In a decisive Yeshiva Hockey League Eastern Conference matchup, the MTA Varsity Hockey Lions stormed through the first place HANC Hurricane, led by a record setting effort by Captain Ami Rosenfeld of Teaneck.

The Lions set the tone early, controlling play and keeping the ball in HANC’s zone for almost the entirety of the 1st period. Despite many chances, though, the Lions nonetheless struggled to find the back of the net, and the first period ended still scoreless.

In the 2nd period, however, the Lions awoke, and roared into a dramatic scoring rampage. Dovid Boim landed the first goal, with help from line-mate and assistant captain, Ezra Quint. Then, Captain Rosenfeld kicked into high gear and scored what is believed to be the quickest three-goal hat trick in Yeshiva League history. His first goal was an expertly-landed wrist shot, taken from 15 feet off the net. His next goal took only about three seconds to find its mark, thanks to his taking command of the faceoff. The last goal took the longest time–about ten seconds–and ended when Rosenfeld shuffled the ball past the HANC goalie in a near-net battle. When the dust settled and the numbers were tallied, Rosenfeld appeared to have attained the record for the fastest hat trick in league history (definitive records from the early years of the league are not available, but people involved since then have affirmed that this is indeed a new record). The quick goals were, in the words of one onlooker, “simply stunning.” Reflecting after the game, Rosenfeld offered, “I just felt it. The net just seemed open.”

As for the game, the Lions now held a commanding 4-0 lead after two periods. The domination continued in the 3rd period, as Boim netted his second goal from behind the goal line. To finish off the scoring, the Markowitz twins, Captain Zev and Azriel, each also scored, giving the Lions a big 7-0 win.

The Lions have now improved to 5-2 and look to continue their winning streak as they enter the second half of the season. Assistant Coach Nachum Cooper explains the Lions’ recent victories succinctly, saying, “It’s really all about hustle and hard work.”

Ami Rosenfeld, shrugging off his 16 seconds of fame, added, “It’s just thanks to teamwork, and to Lion’s Pride.”