AUBURN, ME– After a split against New Jersey, the Maryland Black Bears packed their bags and headed to Maine for the last time this regular season to take on the Nordiques. Maryland made themselves at home on the road trip, taking home four points in a sweep of the weekend.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 14th, 2025: BLACK BEARS (5) at Maine (2): Each team was looking to get the legs up early, with a couple of early rushes each way. However, Maine would take more of an offensive control with a couple of solid breaks. Yet, Ryan Denes was solid making some crucial saves in the early going to keep it scoreless. It wasn’t until late in the frame when Maryland started to sustain pressure in the Maine’s zone and were able to draw a penalty. On the ensuing power play, Ryan Franks drove hard to the net and had Harrison Smith hit him with a grade-A pass to open the scoring for Maryland and put them up 1-0 going into the first intermission
The second period started off rough for Maryland, as Maine tied the game in transition with Austin Borggaard wristing one home 42 seconds into the period. Maryland would respond though, as Smith gets on the goal side with a power play marker after repeated chances on the doorstep before knocking home his seventh to make it 2-1 Maryland. The offense kept the puck in their zone for the majority of the frame, holding Maine without a shot for over seven minutes of game time. Denes made the stops that he needed and the Black Bears took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
In the third, Maine got off to an early start with Dante Rodriquez leveling the score with a deflection in front to make it 2-2 only 1:52 in the third. The Black Bears had to shake off more attacks from Maine, but with 11:24 to go, Liam Doherty ripped home a shot from the left circle to make it 3-2 after a great passing effort from Josh Frenette and Jaden Sikura. Only 33 seconds later, Logan Deuling got his second of the year with a couple of hacks at the puck in front to make it 4-2 for Maryland. Both sides kept pressing in the second half of the period with close calls on each side. Though, with 1:19 remaining, Maryland put it away for good with their third power play goal, as Jonathan Lanza redirected a Daniel Johnson shot to make it 5-2 and keep the Black Bears in the win column. Denes recorded 21 saves in the win.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15th, 2025: BLACK BEARS (3) at Maine (2): Much like the Friday affair, Maine was strong off the hop, trying to get ahead of Maryland, but Ryan Denes– in his third straight start– kept the sheet clean. The Black Bear had troubles with getting the puck towards goal during the middle part of the frame, but created some chances on the power play later in the frame. By the end of 20 minutes, the game was scoreless.
The Black Bears got an early start to the second period, scoring two goals within a minute of each other. First, Brady Anes outwaited the Maine goaltender to put home his third of the season to open the scoring for Maryland. Only 55 seconds later, Josh Frenette picked up a rebound at the side of the net to rip home his ninth of the year to put the Black Bears up 2-0. A penalty to Maryland in the middle of the frame would allow Maine to get within one, as Jack Klevby put home a one-timer to make it 2-1. The rough stuff started to pick up on both sides, as each side showed no love loss for one another. It got plenty of dicey, including Maine’s athletic trainer getting ejected from the bench area. Maryland was able to kill off a two-man disadvantage and pressed their offense from there. Just as a Maine penalty expired, Ryan Franks ripped home a wrister from the top of the circles to extend Maryland’s lead to 3-1, which was the margin at the end of the second period.
Maryland was looking to extend their lead, but Maine was putting the pressure on. A couple penalties on Maryland’s side was killed off by the stellar power play and Denes made crucial saves when called on. However, on a power play, Joe Gesperko tallied a goal to close the deficit to one goal, but Maryland was able to stave off the attacks from Maine and come out of the weekend with four crucial points in the East Division.
The Black Bears are on the road again next weekend, as they travel to New Hampshire to take on the Mountain Kings. All action is on NAHL TV or at the watch parties at Chesepiooc Real Ale Brewery in Crofton.
Clutch And Crab Hockey 