This weekend, the Maryland Black Bears were able to put a bow on the success of last season while trying to find their way in the 2023-24 season. They faced off against their rivals from Johnstown and after a rough Friday night, they made Saturday night memorable and split the weekend against the Tomahawks.
SEPTEMBER 8th, 2023: BLACK BEARS (1) vs. Johnstown (5): After the pomp and circumstance of the East Division banner raising, the new season began for the Black Bears, but it didn’t go off as expected. Even with some old faces to the line-up, there were bound to be some time to gel with new teammates, but some hiccups happened in the first period, with some turnovers and inability to clear their zone. That lack of clearing the zone allowed for a defensive zone face off that allowed Johnstown to strike first, as Reid Lune gathered up a rebound in the slot off the draw and fired it behind new goalie Colin Ronan to make it 1-0. Maryland was able to get a reset for their offense and create some chances, but couldn’t convert. Johnstown would strike again on an odd-man rush with Taybor Aldrich holding onto the puck and firing home for the 2-0 Johnstown lead. The Black Bears were able to break through with Matthew Croxall picking up a rebound in front and firing it home for his first NAHL goal with helpers going to Adam Schankula and Luke Janus and cut the lead in half going into the intermission.
Another issue of clearing the zone bit Maryland early with Tomas Vicek converting 90 seconds into the second to make it 3-1 for Johnstown. While Maryland did have plenty of chances, they couldn’t find another one behind Zack Ferris in the second. At the other end, Ronan was doing all he could to keep Maryland in it with crucial saves in close to keep the deficit at only two goals.
The Black Bears did get a quick look in the third period with Schankula having a glorious chance, but Ferris was equal to the task. Maryland started to get undisciplined, taking four straight penalties to end the second and lead into the third. The last one would be a back-breaker, as Justin Gibson used a screen in front of the net to rip home the 4-1 goal with only eight minutes remaining in the game. Try as they might, Maryland couldn’t find another goal and Johnstown’s Lukas Klemm would add an empty netter to make the final 5-1 Johnstown, spoiling opening night for the Black Bears.
SEPTEMBER 9th, 2023: BLACK BEARS (6) vs Johnstown (3): Maryland shook up the line-up a bit, giving everyone a chance to show what they can do early in the season. However, the discipline issues hit the team early in the first and Johnstown got the first goal of the game again with Justin Rapp putting home a rebound in front on the power play. Maryland did kill their next penalty and got a power play right as it expired. On their first power play of the night, Trayce Johnson hammered a shot from the point in the dying seconds of the power play to tie the game up at one thanks to a great set-up from Kareem El-Bashir and handy work by Jack Darby to maintain possession in the zone. That sparked the offense as moments later, Keanu Krenn found a loose puck after a scrum at the boards, cut to the middle and backhanded over Jacob Osborne’s shoulder to make it 2-1 Black Bears. Not letting up, the Black Bears notched on in the last minute of the first with Jeremi Tremblay picking up a loose puck in the slot and putting in his first of the season. With only a few seconds remaining, Dimitry Kebreau picked the pocket of a Johnstown defender and had a mini-breakaway that was spoiled, but allowed him a penalty shot. While Kebreau didn’t convert; the pace was set by Maryland.
The Black Bears kept the pressure on in the second period with more offensive zone time that resulted in another power play for Maryland and they converted again with Luke Janus finding the puck with a wide open net and made it 4-1 for the Black Bears. After penalties on both sides, the Black Bears struck again as Kebreau found the rebound off a Caleb Craven shot and capped a five-goal unanswered streak to make it 5-1 for Maryland. Only 13 seconds after Kebreau’s goal, Johnstown got one back with Nick White putting home his first to cut the Maryland lead to three. Just over a minute after that, Alexey Yarmulnik picked up a loose puck in the slot and buried it to make it 5-3 for Maryland. The Black Bears were able to stop the flood of offense from Johnstown and garnered two straight power plays– but were unable to convert on either. Maryland would end the frame up 5-3 through 40 minutes.
Maryland was able to provide plenty of pressure in the start of the third period, but could not find the back of the net behind Zack Ferris. The middle of the frame saw a bit more penalty trouble, but the Black Bears PK was able to kill off those threats. Between the penalties, the Black Bears notched another goal with Tamas Toth making it 6-3 after taking a backhanded pass from Kebreau and sliding it behind Ferris to regain the three-goal Maryland lead. Jack Wieneke wasn’t tested all too much, but kept the puck out of net in the third allowing the Black Bears to hold onto the lead and give themselves their first win of the season.
Next up, the Black Bears head back to Blaine, Minnesota, but this time for the NAHL Showcase Wednesday through Saturday. All games will be shown on NAHL TV.
Clutch And Crab Hockey 