valuable experience at the varsity level in their limited play. Getting time in varsity games now will help them in future seasons as they take on larger roles on the team.

Offensively, the Lightning knew they would have to replace Maryland Student Hockey League Hall of Fame standout Chris Hassett who graduated after last season. Unexpectedly, junior Ryan Jacobson left to play junior hockey in Michigan. Then, last season’s leading returning scorer Nathan Cassel (2GP, 3G, 1A) has missed most of the early portion of the season with an upper body injury. His hat-trick against Rockville / Magruder helped the Lightning to a 5-5 tie against the Rams. The Upper Montgomery coaching staff moved AAA junior defender Owen Robbins to center as a means of generating additional offense. The move has paid off as Robbins authored a hat-trick in the Lightning’s season opening win over BCC and scored four times against Richard Montgomery. The Lightning’s victory over BCC was the program’s first ever win against the Barons. Robbins has paced the Lightning in scoring with (6GP, 7G, 3A). He is followed closely by junior forward Philip Shkeda with (6GP, 4G, 5A) and senior center Henry Honacki (7GP, 5G, 2A).

A couple of sophomores have stepped in and filled important roles on the team. Returning forward Aiden Zheng has (7GP, 2G, 4A) continuing his assent from last season’s breakout during the Montgomery Hockey Conference varsity playoff tournament. Newcomer Jake Hudson has used his size well getting the puck out of the defensive zone along the boards leading to numerous rushes up ice. Several of the odd skater rushes have led to goals. He has five assists in five games including dishing out three assists against Richard Montgomery. With depth an issue, several student athletes who have played the majority of their high school careers with the junior varsity team are receiving playing time this season with the varsity. Senior forward TJ Gottesman scored his first career varsity goal in the Northwest / Quince Orchard game and senior forward AJ Marks contributed an assist in that same game. Ninth grader Siddy Bhasin has dressed and played in several varsity games earning an assist. Senior Josh Nadler missed the beginning of the season while he was out-of-the country. He will be looking to elevate his game over the second half of the year.

A positive for the program, the powerplay. Last season, the anemic Upper Montgomery powerplay went zero for its first 46 chances with the extra skater before finally scoring in the regular season finale versus Bullis. Early in the season this year, the Lightning have converted on four of their thirteen powerplays, a 30.8% success rate. Now it is time for the squad to turn it up, not just on the powerplay, but on the penalty kill and at even strength. It’s time to go on a run over the second half of the season and be playing excellent hockey as the conference playoffs close in.

#Second Half Fury, #UML, #Bleed Green, #Go Bolts!

The Upper Montgomery Lightning varsity squad kicks off its 2024 – 2025 regular season campaign on Friday night when the Lightning host the BCC Barons. In the sixteen years of its existence, the Upper Montgomery program has never beaten BCC. The Barons have owned Upper Montgomery surrendering only a single tie two years ago on Halloween. Game time is late night, 10:00 pm at Cabin John Ice Rink.  The team will be trying to once again advance through the regular season and the opening round of the Montgomery Hockey Conference playoffs to earn the chance to play for a spot in the Maryland Student Hockey League high school state playoff tournament. The Lightning have never advanced to the state playoffs, and are thought to be in a rebuilding season after losing nine seniors and two top juniors from last year’s experienced squad.

This season, it is expected that Churchill, Whitman, and Walter Johnson will again be at the top of the conference standings. With the exception of Northwest/Quince Orchard (who is anticipated to be by far the worst team in the county), the other eight teams are fairly evenly matched. Any of these eight teams could make a run and qualify for the state playoffs. Upper Montgomery will also be focused on bucking a trend that developed over the past couple of seasons, very slow starts. Last year, the team began the season 1-7. In 2022 – 2023, the team began the season 1-4-1. While the Lightning recovered nicely over the middle and second portion of the schedule both years, getting off to a better start this season is a must.

Upper Montgomery’s primary goaltender will be sophomore 16U AA Ilan Shterenberg. Shterenberg takes over the reigns from Landon Bernard who graduated. Last season, Shterenberg shined at the junior varsity level setting or tying junior varsity program records for wins in a season (8), lowest goals against average (1.80), and highest save percentage (.927). At the varsity level, Shterenberg got his feet wet last season participating in five games, with four starts. He was 2-1 with a 4.44 goals against average and a .829 save percentage. Shterenberg will be heavily counted upon to keep the young Lightning roster in games all season long. He will be backed up by ninth grade netminder Porter Stutsrim-Lyons.  Stutsrim-Lyons plays for the Caps Academy 14U Lower A external travel team and has started off his high school career strongly playing for the junior varsity. Stutsrim-Lyons is 1-1-2 on the season with a 2.18 goals against average and a .927 save percentage. He began his high school career with a shutout of Richard Montgomery and followed up that performance with a career high and junior varsity program record 47 saves against Wootton.

