Ashar Hockey Continues to Win on the Road

(click on the photo above for additional photos)

Boarding our team bus at 5:00pm the Ashar Hockey headed out on the road once again for our second game of the season. Great Neck, Long Island was our next destination to face off against North Shore Hebrew Academy.

After our big win against Westchester Day School in game 1 of the season, our team hit the court with a secure measure confidence that showed in our play.

There are those players in our league who wait in front of the net for the pucks to come there way, then there are the players who "make it all happen". This year Ashar is blessed with 4 offensemen who know how and what it takes to "create opportunities".

In the now famous Al Pachino movie "Any Given Sunday" from a few years back there is a famous scene where a coach explains the difference between an average athlete and a great athlete. The sign being when there is only enough time left in a game for one play to win it, a player rises to the challenge and simply demands "just give me the ball". Ross Chanofsky, Issac Selter, Ari Shatkin and Max Rimberg each shows that quality and ability. Their confidence and athleticism shows, as each is a "play finisher" as well as "play maker".

Shutting down North Shore last night was Ashar's star starting goalie Jason Fischmen, who allowed absolutely nothing past him.

In the 3rd period and making his goalie debut, rookie goalie Craig Klien rejected al the best of North Shore's scoring talent, and closed the door for Ashar on this latest victory.

The most exciting news of the night though came after the game when the North Shore Hebrew Academy Hockey team announced that they too will be joining Ashar Hockey's "Unite for Israel Hockey Project". Adding yet another team to the long list of tri state area schools that have committed to assist in our in charity project for Israel this season.

More details about our 2009 Unite for Israel Hockey Project benifitting the Avukat Or Center of Jerusalem will be announced in a later posts.

Ashar Opens 2009 Season With Overtime Victory vs. League Champs

(click above photo for more pictures)

The Ashar Hockey team began its 2009 season last night as it faced off against last season's league champion Westchester Day School Wild.

In what over the years seems to be Ashar Hockey's 'home away from home' ( the WDS Gym) , goalie Jason Fischman rejected just about everything shot at him. It was Jason' s first official start in goal for the team, but Jason put on a goalie show that made him look like a seasoned veteran.

The history of previous games against WDS is a competitive one. This game proved no different. Both teams looked to be the first to break the games tension with a goal.

Starting scoring lines of Maxx Rimberg and Isaac Selter knocked on the door many times in the first period. It is was however the line of Ross Chanofsky and Ari Shatkin that drew first blood against WDS when "Pablo" Chanofsky buried a puck deep in the back of the Westchester net.

The chants of "Pablo" seemed to fuel Chanofsky as it was only moments later Ross decided he needed to his his nickname chanted again. Firing a second blast past a stunded WDS goalie for goal number 2.

In true fashion though WDS came back, and as the clocked ticked down to the end of the game the 2-2 tie was sending our teams into a sudden death overtime period.

It was the outstanding defense of Brian Frankel, Jesse Schwab, Mike Katznelson and Avi Borgen that proved to be the difference. With under a minute left in the overtime period Avi Borgen decided with an exam in school the next day to study for, the hour was getting late.

Taking matters in his own hands Avi Borgen closed the show with his huge overtime goal to win the game for ASHAR.