Battle fo Division Title Begins

Take a well padded gym, a referee who was one of the strongest and most physical defenseman ever to play in the Yeshiva High School Hockey League and two teams who love to play hard hitting - "give it all you got" hockey, and you have all the ingredients that made up tonight's Westchester Day School vs Ashar home game.

This was "Street Hockey" the way it's supposed to be played before it softened to "floor hockey". Battling for position, playing to the game level, and a no time to cry for a penalty.

You know a team can really play hockey when it can adjust to the level of competition needed. Westchester Day and Ashar showed each other they really can step it up and play the true hockey game.

By the end of the 2nd period both teams muscled their way to a 3-3 tie.

In net for Ashar goalie Yoni Winfield, making all kinds of saves to help keep Ashar in contention.

Donny Fuchs taking key passes from his linemate blasted all three Hat-trick goals for Ashar.

In the end it was missing star defenseman Micheal Katznelson that seemed make the big difference for Ashar. Micheal, who lost a battle earlier in the month against a moving car, will be out for the next 6 weeks with a broken leg.

In the final period though it was Westchester Day who pulled ahead and went on to victory.

Kudos to Coaches Falkenstein and Binstock who knew to leave the "petty calls" to for lesser teams. All the coaches having enough confidence in their players not to look for referee assistance and let the pysical game play on.

Kudos as well to the fine Westchester players. Top to bottom you took the hits and kept on coming. You guys can play.

History has Westchester always winning our first encounters each the season, and Ashar always winning the second. We will see if history can once again repeats itself in a few weeks.

Special mention for Mathew Povman who had a hat-trick for Westchester (even while being shadowed by the Ashar defense). Mathew the winner of the game's MVP honors and awarded the games MVP ESPN merchandise , Mission Hockey equipment, a Bauer hockey stick, Ben and Jerry's Ice cream coupons and assorted other items.

Well done Mathew.

Sometimes its not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game. Tonight, both these teams, played the game.

Click here for pictures.