The Upper Montgomery Lightning have a reputation as a program that will play any team, at any time. When the Urbana Hawks had a last minute cancellation, Upper Montgomery happily filled even knowing they would play only with half of the roster available to compete. As with last Friday’s game against top ranked Walter Johnson, the Lightning knew they would be in for another tough test, this time against the top team in Frederick County. Upper Montgomery played with only twelve skaters and that included a couple of junior varsity call ups.
Upper Montgomery started off strong. Philip Shkeda scored his first career high school varsity goal three minutes into the contest. Olivia Robbins won a puck battle with the assistance of Chris Hassett behind the net to the left of Hawks goaltender Ethan Truszkowski. She centered the puck to Shkeda. Shkeda’s first shot was saved by Truszkowski. He then transferred the puck from his backhand side to his forehand and popped the puck into the open side of the net. Shortly thereafter, Upper Montgomery went on two back to back powerplays after interference penalties were called on Hawks forward Cody Keegan and Hawks defender Brady Gardiner. With an opportunity to extend the lead, Upper Montgomery could not convert on either powerplay opportunity. The first period ended with the Lightning ahead 1-0. Shots in goal in the opening frame were Upper Montgomery eleven and Urbana nine.
As Upper Montgomery short bench tired in the second period, the game began to unravel. First, a mental error led to a too many skaters on the ice penalty. With last season’s excellent penalty kill a far distant memory, Urbana would tie the game with the extra skater. Hawks defender Seamus McGee won a puck battle on the left side boards. He passed the puck down the boards behind the net to Drew Renzi. Renzi’s pass to the middle went through to the right circle where Hayden Grapes had snuck in from the right point. Grapes’ shot through traffic beat Lightning goalie Landon Bernard high to the stick side.
Fifty seconds later, Urbana would jump to a lead they would not relinquish. A poor decision by the Upper Montgomery defense to join the offensive rush backfired. The puck was turned over just inside the Urbana defensive blue line presenting the Hawks with a three on two rush. Brady Gardiner passed the puck up to Henry Scriven. Scriven left a drop pass to defender Tommy Alexander who had joined the rush. Alexander’s wrist shot from the right circle went far side, high, past Bernard’s stick and blocker.
Another Lightning penalty, and another opponent’s powerplay goal pushed Urbana’s lead to 3-1. With Lightning senior defender Ethan Hockey in the box for a very marginal roughing call, the Hawks cashed in for their second powerplay goal of the period. Nine seconds after Hockey wound up in the penalty box the Hawks would score off the ensuing faceoff. Keegan won the faceoff in the right circle back to Grapes at the point. Grapes slapshot was deflected in front by Zachary Thayer. The deflection sent the puck upward and it went past Bernard’s glove into the net. The Lightning penalty kill had now surrendered five powerplay goals in six chances to start the season. On the defensive for most of the period, Upper Montgomery only mustered three shots on goal during the second period.
The third period also started off rocky for the Lightning. Within three minutes the score had ballooned to 5-1. Urbana’s first goal of the third period was scored by Liam Grapes, Hayden’s brother. Alexander won possession of the puck at his defensive blue line. He stickhandled to center ice and backhanded a pass along the left wing boards. Liam Grapes accepted the pass and cut to the middle of the ice. Entering the offensive zone, he fired a wrist shot from the high slot across the grain and past Bernard high glove side.
The second Urbana goal came on the very next shift and was the result of a poor Upper Montgomery decision. A defensive pinch at the left point allowed the Hawks to exit the zone with speed. Colin Sweeney knocked the puck past the pinching Lightning defender along the boards springing a two on one rush. Katie McGee took the puck hard to the net where she was cross checked into the boards by Lightning defender Andrew Gean. The puck sat at the left post where Matthew Browning-Elam was all alone, and he knocked it past Bernard.
Two minutes later the lead would bulge to 6-1. Upper Montgomery had trouble exiting the defensive zone. The puck was sent low down the left wing boards. Keegan collected the puck in the left corner. He skated as if he was going around the net but centered the puck prior to doing so. His pass short side into the slot went to Max Dabruzzo. Dabruzzo fumbled the puck where it was immediately collected by Gardiner who fired a low shot stick side past Bernard.
At 6-1 the game became a bit chippy with penalties doled out to both squads. Gean was called for roughing putting Upper Montgomery back on the penalty kill. While shorthanded, Ryan Jacobson sent the puck to the left side boards in the defensive zone. Olivia Robbins scanned the ice and found Jacobson skating into the neutral zone. Her pass hit Jacobson in stride. He skated into the offensive zone around the Hawks defense, and then around the net from left to right. He swung out in front and scored on a forehand wrap around near side post past Urbana’s backup netminder Abby Tanner. Upper Montgomery then went on the powerplay when Dabruzzo was called for tripping but was unable to muster any prime scoring chances.
With less than a minute remaining in the game and the teams skating four on four, Jacobson would then score his second goal of the game. He won a defensive zone faceoff to the side boards. Andrew Botti poked the puck past the Urbana defense on the left wing over the defensive blue line. Botti carried the puck up ice and made a one handed pass to Jacobson cutting into the offensive zone. Jacobson cut toward center ice and shot back across his body from the deep slot. His wrist shot easily beat Tanner to the left side of the net making the final score a bit more respectable.
Two games into the season Upper Montgomery has played both games with half its roster. The team is much improved and tremendously more competitive than last season. Once the full squad is available to play, Upper Montgomery is poised to threaten the top teams in the Montgomery Hockey Conference. It is time for the Lightning to make a statement and upset one of the traditional powers. The next opportunity is on Monday afternoon when the gauntlet continues versus highly regarded BCC.
Game Notes:
- Upper Montgomery was missing a host of high level varsity skaters for the contest; Brandon Bernard, Nathan Cassel, Hunter Cameron, Josh Nadler, George Benedick, Brady Berkhammer, and Bradley Cupples.
- Urbana outshot Upper Montgomery 36-20 for the game, and 27-9 after the first period.
- Upper Montgomery had no shots on goal over the last 8:30 of the second period.
- Upper Montgomery’s penalty kill which was so good last season at 87.9%, was again bad allowing two powerplay goals in four chances to the Hawks. The Lightning are now three for eight on penalty kill for the season.
- Ryan Jacobson scored two goals for the second consecutive game, including a shorthanded goal.
- Upper Montgomery continues the brutally hard initial part of their schedule on Monday afternoon against BCC. Game time for the Halloween matinee is 5:10 pm at Rockville Ice Arena.
Three Stars of the Game:
First Star—Hayden Grapes—Urbana Defense—1 Goal, 1 Assist
Second Star—Ryan Jacobson—Upper Montgomery Center—2 Goals, Including Short-Handed Goal
Third Star—Landon Bernard—Upper Montgomery Goalie–-30 Saves