The Frisch hockey team hasn’t won it all since 2005. That was almost a decade ago and it’s about time the 2005 banner gets a neighbor. During the drought Frisch hasn’t lacked talent; it was depth and teamwork that was the issue. But depth might be the defining word of the Frisch hockey team this year, with four solid lines of offense and three experienced lines of defense. The team also has tremendous depth at goalie, with three evenly matched players who battled for the starting spot till the season opener. The team has a strong nucleus and a mid-season breakdown won’t be an issue for this squad. Each player has each other’s back during practice whether they are on first line or fourth line. This year they are determined to work as a team to reach the ultimate goal of bringing a championship back to Frisch.
This year’s team consists of Jason Levine, a play maker who can finish; Jono Wietschner and his explosive offensive skills; Maxx Rimberg an offensive defenseman who will put the puck in the net; Eitan Rolnick, most physical defenseman on the team; Odi Haramati the kid doesn’t miss; Rafi Selevan, new to the team, but fits like a glove; Jacob Levy, a defenseman who will surprise you on the court; Mike Rubin, arguably the best junior defenseman in the league; Jacob Bach, a hard working offense man who plays both ends of the court; Max Milstein, a skilled offense man with a wicked shot; Michael Reinhart, an offensive defenseman who rushes the puck as well as anyone else in the league; Tzvi Bessler, Rafi Wind, Jonas Leavitt, Elisha Penn, Mikey Finkelstein, Sam Rochlin, Abe Gellman and goalies, Josh Eagle, Alan Socolof and Alex Kershenbaum. The team is coached by Canadian-born Aaron Shlagbaum and Assistant Coach, former referee Shmuli Stern.
The Cougars opened their season at Ramaz; both teams came into the game fired up. Frisch was penalized twice in the first period, killed off the first one and on the second, newcomer Rafi Selevan shelved a shorthanded goal for the first Frisch goal of the season. Ramaz fought back scoring on the power play. Some questionable calls in the second period found Frisch down 3-1 going into the third. The Cougars entered the third period on the power play. Star junior Odi Haramati indicated that the power play unit was coming off the court with a goal—and that they did. Haramati set up a beautiful cross pass to defenseman Mike Rubin, who drilled it home to make it 3-2. Haramati then scored to tie it at three. Senior Jason Levine sealed the deal putting in the game winner late in the third. Frisch goalie Alex Kershenbaum was able to hold off Ramaz to start the season 1-0.
The team showed their discipline and superior conditioning in the third period, two trademarks of Coach Shlagbaum and Assistant Coach Shmuli Stern. Frisch’s next test will be against MTA at the Frisch home opener.
By Jacob Bach
