In what has turned out to be one of the most stunning events in recent local sports history, all four of our local teams competing in the 2018 Floyd Hall Arena Spring Ice Hockey League, came away as champions. These teams went up against established travel programs and teams with well experienced players.
The Peewee team (ages 11-12) made up of fourth, fifth and sixth graders from Moriah, Yavneh and Ramaz, better known as The Juice (get the pun?), won their championship after a hard-fought regular season. After going 3-3-4 in a tightly matched division against elite teams from Paramus, Essex, Caldwell and other local towns, they entered into the playoffs as a number 3 seed. With an onslaught of offense led by Asher Rudman, Alex Pomerantz and Aiden Petak as well as stellar defense from Elijah Zackai, Bennett Burgida and Max Levy, they handily beat their semi-final opponent in front of a hostile crowd to earn their spot in the championship. The finals were played in front of a record crowd at Floyd Hall against the Paramus Spartans and the boys did not disappoint their fans. After falling behind 1-0 early in the game, the Juice shook off their nerves and simply barraged the opposing goalie in an offensive onslaught. Goals by Rudman, Pomerantz and Petak, and goalie Gabriel Volodarsky stopping anything he faced, led the way to a 4-1 victory.
The Bantams (ages 13-14) were the first to capture their championship last week, as “The Tribe” took home the big trophy with a 5-2 victory over Paramus.
Then came the high school teams. At 1 p.m., Cougar Nation took the ice against the regular season first place finishers, Pascack Valley, in the High School Atlantic Division championship game. Coming off a 6-1 win over Paramus Catholic in the semi-finals, the Cougars found themselves in a groove playing excellent team defense.
While Pascack’s skill level was evident from the start, the Cougars relied on their committed defense and solid goaltending from Ezzy Wachstock and Ethan From, as they did all season, to limit the fast skating team to fewer opportunities. The Cougars jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead on hard work down low from Jake Fromen and Adam Freilich. Pascack answered with a goal by Tim O’Connor with three minutes left in the period. They would tie it at two, two minutes into the second period on a goal by Ryan Sheehan but that would be it. Jacob Weisman put the Cougars ahead for good, scoring off a Fromen rebound. Fromen was not done, as he picked up a blocked shot, raced down the ice on a breakaway and in a déjà vu moment, slipped the puck past the goaltender just as he had in the Frisch championship game against Oratory Prep, to put the Cougars ahead 4-2 with six minutes left in the third period. Aryeh Bloom, playing physical along the boards all game, added an empty netter and the Cougars won their third consecutive Spring League championship by a 5-2 score.
In what was probably the biggest upset of all, The Hurricanes— the TABC Storm/Kushner squad—(once and for all) faced off against unbeaten Parsippany in the High School Metro Division championship. Only days earlier, the Hurricanes advanced in one of the most thrilling games of the entire season as they were down 3-1 going into the third period of the semi-final game against the New Jersey Ice Dogs, when Aaron Teitelbaum scored two big goals, the latter, with less than five minutes left to send the game into sudden death overtime. After a wild back and forth five minute period did not produce a winner, the game went on to a three round shootout. The teams traded first round goals with the Hurricanes score coming off the stick of Colin Mauer. In the second round the Ice Dogs shooter was denied by Ethan From, who was spectacular making 42 saves. Then came Teitelbaum’s turn and he once again came through, skating around the goalie’s attempted poke check to slip the puck in and force the Ice Dogs into a must score situation. The Ice Dogs sent out Steven Diorio who came down the ice and veered right and came across left. From stayed with him all the way and Diorio’s shot was saved by From’s blocker before grazing the outside post to give the Hurricanes the dramatic shootout win.
The Hurricanes though, were a lot more efficient in the championship game. First period goals by Mauer and Shlomo Gellman set the tone early as Parsippany played on their heels and from behind all night. Mauer scored his second of the game with 6:30 left in the second period and Gellman scored his second of the game midway through the third period to complete the scoring. From was once again brilliant in net, making 33 saves in the 4-0 championship final shutout.
The Hurricanes/TABC Storm/Kushner squad, who have been playing together for the last two full years, were rewarded for their and hard work, effort and commitment.
Congratulations to all the players and coaches of all four teams on a fantastic and most memorable season. These players displayed great middot on and off the ice at all times. Most of the players in our community were thrilled enough just to be playing hockey in an environment that allows for them to play all their games and participate in practices without Shabbat observance being a hindrance whatsoever. A special thank you goes out Zach Chamberlain and the entire Floyd Hall Arena staff, for adjusting their hectic ice schedule, in order to accommodate our schedule limitations during the entire spring season.
Summer officially begins today!
By Zvi Rudman and Poppa Petak
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