The Upper Montgomery Lightning junior varsity came off their first win of the season last week over the DC Stars looking to string together two consecutive victories. The team knew that playing the undefeated 3-0-1 Bulldogs was going to be a tall challenge but one the team felt they were ready to embrace. After a rocky first period where the Lightning were outshot fourteen to one, the team played with vigor and energy over the final two periods but could not overcome two own goals in the opening period before eventually falling to Churchill by a score of 3-1.
The first five minutes of the game were difficult for the Lightning as they adjusted to Churchill’s overall team speed and size. The team failed to play with a physical toughness that the coaching staff has instituted since the pre-season off ice practice sessions. Thus, the Bulldogs were able to skate around in the offensive zone continuingly firing pucks at Upper Montgomery ninth grade netminder George Schickler who was making his second career start for the Lightning. There was way too much sticking sticks out in an attempt to break up plays rather than sound fundamental defensive zone positioning with gritty toughness. Right when it looked like Upper Montgomery had settled down into the game disaster struck for the first time in the period.
Churchill forward Amelia Martin carried the puck down the left wing from Churchill’s defensive zone to the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. She cut toward the middle but was forced wide by the Upper Montgomery defense. Martin was eventually able to get off a weak shot from the lower right circle that was an easy stick save for Schickler. In the left corner the puck was retrieved by Churchill forward Jessica Tang. She sent a pass back to the point for monstrous Churchill defender Mingshuo Chang. His long range shot was blocked just in front of Schickler by the Lightning defense. Tang again was able to harness the loose puck, this time sending the puck far side to Churchill defender Olivia Hopkins at the right point. Hopkins sent a long range wrister at the net. Upon approach into the slot the puck deflected off of Upper Montgomery ninth grade center Wyatt Ostrander’s stick changing directions. With Schickler tracking the puck to his right, the deflection volleyed the puck in the other direction to the vacated near side of the goal. Before Schickler could react to the puck’s change of direction it was by him into the net. Hopkins’ first goal of the season put the Bulldogs in front 1-0.
A minute and a half later Churchill went on the powerplay when Upper Montgomery junior defender Max Curtusan was called for a roughing penalty. From a faceoff in the left faceoff circle in the Upper Montgomery defensive zone, Churchill center Saami Yousufi won the draw to the open left wing boards. Churchill forward Evan Chen was unopposed allowing him to easily gather the puck. His diagonal cross ice pass found Hopkins at the right point. Her pass down low to the right faceoff circle looking for the far side forward was intercepted by the Upper Montgomery defense. The attempted defensive zone clear hit Churchill forward Rama Allsopp in the hip. Allsopp dug the puck out of the right corner before sending a wild spinning pass up ice that almost cleared the offensive zone for Upper Montgomery. The puck was kept in the zone by Chang as the penalty to Curtusan expired. Chang skated in to the top of the faceoff circles where he sent a laser of a wrist shot to the top right corner of the net over Schickler’s glove hand for his third goal of the season.
Three minutes later the Bulldogs were back on the powerplay when Lightning ninth grade defender Lenny Roth was whistled for a high sticking penalty. Upper Montgomery scrambled through the second Churchill powerplay keeping the Lightning in the game only down two goals. As the opening period wound down to the final buzzer disaster struck again. Upper Montgomery skated the puck into the Bulldog defensive zone down the left wing boards. Hopkins stepped up, shutting off the rush in the left corner. She won a puck battle with Upper Montgomery skaters and kicked the puck over to Chang standing behind his net. As the clock ticked under four seconds to go in the first period Chang innocently banked the puck off the left wing boards in his defensive zone all the way down the ice. His objective was to kill off the remaining time in the period. Schickler tracked the puck realizing it was going on net. He seemed confused on how to stop the puck. Just before it reached him he lifted his goal stick off the ice to catch or smother the puck in his glove. The puck went under his goal stick, missed his glove, and squirted between his legs before settling into the back of the net. It could have been a back breaking goal with point two seconds left in the period. Chang’s second goal of the game and fourth on the season had the possibility of being a crushing knockout blow.