On defense, the Lightning have most of their backline returning with the exception of junior defender Andrew Botti who chose not to play high school hockey during his season year of high school. Returning are top rising juniors, rugged defensive defender 16U AAA Owen Robbins (14GP, 3A) and smooth skating cool customer 16U AA Brady Berkhammer (21GP, 1G, 12A). They will be joined in the regular defensive rotation by sophomore 16U Lower A Miles Wendland (18GP, 6A) and senior Cole Howerton. Anticipate the Lightning defense to be more offensive minded this season after the defenders scored only five goals in 91 totals defensive games played last year. Rounding out the defensive corps will be a rotation of junior varsity call ups; 14U AA Lillian Robbins, 14U Lower A Matt Rivera, Patrick Sell, Luke Hudson, and 19U AA Avery Evans. With the loss of so many experienced skaters off last season’s roster, almost every skater in the program is likely to see some some playing for the varsity this season.

Offensively, Upper Montgomery returns its second and third leading scorers from a season ago. Senior 18U AA forward Nathan Cassel (15GP, 11G, 18A) and junior forward Philip Shkeda (20GP, 13G, 12A). This duo will be relied upon to lead Upper Montgomery offensively and they both will need to produce just like last year after loosing their center for the past two seasons, Chris Hassett to graduation. Cassel has an opportunity score enough goals (17) or hand out enough assists (12) to qualify for induction into the Maryland Student Hockey League Hall of Fame. Senior center, Henry Honacki 18U Upper A (21GP, 7G, 8A) elevated his game last year and if he can increase his scoring production it will help supplement Cassel and Shkeda.

After these three students, there is a drop off in production to sophomore 16U Lower A Aiden Zheng (9GP, 3G, 5A) and senior Josh Nadler (13GP, 4A). Both Zheng and Nadler will play heavy minutes with the varsity this season and both will need to increase their offensive output. Nadler is the junior varsity’s all-time leading goal scorer with 20 career junior varsity goals. Joining them on the varsity roster are forwards; TJ Gottesman, the junior varsity’s career points leader with 32 points, sophomore newcomer Jake Hudson, and ninth grade 14U Lower A forward Siddy Bhasin. Bhasin and Hudson currently lead the junior varsity in scoring so far this season. AJ Marks and his big frame will get a look in varsity competition as well. Other junior varsity student athletes may get called up as the season progresses when the core of the varsity squad is missing due to external travel team out-of-town game conflicts.

The 2024 – 2025 varsity season will be one of growth and development for the green and gold’s younger student athletes.  It should be exciting and rewarding as the younger skaters grow and blossom. How quickly the team develops the defensive habits necessary to lead the program forward will determine if the Lightning can again challenge the upper echelon varsity teams in the county.  Or, is the team simply too young to compete right now this season.  Friday night will give us some answers as the season finally gets underway.  Come along for the ride, it should be a fun season!

The Lightning junior varsity has had an impressive start of their own. The team is 1-1-2 through four games. The season opened with an 8-0 smashing of Richard Montgomery. Upper Montgomery then extended the junior varsity program record unbeaten streak to sixteen games, 12-0-4 over three seasons with an overtime loss to the top junior varsity program in the county, Wootton. Inevitably, all things must come to an end and the long undefeated streak vanished in a 4-3 loss to BCC. In the BCC game, the Lightning’s string of 36 consecutive shorthanded situations killed off also ended.

In a heroic effort, Upper Montgomery took Churchill to overtime with only seven available skaters. It was a monster performance to sneak out a point with such a depleted roster. Up next for the Lightning junior varsity is the DC Stars and then the worst team in the county by far, Blair, which should allow the team to improve its record to 2-1-2 (plus the DC Stars outcome) at the beginning of the month of November. The junior varsity’s leading scorer is ninth grade forward Siddy Bhasin (3GP, 3G, 4A). Bhasin has scored in his first three high school hockey games. Sophomore Jake Hudson is tied for the junior varsity lead in goals with three (3GP, 3G, 2A). Miles Wendland, Cole Howerton, and Aiden Zheng have also stood out defensively helping to propel Upper Montgomery to the nice start to the season.

