ABOUT LAST YEAR
The Black Bears are kicking off their 2023-24 campaign after capturing the East Division in both the regular season and playoffs. The banner year provided several individual and team records being set, including 40 wins on the year.
CAPTAIN KEBREAU
Dimitry Kebreau was named the 7th captain in Maryland Black Bears history and the first Maryland-born player to be given the honors. Coming into his third full season, Kebreau has 32 goals and 59 points in his previous 106 games played for Maryland and is coming off a 25-goal campaign in 2022-23.
FAMILIAR FACES
Maryland welcomes back 12 returning players from last year’s team, keeping a core of players who know what it takes to get to the Robertson Cup Final Four. With that much familiarity, the ability to gel shouldn’t take too long for this squad looking to repeat as divisional champs.
RIVALRY REIGNITED
The Black Bears will welcome the Johnstown Tomahawks on opening night, which will be the first time since 2020-21 that these two teams open up the season against one another. While Maryland is still clawing to even the all-time record (19-26-10 vs. Johnstown), the Black Bears went 9-2-1 against Johnstown last season, including two three-game sweeps of the Tomahawks at Piney Orchard.
SHIPPING TO THE SHOWCASE
After this weekend’s games, the Black Bears will have a short rest before they go up to Blaine, Minnesota for the NAHL Showcase. Maryland will take on Odessa, Fairbanks, Minnesota, and Shreveport in the four-day tournament. All-time, the Black Bears are 9-6-1 at the Showcase with a 3-1-0 record in the 2022 edition.
Clutch And Crab Hockey 