Just a few weeks ago was the second annual Esther Semmelman all-star day at TABC to benefit i-Shine, and it was a fantastic day. First up was the junior varsity game, which featured the East All-Stars vs. the West All-Stars. The East jumped out to 1-0 lead in the second period on a goal by Jacob Schwartzman of HANC. The West tied the game late in the second period on a blast from half court by Akiva Wieder of TABC. Early in the third, Gordie Kolb of SAR scored a gorgeous goal to give the West a 2-1 lead. Game MVP Jason Silverstein, goalie from JEC, would make sure that lead stood up as he made several outstanding saves. It’s the second year in a row that the West won the JV game. Yehuda Brin of Frisch won the hardest shot completion, held after the first period at 95 mph. Jacob Neyowitz of SAR won the last man standing breakaway completion, held after the second period.
The varsity game had a twist this year as the game was not held East vs. West, but rather the coaches held a draft in private and informed players just before the game what team they were on. The game was scoreless into the second period as first-period goalies Ryan Gluck of HAFTR, playing for Dark, and Rami Levine of TABC, playing for White, made several outstanding saves. Early in the second, the Dark team, coached by Benjy Davidman and Noah Weinreich of HAFTR, broke through as Jacob Unger of SAR scored for a 1-0 lead. Late in the second, Dark extended their lead to 2-0 on a goal by Effie Aumin of Kushner. Just when it looked like the White team, coached by Larry Gross of DRS and Mo Fuchs of TABC, would go quietly, they finally broke through. With seven minutes left, Amiel Schertz of HAFTR scored on a nice pass from Josh Wengrofsky of HANC. Avi Martin of Rambam tied the game at 2 with just over four minutes left. Evan Feder hit the crossbar for the Dark team with just ten seconds left, but for the second year in a row the varsity game went to overtime.
A minute into overtime, the White team completed the comeback as Daniel Levy of TABC fed Leo Rubin of DRS for the winning goal. Leo Rubin was given game MVP. After the first period, Odi Haramati attempted to retain his crown as hardest shot champion. Last year he won at 97 mph. Things didn’t look good for Odi as Zev Markowitz of MTA and Alex Malech of TABC each shot 99 mph, but Odi stepped up and ripped a shot clocked at an incredible 101 mph to retain his title. After the second period Sam Schechter of HAFTR won the last man standing breakaway competition.
It was a tremendous day of competition that also raised money for a great cause.
By Mo Fuchs