#UML, #Bleed Green, #Go Bolts!

Tomorrow evening kicks off the beginning of the Upper Montgomery Lightning on-ice preseason evaluation sessions and practices. With the graduation of nine seniors, many of whom played outsized roles in the team’s success last year, with junior Ryan Jacobson leaving the area to play junior hockey in Michigan, and with top defender junior Andrew Botti choosing not to play high school hockey in his senior season, the program will endeavor through a natural cycle of younger student athletes receiving ample playing time.

The evolution of sophomore AA goalie Ilan Shterenberg will be critical to the team’s success as he will be heavily counted upon in net, just as he was for the junior varsity squad last season. Shterenberg excelled with the junior varsity in his first high school season posting an 8-1-1 record with three shutouts, a 1.80 goals against average, and a .927 save percentage. He received valuable experience with the varsity squad last year as well and won two of his four starts going 2-1 with a 4.44 goals against average and an .829 save percentage. Ninth grade netminder Porter Strutsrim-Lyons will serve as the goalie for the junior varsity and will back up Shterenberg in varsity games. It is not out of the question that Strutsrim-Lyons may play a few varsity games depending upon Shterenberg’s external club team travel schedule.

The Upper Montgomery defense returns experienced student athletes on both the varsity squad and the junior varsity squad. Junior AAA defensive defender Owen Robbins (14 GP, 3A) has amassed a tremendous amount of varsity experience (30 games) in his first two years of high school and he will be leaned upon to play heavy minutes during the upcoming season. It is anticipated that he will play with senior Cole Howerton. Howerton will be expected to step in and play regular shifts for the varsity in his final season. Howerton has played some at the varsity level over the past two seasons and will be looked upon to take on a bigger role this season. The other defensive pairing will likely be junior AA defender Brady Berkhammer (21 GP, 1G, 12A) playing with sophomore A level defender Miles Wendland (18GP, 6A). The team will need for one of the junior varsity defenders to step forward and push for playing time at the varsity level.

Howerton (10 GP, 5G, 4A) and Wendland have junior varsity eligibility remaining and will play down to help the junior varsity’s younger defenders. Senior defensive defender Patrick Sell will play plenty at the junior varsity level and will need to demonstrate he is ready to step in at the varsity level. Sophomore AA defender Avery Evans (8GP, 1G, 4A) will see regular junior varsity action. Ninth grade AA defender Lillian Robbins will compete with A level ninth grader Matthew Rivera and ninth grader Luke Hudson to round out the defensive corps. Sophomore defender Max Curtusan will receive junior varsity playing time as the season progresses.

Offensively, the Lightning return their second and third leading scorers from last season. Senior AA forward Nathan Cassel (15 GP, 11G, 18A) and junior forward Philip Shkeda (20 GP, 13G, 12A) will headline the top line. Finding a center for this high scoring duo will come down to how the coaching staff decides to split up ice time. The top returning center is senior upper A level skater Henry Honacki (21 GP, 7G, 8A). On the second line Aiden Zheng (9GP, 3G, 5A) will compete for playing time with incoming sophomore Jake Hudson and returning senior Josh Nadler. Nadler is the junior varsity’s all time goal scoring leader and he will need to elevate his game to produce at the varsity level. TJ Gottesman has exhausted his junior varsity eligibility and will serve as a depth forward for the varsity. There will be plenty of opportunity for senior AJ Marks to show that he deserves to be dressed for varsity games. Incoming ninth grader Siddy Bhasin could also earn third line duties playing for the varsity throughout the season.

The junior varsity will have a significant number of new faces dressed at forward for game action. Zheng, Jake Hudson, and Bhasin will all receive regular shifts for the junior varsity. They will be joined offensively by junior Jason Woodman and then younger skaters, sophomore Jackson Schickler, and incoming ninth graders Decklin Hughes and Max Israfilbek, along with sophomore Mason Jagoz who played high school hockey in Frederick last season.

