FAIRPORT, NY– After four-plus long months, the Maryland Black Bears stepped back onto the ice to start off their 2025-26 campaign, as they faced off against the reigning East Division champion Rochester Americans. With tight battles throughout the games, the Black Bears were able to come out of upstate New York with a split on the weekend.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12th, 2025: BLACK BEARS (1) at Rochester (3): The Black Bears came out of the gates flying, putting pressure with their forecheck and creating some chances. While they had to kill a penalty early, they didn’t allow Rochester to set-up anything. Maryland were able to get few power plays in the frame, but outside of the first one that created a couple of chances– nothing was converted. Just after a Rochester penalty expired, Keanan Dewberry forced a turnover at the Maryland blue line and broke in two-on-zero against Dominick Gatto, where Dewberry passed over to Ryan Shaw to give Rochester the 1-0 lead. Maryland pushed to get the equalizer, but couldn’t find it before the end of the first period, heading into the locker room down through 20 minutes.
The Black Bears got another early power play, but could not get much set-up. They then were forced to kill off another penalty thanks to solid shot blocking and timely saves by Gatto. Another power play was erased with a penalty at the middle of the frame, leading to plenty of open ice. Rochester had an odd-man break during four-on-four play, but Gatto came up big to keep the score at 1-0. A double-minor against Rochester late have Maryland’s power play plenty of time to get going and Mate Tardi would get the first goal of the season, as a rebound popped out to the slot and Tardi was able to rip it home to tie the game. There was no love lost between the teams, as tensions started to pick up with plenty of scrums and battles late, with both teams heading into the locker room with a goal a piece.
Maryland was tasked on the penalty kill early, but were able to withstand the pressure from Rochester. Rochester put the pressure on trying to get the go-ahead goal, but Gatto and the post were keeping it tied at ones. It wasn’t until the midway point where Murray Kanerva threw a puck from the top of the circle through traffic and found the back of the net to make it 2-1. The Black Bears picked it back up trying to get some chance, once with the power play, but couldn’t find the equalizer. Shaw got his second goal of the night weaving through the Maryland defense and beating Gatto to make it 3-1. Maryland pulled Gatto for an extra attacker with 2:30 left, but couldn’t beat Jensen Carlstrom, as they drop the opener 3-1.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13th, 2025: BLACK BEARS (2) at Rochester (1): Maryland started off strong again, getting two power plays early. However, the extra-man wasn’t kind to the Black Bears, as they couldn’t find the back of the net in those attempts. Rochester was stymied early with the Maryland defense not letting them set-up at all. Ryan Denes got the call in net and made some solid stops when the puck did get through the wall of defense. It wasn’t until late when Maryland broke through with Dominik Boltnar holding the puck in at the blue line and shooting it in traffic to allude Jensen Carlstrom to make it 1-0 for Maryland heading into the first intermission.
After some action at the end of the period, Maryland started out four-on-four and then had a three-minute power play. Despite a couple of chances, they couldn’t find the back of the cage. The Black Bears got dinged for a penalty, but the penalty kill continued their solid play and held the lead heading into the middle part of the frame. While four-on-four Maryland struck again, as summer acquisition Jaden Sikura netted his first as a Black Bear with a laser that hit the back of the goal and rocketed out so fast they needed to review the shot. After admiring the shot, the Black Bears were up 2-0. The Black Bears defense showed their guile with plenty of blocks in front of Denes, keeping any rebounds to the outside, and hounding the Rochester puck handlers. Thanks to that, the Black Bears went into the 2nd intermission up 2-0.
For the most part, the third period was a neutral zone battle with neither team trying to give up an inch against the other. Maryland only allowed one shot on goal through the first 12 minutes of the third. It wasn’t until under three minutes to play in the frame where Rochester would get a goal back where Colin Dustin would drive the net and the puck would squeak through the wickets of Denes to make it 2-1 Maryland. Rochester pulled their goalie, but Ryan Denes and the defense in front of him held tight and allowed the Black Bears to get their first win of the 2025-26 season.
The Black Bears open up their home portion of the schedule Friday September 19th against the Elmira Aviators. Tickets are available at Tickets.MarylandBlackBears.com and the Piney Orchard box office.
Clutch And Crab Hockey 