Unranked Maccabees Stun League With Upset of #2 Colorado, Elite Eight Finish
For the fourth time in their history, the Yeshiva University Maccabees roller hockey team headed out to the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association's National Tournament. Despite an unimpressive Regionals effort, and a sixth place finish in the east, the Macs received an at-large bid and a trip to Irvine, California for the tournament, which ran from April 19 to 24.
Although with a bit of a flight delay, the boys landed in southern California Tuesday night ready to make a statement, thanks to some practices, ISCA games, and Passover skates. The Maccabees were slated to play four games of pool play on Wednesday and Thursday before single elimination started on Friday. With almost a full team, and some important reinforcements coming later in the week, the boys were juiced to show the league their true capability.
The Bees headed to The Rinks Irvine Wednesday morning to kick off their tourney, with a 1pm bout against the Illinois State Redbirds. Yeshiva got on the board mighty quick thanks to Eli Schiff, and continued to pile on the goals, both on the power play from Donny Fuchs and Benji Froom, and on even strength from Avraham Gellman and Froom again. Froom completed his hatty before the Birds finally answered back, but captain Yoni Drazin soon responded. Illinois got one more, but goals from Eitan Levy, Schiff, and Fuchs safely put away the game for the Macs, 10-2. Dominant play including a 38-13 shot difference further showed that Yeshiva came to Irvine ready to play.
After a quick break, the boys were back at the rink for game two, this time against the local Cal Poly Pomona Broncos. A wild first period in which ten goals were scored left Yeshiva in a 6-4 hole, but was followed by a slightly less crazy second, where the Macs netted six and the Broncos just one. With a 10-7 lead going into the third, the Bees surrendered one more early, giving way to a 10-8 game with a few minutes left. The scoreboard then showed an 11-8 lead for the Maccabees, which the referees and scorekeepers insisted was the actual score, because a Yeshiva goal that was scored during the earlier points palooza was previously omitted from the scoreboard. With an empty net, the Macs opted not to shoot and instead just to kill time, and although Cal Poly eventually scored two more goals, it was not enough and the Bees beat the Broncos 11-10. Or so they thought. During the Macs late night dinner/ BBQ, coach Aryeh Minsky received a call from the league informing him that there was a mistake and the game actually ended as a 10-10 tie. Despite many well articulated points and arguments from coach, the NCRHA decided it's only fair that both teams will be continuing the game on Thursday starting with the overtime period. A slight silver lining for YU was that since Cal Poly committed a penalty in the waning seconds of regulation, Yeshiva would start with a 3 on 2 power play. Following the completion of the 8:45am game, both teams headed to rink three for the overtime period. The Macs were unable to take advantage of the man advantage, and soon found themselves as the ones shorthanded. After the Broncos called a timeout, the boys went on the penalty kill but with only a few ticks remaining, Cal Poly found the back of the net and beat Yeshiva in perhaps the most unique and confusing game in league history.
Before the overtime happened, the Macs started Thursday with their third of four pool games, this time against their ECRHA counterpart the University of Rhode Island Rams. Having just eked out a 6-5 overtime win against the Rams in the regular season, Yeshiva was determined to show that the gap between the teams has grown. The boys grabbed an early lead on the powerplay courtesy of Donny Fuchs, and added another tally later in the period from Benji Froom. A Rams power play goal was soon answered with two more Yeshiva goals, from Gellman and again from Froom on the PP. The Macs got yet another power play goal from Froom, and another one from Fuchs, before Rhode Island responded, but it was too little too late and the Bees beat up on the Rams 6-2.
The boys breaked for a pizza lunch, and then headed back to the rink for their last and toughest game yet, against the #12 ranked Maryville University Saints. Needing a win to finish atop their pool, the Macs grabbed an early lead off an Eli Schiff goal. Ariel Greenberg, straight off the plane, netted another, before the Saints halved Yeshiva's lead. But mounting frustrations led to Maryville taking five penalties, and the Bees took advantage with two more goals. With the air sufficiently sucked out of the Saints, the boys added five goals in the third, from Yonah Suissa, Elli Spinowitz, Froom, Greenberg, and rookie stay at home dman Gabriel Rosenblatt. The Macs dominated the Saints 9-1, and outshot them 34-10, giving Yeshiva the top spot of pool E, and sparking some significant momentum for the elimination round.
The boys celebrated their successful pool play by heading out to the Kosher restaurant scene on Pico and hitting Jeff's and Lenny's for a Rosh Chodesh dinner, before getting some much needed shut eye to prepare for their sweet sixteen matchup against the #2 nationally ranked University of Colorado Buffaloes. With the 2pm start, there was abundant time to chill, as well as prepare for the game by watching some tape. The Macs got to the rink nice and early, and because of the above average heat, were plenty warm for their game. A well placed cooler on the bench and unprecedented depth were no doubt helpful to Yeshiva, and they took an early lead on a power play goal from star recruit Zach Levy, but the score was later evened out by Colorado. A quick answer late in the period, yet again by Z, gave the Bees a 2-1 lead after one. Despite much back and forth, a scoreless second ensued. The Macs continued to hold the narrow lead, with much credit to star goaltender Michael Mintz. The Buffaloes finally broke through late in the third to tie it at two. But with just 19 seconds left in regulation, Benji Froom found a wide open Yonah Suissa in front of the net, and put it home to give Yeshiva a 3-2 upset victory over Colorado. The win, which was the Buffaloes first regulation loss all season, sent shockwaves throughout the league, and gave the boys a nice lift of Ruach into Shabbat.
With a Chabad house a cool 35 minute walk from the hotel in the Socal sun, the Bees were buzzing all Friday night and Shabbat day. Yeshiva has historically struggled on Saturday nights (0-3 on Nationals Saturday night games: 10-3, 6-1, and 7-0), usually due to a lack of energy after eating and sleeping all Saturday. But this year was destined to be different, and after hustling out of the hotel and getting to the rink in record time, the Macs felt more than ready for their elite eight matchup against the powerhouse University of Florida Gators. And the Maccabees channeled that energy mighty well, jumping to an early lead when Ellie Spinowitz smacked in a Yoni Drazin rebound. Yeshiva built on that lead early in the second, courtesy of sweet sixteen hero Yonah Suissa. The Gators soon netted their first, but the Bees answered back in a hurry when Ariel Greenberg put one away on the power play, but shortly after UF once again got one back. The Macs finished the second up 3-2, but with one period remaining against the consensus second best team in the country, the game was far from over. Florida began the third by continuing to press, and more spectacular goaltending by stud backstop Michael Mintz kept the Bees up. But the dam eventually began to crack, and a few rebounds in front were put home by the bigger and more physical Florida squad. Two goals by the Gators gave them a 4-3 lead, and although the Macs kept it tight (and hit a few posts), UF finally put the game away, and when the final buzzer sounded, Yeshiva had fallen 5-3. [The next day, the Gators advanced to the championship where they fell to the #1 Neumann, 6-5. Florida's loss to Neumann was the closest game Neumann played all Nationals, and Yeshiva's loss to Florida was the closest game Florida played all Nationals]. Despite the loss, the Maccabees proved that they belong with the big boys. Their impressive offense, wonderful goaltending, dominant defense, fantastic special teams, and overall excellent gameplay showed that they can put away lesser teams, and keep it close with anyone. And with nearly the whole roster returning, and some new talent coming in, the league is on notice that Yeshiva is a force to be reckoned with.
The Maccabees will return to play in October for the 2023-2024 ECRHA season. In the meantime, BEE sure to follow them on social media @yurollerhockey Go Macs!!