The 2024 – 2025 season will be one of growth and development for the green and gold’s younger student athletes. It should be exciting and rewarding as the younger skaters grow and blossom. How quickly the team develops the habits that will lead the program forward will determine if the Lightning can again challenge the upper echelon teams in the Montgomery Hockey Conference this season. Or, is the team simply to young to compete now. Come along for the ride, it should be a fun season!

#UML, #Bleed Green, #Go Bolts!

On Tuesday evening, the Upper Montgomery Lightning hockey program begins in earnest preparations for the 2024 – 2025 hockey season. The team holds its first dryland practice and off-ice conditioning session. There will be two weeks of organized dryland workouts prior to the official start of on-ice sessions which are allowed to begin on Monday evening, September 9.

With the graduation of nine seniors, many of whom played outsized roles in the team’s success, with junior Ryan Jacobson leaving the area to play junior hockey in Michigan, and with top defender junior Andrew Botti choosing not to play high school hockey in his senior season, the program will endeavor through a natural cycle of younger student athletes receiving ample playing time. The evolution of sophomore goalie Ilan Shterenberg will be critical to the team’s success as he will be heavily counted upon in net, just as he was for the junior varsity squad last season. While there are many returning defenders and forwards, younger members of the organization will be counted upon to rise up and play larger roles in the upcoming season. There will be plenty of ice time available to be earned for students who played depth and supporting roles in prior years. The upcoming early evaluation sessions and practices will be important for these student athletes to show that they are ready for larger roles with the team this upcoming season.

Unlike last season when the Upper Montgomery program had been gearing up for a championship run with a significant number or older and experienced members of the team, the 2024 – 2025 season will be one of growth development for the green and gold’s younger students. It should be exciting and rewarding as the younger students grow and blossom, and begin to develop habits that will lead the program forward with opportunities to challenge the upper echelon teams in future seasons. Come along for the ride, it should be a fun season!

#UML, #Bleed Green, #Go Bolts!

As the summer reaches the midway point, the Upper Montgomery Lightning program is already deep in preparations for the upcoming high school hockey season. Many of the team’s student athletes are participating in various camps to improve their individual skill level. The team is just a few short weeks away from the beginning of organized dryland workouts. In seven short weeks the team will hit the ice for the first evaluation session scheduled for Monday evening, September 9.

With the graduation of nine seniors, many of whom played outsized roles in the team’s success, and with junior Ryan Jacobson leaving to play junior hockey in Michigan, the program will endeavor through a natural cycle of younger student athletes receiving ample playing time. The evolution of goalie Ilan Shterenberg will be heavily counted upon in net, just as they were for the junior varsity last season. While there are many returning student athletes, on defense and offensively, younger members of the organization will be counted upon to rise up and play larger roles in high leverage situations. There will be plenty of ice time that is available for students who played depth and supporting roles in prior years.

Different from last season when the program had been gearing up for a championship run with a significant number or older and experienced members of the team, the 2024 – 2025 season will be one of development for the green and gold. It should be exciting and rewarding as the young students grow and blossom.

#UML, #Bleed Green, #Go Bolts!

As the school year is now completed and students are out for the summer months, the Upper Montgomery Lightning program is already deep in preparations for the upcoming hockey season. Many of the team’s student athletes are participating in various hockey camps to improve their individual skill level and strength and conditioning.

The team is mere weeks away from the beginning the registration process for student athletes to be eligible for the upcoming 2024-2025 season. The only unknown at this juncture is if the conference will make any changes to the current roster of high schools that make up the Upper Montgomery program. There is discussion that some of the coop teams may need to pick up additional schools as both Blair and Sherwood may become pure teams for the upcoming season. A team must go pure when they reach sixteen students from the same high school in the program. With the corresponding moves, Upper Montgomery may be asked to accept additional students into the program. There is no movement to remove any of the Upper Montgomery program’s four core high schools.

All of the team’s focus shifts now to qualifying for the Maryland state high school playoffs for the first time in team history. The upcoming season will be the sixteenth season that the green, white, and gold will battle it out against the best in Montgomery County. The Lightning are one of six programs with a legitimate shot at advancing through the Montgomery Hockey Conference playoff bracket and making a run into the state playoff tournament. Each student athlete must dedicate themselves to this goal, starting with improving their individual skills and conditioning over the summer to come into camp in top shape.

The Lightning program also will be closely following three alumni skaters who depart the program after this past season all of whom will be playing junior hockey next fall:

Hunter Cameron will be playing in Pennsylvania for the Hershey Cubs.

