JOHNSTOWN, PA– Heading into the weekend, the Maryland Black Bears knew that they needed two points to lock up the second spot and secure a bye weekend for next weekend. After a solid performance on Friday to secure second place, Saturday showed a new style with a new roster and dropped a heartbreaker to have a split for the weekend.
FRIDAY APRIL 4th, 2025: BLACK BEARS (5) at Johnstown (1): From the start, the Black Bears knew what they had to do and created plenty of chances in the early going thanks to an early power play, but couldn’t find the back of the net just yet. It wasn’t until past the midway point when Maryland would strike with Evan Sofikitis coming down from the point to put home his fourth of the season to give Maryland the 1-0 lead. Maryland would continue to press, even killing off a penalty kill later in the frame to help set up their second goal which saw Tommy Holtby hammering home a drop-pass from Dylan Gordon to make it 2-0 with 3:25 remaining. Marko Bilic faced a flurry of shots late, but was able to stop them all to keep it 2-0 Maryland into the intermission.
It took only 27 seconds for the Black Bears to strike in the second, as Harrison Smith lobbed a pass off the glass to Isac Nielsen who got a mini-breakaway and buried it for his 25th of the season to make it 3-0 Maryland. Midway through the period, the Black Bears would make it 4-0 off a tip from Tyler Stern for his 14th of the year. On that goal. Harrison Smith recorded his 43rd assist of the season, setting a single-season record for a Black Bear in assists. Moments later, however, Johnstown would get on the board on the power play, as Cullen Emery banked a shot off a defender in front to make it 4-1. Maryland kept their heads about them and created some chances to get the four-goal lead back, but after 40 minutes, the score would remain 4-1.
Another quick start for the Black Bears in the third as Smith tallied his ninth of the year only six seconds into the period off an odd bounce from the boards off a Gordon dump-in to make it 5-1 for Maryland. The defense took over for Maryland after that, locking down the neutral zone and keeping high-quality chances away from Bilic in the crease. Killing off a penalty in the middle of the frame, the Black Bears were able to control the game and keep the score 5-1, which was the eventual final. The win secured the 2nd overall spot in the East Division for Maryland, allowing them a bye weekend next weekend before the playoffs.
SATURDAY APRIL 5th, 2025: BLACK BEARS (2) at Johnstown (3): With second seed in the East clinched, the Black Bears sat eight regulars while welcoming three from Team Maryland 18U squad: Keene Lincoln, Owen Roberts, and Luke Portner. Also, it was Kareem El-Bashir’s 163rd game with the Black Bears, tying Dimitry Kebreau for most all-time in franchise history.
Things got started early for Johnstown,as Charlie Zetterkvist put home a rebound for his 17th of the season. The Black Bears would withstand the early pressure from Johnstown and start their own pressure on the Johnstown net. However, despite a number of chances, the Black Bears couldn’t find the back of the net in the first period, heading to the locker room down 1-0.
In the second, the Black Bears were dealing with some penalty issues through the period. After a short power play, the Black Bears were on the kill three times in the frame. The penalty kill was able to create shorthanded chances, including a play with the rebound sitting in the crease, but couldn’t convert. After the third penalty kill, Johnstown was able to get a second goal with Adam Csabi coming down into the slot and putting home his sixth of the season. While Maryland was able to create chances, they went into the second intermission down 2-0.
The third period was one for the power play for the Black Bears, as at 6:22 into the third, Liam Doherty got his second of the season on a bouncing shot into the goal to cut the lead in half on the power play. Two minutes later, Josh Frenette got another power play goal, putting home his ninth of the year with a rebound into the open net. Maryland pressured to get the go-ahead goal, but a break on the other side resulted in Peter Morris scoring his first NAHL for Johnstown to make it 3-2. While the Black Bears pressed to get the equalizer, they couldn’t find it and dropped the last game in the regular season 3-2.
The Black Bears are off next weekend and start the playoffs on April 18th. Get your tickets at Tickets.MarylandBlackBears.com for your chance to get your tickets.
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