The Maryland Black Bears announced that three-year Black Bear Luke Mountain has been named the fourth team captain in the franchise’s history. Mountain has played all 106 of his NAHL game with Maryland and was an alternate captain last season
Joining Mountain in the leadership group is another third-year Black Bear in Thomas Jarman. Like Mountain, Jarman’s entire 91-game NAHL career has been with the Black Bears, really coming on as a solid defenseman in the last two season. Second-year Black Bear Reid Leibold and first-year Black Bear Matthew Shanklin also were named alternate captains for the 2020-21 season.
Including this season, Mountain led the Black Bears franchise in goals (29), points (57), and games played (106). Both Mountain and last year’s captain, Logan Kons, set the example of how a leadership group should be both on and off the ice.
Jarman is second on the list of all-time games played with the Black Bear and his presence is very much felt on the blue line. Not known to shy away from the physical game, Jarman is also known to let his shot fly from the point, especially when given the chance on the power play.
It’s been a breakout year for Leibold, who has been the defacto top-line threat. With four goals and seven points already this season, Leibold is poised to make a run at the single-season goals and points records if his tear can continue.
Shanklin is the newcomer to the Black Bears, but has been solid on the forecheck and giving the team a boost when needed. A well-travelled player, Shanklin has been using what he learned in the USPHL and CCHL to the NAHL game and has impressed his teammates enough to get this honor.
We could possible get a look at the new leadership team in action this weekend, though all of the captain aside from Leibold were out of action last weekend. Either way, the team is in good hands and with this decision out of the way, it’s onward and upward from here.
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