UBS Arena was packed for a hockey game on Sunday evening, but the New York Islanders were not in town. Instead, the Jerusalem Capitals of the Israel Elite Hockey League (IEHL) were taking on the Tel Aviv Hockey Club, a matchup between bitter Israeli rivals each eager to claim a victory on New York ice.
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The game felt larger than what was occurring on the rink, something that was apparent from the minute fans arrived at the arena: after a moment of silence for the Israeli and American hostages who are being held by Hamas in Gaza, Jerusalem introduced their honorary captain, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor by the name of Ivan Gluck. Gluck appeared on the ice in full gear, greeted by a standing ovation from the crowd and stick taps from both teams. After a chorus of thousands sang along to Hatikvah followed by the Star Spangled Banner, the puck was dropped.
Tight Matchup
It would have been easy to get lost in what was a beautiful pregame ceremony, however, there was a hockey game to play, and the teams came ready. Both goaltenders had a busy first period, with over 50 combined shots on goal after the first 20 minutes. Tel Aviv’s Chris Blake drew first blood, hammering home a back-door goal two minutes into the contest. Jerusalem was quick to respond, however, finding the back of the net four times in the first period. After one, the score was 4-2, and the action was just getting started.
After a high-scoring first period, things slowed down to start the second. Both teams were able to score once through the first 15 minutes of the frame, however, the highlight came when tension boiled over between the two teams, and forwards Pinhas Delman and Nolan Bailen decided to drop the gloves. The fight was a great one, with the two exchanging blows for the better part of a minute and Delman ending up ripping Bailen’s sweater off. If there was anyone in the crowd who was not sold on Israeli hockey to this point in the game, that changed quickly with this Donnybrook.
Hard-Fought Jerusalem Win
The Capitals entered the third period with a 5-3 lead, but Tel Aviv was not about to go back to Israel without a fight. After two quick goals knotted the game at five, Tel Aviv was able to score for a sixth time on the night, taking a lead well into the third. Even though it felt like the Capitals had lost all their momentum, they were able to turn things around in the last five minutes, driving consistent pressure in their offensive zone and eventually scoring to even the game at six.
Sixty minutes did not end up being enough to decide this one, and we headed to overtime at six goals apiece. Like an NHL regular season contest, the game would be decided by five minutes of 3-on-3 sudden-death play. Each team was able to generate multiple solid scoring chances as they had all game, but Jerusalem got the last laugh with forward Denis Zaychik putting the puck home for the winner. After the game, both teams met at center ice for a handshake line, a mutual sign of respect.
A Meaningful Matchup
The IEHF was founded in 2021 and is a growing league. This game was a major milestone for the teams and players who took part and provided an opportunity for people to come together and show their support for the league, the teams partaking in the matchup, and the country they hail from. By any measure, the contest was a success and a meaningful event for all involved, showing the world what Israeli hockey is all about.
