Ice hockey ready to burn up the ice

The Blair Community ice hockey team is not affiliated or sponsored by the Montgomery Blair High School athletic program or Montgomery County Public Schools. The team is an independent group of Blair students.

The Blair Community ice hockey team looks to improve on their winless 2003-2004 season and become more competitive in the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League.

The team has added more players to the squad from last season, going from 14 to 20 players on the varsity team, with only one senior who graduated from last year's team. Additionally, the returning players have more experience, as those who were new to the game last season now have a year of hockey under their belts.

Six seniors will anchor the squad and will be boosted by the return of standout senior Neal Vasilak who didn't play his junior year. Vasilak is one of the most experienced and explosive players on the team and is likely to be the team's most potent offensive weapon. Vasilak will skate with fellow senior Brad Gee and freshman Julian Shapiro who will make up Blair's first line. Senior goalkeeper Graham Mathews returns as the team's top net minder and will look to build on his solid play from last season in which he led the league in saves. Senior Nick Falgout and junior Lee Shields will also be key in anchoring the defense.

Gee feels the team will be more effective in scoring and will be carried by the talented first line. In a 7-7 preseason scrimmage tie against Potomac Falls, the first line scored all seven goals for Blair. Gee thinks that the team needs to strengthen the defense and give Graham more support.

Still, Blair lacks hockey experience compared to up county schools where players have played since they were young and play year-round on high-level club teams.

The Blair Community team under the guidance of coach Kevin McCabe will look to earn their first victory against Paint Branch on Tuesday, Nov. 23 at Wheaton Ice Rink.