The Winter ‘13 session of the TABC Junior Hockey League came to an exciting end on Saturday night December 21st.

The Junior division was won by the Islanders, who beat the Maple leafs 6-4.

The Islanders jumped out to a 4-2 lead thanks to Playoff MVP David Gellis, who scored three of the first four goals. The Maple Leafs stormed back and tied the game 4-4 with just three minutes left. 1st team All Star Zach Levy scored all 4 goals for the Leafs, but it would not be enough.

Just 10 seconds after the game was tied, Judah Volodarsky broke the tie and Kyle Dyckman sealed the victory for the Islanders just 25 seconds after Volodarsky gave them the lead.

The Senior Division game was highly anticipated after both semifinal games ended in double overtime. The Panthers defeated the Islanders with 9.9 seconds left on a goal by Ari Soloman.

The other semifinal saw the Penguins defeat the Maple leafs 2-1 on Shlomo Gellman’s winning goal. In the first overtime Maple leaf goalie Gilad Holzer made an eye popping ESPN highlight save to keep the game going, however it wasn’t enough and the Penguins prevailed.

The championship game did not disappoint the crowd that assembled at the TABC Weather Center for the game. The Panthers jumped out to 2-0 lead on two rebound goals from Yehuda Saks. The Penguins cut the lead in half late in the first period thanks to the hard work of Yitzy Kopstick.

The Panthers extended the lead in the second period on a shorthanded goal by playoff MVP Ari Soloman. The Penguins would not go quietly, however, and midway through the third period Shlomo Gellman scored a power play goal on a rebound to cut the lead to 3-2. The play was set up when big brother Avraham Gellman won the faceoff. The Penguins pressed for the equalizer, but Panthers goalie Ben Zion Fiorino would not yield another and the Panthers held on for the 3-2 victory.

We thank all the parents and players for a terrific season and we look forward to all those who have registered for the first session of 2014 that starts in Early February.

By Coach Mo Fuchs & Rabbi Sariel Malitzky