ROCHESTER, NY– Coming off a successful NAHL Showcase, the Maryland Black Bears got back to divisional play, as they traveled to take on one of the debuting teams in the East Division, the Rochester Jr. Americans. With two hard-fought games, the Black Bears were able to gather three of a possible four points and split the weekend.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 22nd, 2023: BLACK BEARS (5) at Rochester (4): It was an inauspicious start for the Black Bears, as 11 seconds into the frame, Gabriel Cull ripped a wrist shot over the glove of Jack Wieneke to make it an early 1-0 Rochester lead. That woke up the Black Bears, as they used the next couple of shifts as a launch pad for their offense, getting traffic in front and shots on net, but nothing in the early going would get behind Florian Wade. Towards the middle of the frame, the Black Bears had some issues getting the puck out of their zone, but Wieneke made some solid stops to keep the team in the hunt. Maryland would even the score with just two seconds left in the period, as Adam Schankula put home a loose puck in front after a scrum and both sides headed into the locker room level at one.
The middle frame was a furious one for both sides, starting 4:19 into the period with Noah Von Scheidt got behind the defense and put a backhanded shot over the blocker of Wieneke to make it 2-1 Rochester. Moments later, while on the power play, Rochester made it 3-1 with a one-timer by Landon Brownlee into an open cage. Rochester tried to extend the lead further, but Wieneke made a sprawling save to keep it at 3-1. After the midway point of the period is when the Black Bears offensive flurry started. First, Schankula threw a puck in front and directed off of Wade’s stick, Dimitry Kebreau took a hack, but the rebound from that got to Matthew Croxall’s stick– putting it home to cut the Rochester lead to one. Just 42 seconds after that, Trayce Johnson pinched down from the point and converted a Luke Janus centering pass to tie the game. To put a bow on it, 35 seconds after the Johnson goal and while getting power play for face-off violation on Rochester, Janus converted from the slot after a pass from Croxall and a phenomenal keep by Kebreau to give the Black Bears their first lead. However, just 13 seconds later, Rochester evened it up again with Sawyer Boulton finding a loose puck at the side of the net with 5:31 remaining in the frame. Each side had a couple chances to get the go-ahead goal, but to no avail, as it is another period with a tie.
Physicality picked up in the third, with hitting from both sides and resulting in Maryland getting the short-end on the calls, including a five-minute head contact penalty. The Black Bears penalty kill went to work and paid off with Schankula going end-to-end on a beautiful short-handed attempt, made a power move to get position, and put it home to give Maryland the lead again. Rochester tried as much as they could to equal the score, but the Black Bears’ defense and forecheck stymied their chances, as Maryland took game one of the weekend.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2023: BLACK BEARS (3) at Rochester (4) SO: Rochester started quick, getting plenty of zone time pressure, but Mason Joseph stood strong for the initial rush. Maryland would get into penalty trouble, though, and it would bite them. It started with Matteo Disipio scoring 20 seconds into Rochester’s first power play with a snapper from the top of the slot that went through traffic and behind Joseph. Rochester kept their pressure in the offensive zone, as the Black Bears had issues with getting out of their zone. Maryland did begin their own pressure in the second half of the period, but Florian Wade was able to keep his squad up. Joseph made a stellar save on a breakaway with under five minutes in the frame to keep it at 1-0. However, Massimo Gentile put Rochester up 2-0 during 4-on-4 play, as he picked up his own rebound with under a minute left to give Rochester the two-goal lead heading into intermission.
Early in the frame, Maryland had a jump on the offense, with Matthew Croxall appearing to get one back for the Black Bears. However, the net was off its moorings and the goal was waved off. More physicality out of this weekend resulted in multiple penalties on each side, with Rochester striking again with the man-advantage with Clay O’Donnell redirected a shot from the slot to make it 3-0 Rochester. Maryland would strike two minutes later with Luke Rubin picking up the rebound from a Cal Huston point shot to make it 3-1 on the power play goal. Maryland kept their push up, but couldn’t find another goal before 40 minutes was up.
Starting on the power play in the third, Maryland cut the deficit to one with Jesse Horacek picking up a Matthew Croxall rebound only 11 seconds into the third. The Black Bears continued to pressure and got plenty of shots on Wade. Maryland evened the game near the halfway mark as Tamas Toth cut through the Rochester defense and put home a remarkable backhanded shot and brought the comeback all the way back. Both sides tried to finish the game in regulation, but neither could, sending the game to overtime.
In overtime, both squad had their chances in the end-to-end action, but neither team could get the decisive goal, putting this game to a shootout. Rochester’s Conor Humphrey scored in the second round, while no Black Bear could find the twine, giving Rochester the extra point.
The Black Bears return home this Friday and Saturday to take on the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks. Tickets are available at the Piney Orchard Ice Arena box office or Tickets.MarylandBlackBears.com.
Clutch And Crab Hockey 