CANTON, MA– For the first time in the season, the Maryland Black Bears traveled up to Massachusetts to take on the Northeast Generals. With a new face between the pipes and a frantic game on Saturday, Maryland was able to come out of Northeast with four points on the weekend.
SATURDAY JANUARY 25th, 2025: BLACK BEARS (5) at Northeast (2): Newest acquisition Marko Bilic was between the pipes for his debut for the Black Bears. Maryland tried to give him some support, as they dominated for the start of the game with constant pressure in the offensive zone. However, they couldn’t solve Carson Barnes early on. It wasn’t until after the media timeout when Northeast would break the ice, as William Parent would capitalize on a turnover by Maryland to connect on his 11th of the year to give Northeast the 1-0 lead.
In the second, it was all Maryland. After killing off a carryover penalty, the Black Bears took over offensively. Starting with Harrison Smith scoring his fourth of the year coming across the crease to beat Barnes to tie the game up at 5:34 into the frame. Then on a power play of their own, Victor Mannebratt hammered home his eighth of the year on the power play to give Maryland their first lead of the game. Just over two minutes later, with a two-man advantage, Kareem El-Bashir hammered home his 14th of the year off a great set-up pass from Luke Janus to give Maryland the 3-1 lead. With just under four minutes in the frame, Tommy Holtby got his fourth of the year, picking up a missed shot from Mason Stenger off the back boards to make it 4-1 for Maryland through 40 minutes.
The Maryland pressure would continue, gaining another power play early in the third. Just as that power play expired, Tanner Duncan registered his 10th of the season with a one-timer from the slot off a set-up by Dylan Gordon to make it 5-1. The pressure continued for Maryland, but they couldn’t find another goal just yet. After the media timeout and on the power play, Ben Campeau would tuck in his 15th of the year for Northeast off a scramble to cut Maryland’s lead to 5-2. That would be as close as Maryland let it happen, as they take Saturday’s night game 5-2 getting Bilic the win in his NAHL debut.
SUNDAY JANUARY 26th, 2025: BLACK BEARS (6) at Northeast (5): A tough start early for Maryland, as penalty issues got to them early, but the penalty kill was able to fend off the Northeast attacks. Maryland had a few power plays of their own, but it wasn’t until their third time with the man advantage that they would connect. After a rush back to the offensive zone, Sebastian Speck was able to corral a rebound and put home his 16th of the season to give Maryland the 1-0 lead late in the first. However, Northeast struck only 30 seconds later when Spencer Hirsch got a breakaway and shot one that squeaked right through Ryan Denes to make it a tie game after 20 minutes.
The second frame proved to be an exciting one, with both sides going end-to-end, laying the body, and harboring reviews. It started when Northeast drove a chance to the net and tried to push Denes into the net. After a coach’s challenge, it was still no-goal for Northeast. Maryland had a goal called back after Carson Barnes fully extended to stop Mason Stenger– a play that had been called a goal– was corrected after a review showed Barnes had stopped the shorthanded chance. Right after a Black Bears penalty kill, Joe McGraw put home his 18th of the year off his own rebound to make it 2-1 Northeast. From there, Northeast started to give Maryland some power plays, including multiple two-man advantages. The Black Bears connected late in the frame with Stenger making sure the puck when in as he was streaking down the slot to tie the game late in the frame. Northeast then received a match penalty for cross-checking, resulting in an extended Black Bears power play carrying over into the third.
The power play started tough, as Maryland took a penalty to make it four-on-four, but the Black Bears would get one in the back of the net with Stenger getting his second of the game off an odd bounce off the post and the goalie and into the net to make it 3-2. However, Northeast capitalized with two goalies 28 seconds apart from Jack Montaldo and Jackson Rutherford to give Northeast the lead. Chances at both ends of the ice were created, but just after the halfway point, Tanner Duncan would tie the game up with his 11th of the year with a quick shot in front to tie it up. Speck would notch his second of the game, picking up a rebound in front to make it 5-4 Maryland. Only 18 seconds later, Joe McGraw would tie the game back up again at five a piece. It wasn’t until two minutes later when Luke Janus would get the go-ahead goal with a snapshot just under the blocker for the 6-5 scoreline. Northeast tried to find the equalizer, but the Maryland defense held them off to garner four points on the weekend.
The Black Bears are back home for a big weekend against the Elmira Aviators. It’s Maryland Madness Friday and Old Bay Night Saturday. Go to Tickets.MarylandBlackBears.com for your tickets, as limited quantities are available.
Clutch And Crab Hockey 