It was a packed house at Frisch on Wednesday March 18, where the Noam Knights took on the RYNJ Jaguars, as the winner would go home with the trophy. The teams lined up for the national anthem anxious to get the game started. After a frantic first period with shots coming from every direction, the Knights walked off the court 0-0.
The second period started like the first where both teams were peppering the goalies with shots anxious to get the first goal. Then early into the second the Knights struck first as Jake Rothenberg put home a beautiful Elliot Eisner shot as the Knights took a 1-0 lead. Then mid second period the Knights got called for a bad penalty. Even with the bad call, the Knights stayed focused and were not only able to kill off the penalty, but scored shorthanded, as Elliot Eisner rushed up the floor took a beautiful wrist shot from 20 feet out, and roofed it to give the Knights a 2-0 lead. Then Jaguars Daniel Landa, split the Noam lead in half 2-1 late in the second period.
As the third period started the Knights continued to pressure YNJ’s goalie with shots but was not able to cash in. The period was back and forth as the Jags were attacking in Noam’s zone but could not put anything past the great goaltending from Gilad Holzer, and great defense from Yechiel Keiser and ET Dubin. Late third period with approximately three minutes left the Knights got called for another penalty, and on the power play Avraham Gellman lifted a back hand shot to tie the game at 2 with 2:26 left. The period ended with both sets of fans standing on the edge of their seats.
As sudden death overtime started, the crowd was at its loudest and on their feet knowing that the next goal would win. After playing great hockey for close to forty minutes both teams continued to play as if it was still the first period, and no one was willing to give up. Neither team could capitalize on great opportunities, but with 3:46 to go a Yonaton Naor shot from the point was blocked and JJ Coren was able to get to the rebound and roof it over YNJ’s goalie to give the Knights the championship.
By Eli Blumenfeld
