It was a rainy Tuesday night in Elizabeth NJ when the JEC JV thunder played the kickoff game of a hockey double header vr the legendary MTA lions. Both teams entered the game with 2-0 records, but as tends to be the case in the Thunder Dome, while 2 teams entered, only one team would leave, and on this rain soaked Tuesday in November that team would be the JV thunder.

MTA managed to strike first with a goal by Captain Daniel Landa, who beat Freshman Goaltender Dov Weitz with rising shot from the right point which eluded the net minder to his glove side, but that lead would prove to be very short lived as immediately following the ensuing faceoff the JV Thunders Captain, Sophomore Sammy Simcha struck right back. After winning the aforementioned faceoff Sammy deftly weaved his way through the MTA defense, beating their Goalie with backhand to the glove side. With the game tied late in the first period, the JV thunder would manage to grab control of the game as freshman sensation Ben-Zion Kapustin put the Thunder up 2-1 to close out the period with a snipe from the left point that eluded the MTA net minder beating him high to the far side of the net.

As the second period began it was once again the MTA captain, Daniel Landa, that answered the call for his team as he eluded his defensive shadow to fire a shot from the left wing that beat Dov Weitz high to the glove side yet again. With the game tied once again, this time at 2-2, the stage was set for an exciting second period which saw both teams trade chances until late in the third when the JV Thunder’s other Freshman Sensation Aaron Silver managed to take advantage of a JEC power play, picking the puck up deep in his own zone and carrying it up the right wing side of the rink before unleashing a seeing eye shot which found the top corner on the far side of the MTA net, putting the JV Thunder up 3-2 to end the second.

With MTA within 1 goal to start the third, both teams knew it would be a tightly played period. Despite  numerous opportunities throughout the period for the visiting Lions, they were unable to once again beat goaltender Dov Weitz, who proved himself up to the task of defending the Thunders lead. The final period also saw the JV thunder being awarded another power play half way through the period, and while they nearly converted twice, the MTA goalie managed to keep his team within reach of tying the game up all period. As time dwindled down MTA pulled their goaltender and applied some late pressure but the Thunder were not to be denied on this evening, as two teams entered yet only one team left, the JV thunder winning 3-2 in an close and entertaining game.