Olivia Robbins will be playing in Ontario, Canada for the OHA Mavericks Elite U22 team.

Ryan Jacobson will be playing in Mount Clemens, Michigan for the Metro Jets.

Also happening throughout the summer is the Upper Montgomery Lightning Varsity Trophy traveling tour. As has become tradition, when the program wins a championship such as the Varsity Tournament title this past winter (akin to the NIT tournament in college basketball), the team’s championship trophy leaves the year-end team celebration and travels across the county spending one week with each member of the organization that participated in winning the championship. So, be on the lookout around the upper regions of Montgomery County for a trophy sighting!

#UML, #Bleed Green, #Go Bolts!

It was a busy month of May for the Upper Montgomery Lightning program. The team has concluded play during the spring 2024 hockey season.  While not qualify for the spring league playoffs, the squad improved as the spring season went along which was the primary objective of the coaching staff. The spring season is designed for incoming high school students to get acclimated to the speed of high school hockey.  Upper Montgomery’s ten new student athletes received a taste of what is to come in the fall when the 2024 – 2025 regular season commences.

The other major event that occurred during May was the Upper Montgomery Lightning year-end team celebration. It was quite a festive evening with the student athletes and their families celebrating the success of the program and honoring the nine seniors who are departing the program after a very successful four year run. All members of the team were recognized and honored for their individual performance last season. Varsity student athletes received a personal trophy to commemorate winning the Montgomery Hockey Conference (MHC) Varsity Tournament Championship.

Additionally, 19 of the 28 UML student athletes were recognized by the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League (MSHL) with academic achievement awards.  The award is presented to student athletes achieving a weighted 3.5 grade point average or higher during the first semester of the academic year. Seven students maintained above a 4.25 weighted GPA, seniors Olivia Robbins and Adam Levine, junior Henry Honacki, Sophomore Owen Robbins, and 9th grade first year high school students, Aiden Zheng, Ilan Shternberg, and Miles Wendland. Great effort and success in the classroom!

The junior varsity set many program records during the 2023 – 2024 season on the way to the first undefeated regular season in program history at 9-0-1.

• Most victories in a season with nine.
• Perfect on penalty kill 27/27 with a goalie in net–including a five minute major and a full two minute 5-3.
• The junior varsity gave up only 23 goals in 11 games.
• Three shutouts.
• Highest winning percentage in program history .863.
• The Lightning junior varsity is losing its top three all-time scorers in TJ Gottesman, Josh Nadler, and Adam Levine.  TJ and Josh will only be eligible for varsity competition next season.  Adam is a graduating senior.
• Josh Nadler set a program record for scoring goals in six straight games.
• Adam Levine set a program record for recording a point in eight straight games.
• Josh Nadler set a single season program record with 53 penalty minutes and a career program record of 124 penalty minutes.
• TJ Gottesman leaves the junior varsity as the career leader in points with 32.
• Josh Nadler leaves the junior varsity as the career leader in goals with 20.
• Ilan Shterenberg tied a program record with eight wins. He also set program records for lowest goals against average at 1.80, and highest save percentage at .927.

• Varsity Highlights of the 2023 – 2024 season.
  • The Upper Montgomery Lightning won the most important championship in team history–the Montgomery Hockey Conference Varsity Tournament Championship.
  • Upper Montgomery finished with its highest final season county ranking ever–5th, and its highest final season public school state ranking ever–13th.
  • Including the private schools, UML played the number 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 (three times), 16, and 19th ranked high school programs in the area.
  • The team beat Walter Johnson who was ranked second in the county. That victory ties the highest ranked opponent that UML has ever beaten.
  • Upper Montgomery had a 1-0 lead over eventual state champion Oakdale with less than five minutes to play.
  • Upper Montgomery was tied with private school powerhouse Bullis with less than a minute remaining in the game.
  • The expectation each year moving forward is to make the state playoffs.  UML is no longer a mid-major program.
  • Coach Scott Cameron is leaving the program after four seasons of being an incredibly valuable resource for the team.