Showing resilience, the Lightning did not let the late goal diminish their spirits. The team started skating more. While not necessarily playing more physical, the team made more of an effort to obstruct Churchill offensive rushes up ice. Just under five minutes into the second period, Upper Montgomery sophomore defender Matt Rivera made an end to end rush that yielded his third goal of the season, all scored on similar end to end rushes. Rivera captured possession of the puck behind his own net. He sent a bank pass to himself off the right wing boards exiting the Upper Montgomery defensive zone. He travelled up ice down the right wing. Entering the Churchill defensive zone he cut wide around the Churchill defense. Gaining clearance of the Bulldogs defense, Rivera then cut to the net. As he skated through the lower right faceoff circle, Rivera sent a low wrist shot near side over Churchill senior goalie Nick Nelson’s catching glove to the back of the twine.
Upper Montgomery continued to push for more offense over the balance of the second period. Unfortunately, there was too much individual play which allowed the Churchill defense and back tracking forwards to easily break up scoring thrusts. A bright spot for the Lightning was the play of ninth grade goalie Stephen Rickman who replaced Schickler approximately halfway through the game on a planned goalie split. Rickman saw seventeen shots over his time in the game and he made all seventeen saves. It was his first career high school appearance for Upper Montgomery.
The third period was a continuation of the second period, Upper Montgomery attempted to generate offense without much success. Churchill attacked as well but was unable to increase their 3-1 lead. With four and a half minutes remaining in the game, Upper Montgomery was provided a golden opportunity to close the margin. Churchill’s top scorer, forward Kevin O’Connor was called for a boarding minor penalty for railing Upper Montgomery captain and senior forward Jason Woodman into the boards. Upper Montgomery was headed to their first powerplay of the game. Just as important, O’Connor was assessed the automatic misconduct penalty associated with the boarding minor. He would not be able to rejoin the game until late in overtime should the game reach that point. Unfortunately, the Lightning were unable to mount much pressure against the Bulldogs penalty killers. Upper Montgomery had one last chance in the final minute when Churchill forward George Kilavos was called for hooking. The Lightning pulled Rickman in favor of an extra skater. Even with a two skater advantage, the Lightning were not able to get a second goal.
The Lightning junior varsity has continued to improve each week. Up next will be the combined Northwest / Quince Orchard / Wootton junior varsity team. Another opponent which has won four out of their five games so far. For Upper Montgomery to be successful, the team will need to return to the strong physical style that has worked to keep faster more skilled teams at bay. It will be interesting to see what Halloween surprises come about as both programs’ varsity teams play directly after the junior varsity game. Many of the students play for both the junior varsity and varsity teams. Additionally, there is no school on the Monday following this weekend’s games. Many external travel teams will be out of town so roster composition next week will have a major impact on the results of all of the high school games.
Game Notes:
- Upper Montgomery was badly outshot during the game. Churchill had the advantage 37-8, including fourteen to one in the decisive first period and thirteen to four in the middle period.
- Lightning ninth grade goalie Stephen Rickman made his first career appearance for the team and stopped all seventeen shots he faced.
- The Lightning were two for two on the penalty kill increasing their success rate to nine for ten on the season.
- Upper Montgomery sophomore defender Matt Rivera scored on an end to end rush for the third consecutive game.
- It is the second consecutive season that Churchill senior goalie Nick Nelson held Upper Montgomery to one goal.
- The Upper Montgomery junior varsity plays their next game on Halloween afternoon, Friday, October 31st against the Northwest / Quince Orchard / Wootton combined team. Puck drop is 5:10 pm at Rockville Ice Arena.
Three Stars of the Game:
First Star—Mingshuo Chang—Churchill Defense—2 Goals, 1 Assist
Second Star—Olivia Hopkins—Churchill Defense—1 Goal, 1 Assist
Third Star—Stephen Rickman—Upper Montgomery Goalie—17 Saves, 100% Save Percentage