Post-Season Awards and Recognitions:

• Chris Hassett was inducted into the MSHL Hall of Fame.  Chris finished his career with 62 goals–third in program history, 64 assists–second in program history, for 126 points–third in program history, an average of 2.14 points per game.
• In the history of the MSHL, Chris finished 30th all-time in goals, 13th all-time in assists, and 19th all-time in points.
• Chris Hassett was named 2nd Team Division 1 All-MHC.
• Chris Hassett and Olivia Robbins were both named Honorable Mention All-Met by the Washington Post.  Olivia was 2nd Team All-Met after last season.
• Brady Berkhammer and Hunter Cameron were named Honorable mention Division 1 All-MHC.
• Adam Levine was recognized with the High School Hobey Baker award.  The award at the high school level is given to a senior student athlete for their positive attitude, coachability, strength of character, integrity, commitment, teamwork, work ethic on the ice and in the classroom, exemplary character, and outstanding sportsmanship.  Adam took zero penalties in 64 UML games, finished his career second in junior varsity program history in assists (15) and third in junior varsity program history in scoring (23). 

What’s next for the nine Upper Montgomery senior student athletes?

• Next season, Hunter Cameron will be playing junior hockey in Pennsylvania with the Hershey Cubs.
• Next season, Olivia Robbins will be in Canada playing junior hockey with the OHA Mavericks U22 Elite team based in Ontario, Canada.
• Adam Levine will be attending South Carolina University’s highly regarded sports management program on merit (academic) scholarship.
• Next season, Chris Hassett will play his final year of 18U eligibility before moving on to play junior hockey in the fall of 2025.
• Landon Bernard and Brandon Bernard will be attending Wilkes University.
• Bradley Cupples will be studying Kinesiology at Penn State.
• Jake Roth will be studying aerospace engineering.
• Sean Levine will be taking classes locally.

Best of luck to all of the graduating seniors and we hope they all continue to follow Upper Montgomery as they head off to their future careers and studies.

#UML, #Bleed Green, #Go Bolts!

Upper Montgomery Lightning senior co-captain, forward Hunter Cameron has signed to play junior hockey with the Hershey Cubs of the US Premier Hockey League. The official press release is below

The Hershey Cubs of the US Premier Hockey League are proud to announce the signing of forward Hunter Cameron. The Clarksburg, Maryland native comes to us after a successful season with the Washington Little Caps 18U AAA club and after playing four years with the Upper Montgomery Lightning high school team.  Coach Boudreau had this to say about the signing of Hunter:

“Hunter was a player we were interested in from the start of tryouts.  He comes from a good youth program that plays a competitive AAA schedule.  Cameron did not disappoint on the ice, getting better as the camp went along.  He carried himself like a mature and experienced junior player despite only playing youth hockey.  We believe he will thrive on the ice and have a great rookie season”.

Congratulations Hunter and welcome to the chocolate and cream.

In his storied high school career Hunter finished by scoring 20 goals and adding 24 assists for 44 points. Hunter played both forward and defense for the Lightning during his senior season displaying his versatility. His leadership and determination helped Upper Montgomery win the Montgomery Hockey Conference Varsity Playoff Tournament.  

Outside of high school hockey, Hunter played for the Washington Little Caps 18U AAA program that produced former Washington Capitals Jeff Halpern and USA Hockey Hall of Famer and long time Chicago Blackhawk Jeremy Roenick.

The Upper Montgomery program is proud of Hunter and looks forward to avidly following his junior hockey career.

The Upper Montgomery Lightning have begun play in the spring 2024 hockey season.  The spring season is designed for incoming high school students to get acclimated to the speed of high school hockey.  Upper Montgomery has ten new student athletes that are competing with the program this spring.   Several of the new students are defenders and will provide significant depth to the junior varsity program next season.  There is also the possibility that up to three of the new members of the program could play in some varsity games next season.

With Ilan Shterenberg taking over as the varsity goalie, Porter Stutsrim-Lyons will handle the goaltending duties for the Lightning junior varsity next season.  

Several returning skaters are competing this spring, and their participation will help the newcomers adjust to the higher level of competition in high school hockey.  As with each new spring season, the speed of the game catches the new students off guard for the first couple of weeks.  Then, the skaters settle in and begin to adjust and play faster.

All of us at Upper Montgomery wish to congratulate Nathan Cassel and the rest of the MYHA 16U AA team that reached the championship game at USA Nationals. The MYHA 16U AA team was the first Maryland team in the history of youth hockey to advance and play for a USA Hockey championship.  Despite a heartbreaking outcome of losing with four seconds left in overtime, the Lightning are very proud of Nathan and his teammates for their historic accomplishment.

#UML, #Bleed Green, #Go Bolts!