DANBURY, CT– This was the last weekend of the regular season for the Maryland Black Bears, as they traveled up to Danbury to take on the Jr. Hat Tricks. Due to locking up all of the accolades in the East Division, they rested 11 regulars from the line-up and brought in their affiliate players and tender signings to get a chance in the NAHL. While Friday was a solid game until the beginning of the second period, Saturday, Maryland redeemed themselves with an overtime victory and a split of the weekend.
FRIDAY APRIL 3rd, 2026: BLACK BEARS (1) at Danbury (4): With a very different looking line-up, the Black Bears were able to control the offensive flow, getting plenty of offensive zone time and chances at net, but couldn’t light the lamp through 20 minutes. They were also able to limit chances in the defensive zone with Dom Gatto only facing four shots in the first period to keep it scoreless through the first 20 minutes.
Danbury would strike first 2:17 into the period with Luke Vanderroest getting open and ripping a shot from the top of the circle to make it 1-0. Moments later, Kai Elkie took advantage of a weird bounce off the dasher and put it into the open net to make it 2-0 for Danbury. It would be 3-0 after Lukas Zimovcak got behind the defense on the breakaway and put it blocker side ahead of the halfway point of the period. After the midway point of the period, Ryan Franks would get Maryland on the board with a rip from the slot to make it 3-1. With the goal, Franks broke the single-season record for goals in a season with his 31st. The Black Bears kept the pressure up, but ended the second period down 3-1.
While Maryland would continue to press in the offensive zone, they were unable to find the back of the net in the third period. Ryan Freel would add an empty netter for Danbury to make the final 4-1 and snap the Black Bears 16-game winning streak.
SATURDAY APRIL 4th, 2026: BLACK BEARS (3) at Danbury (2) OT: The Black Bears started Bennett Byers on Saturday for his NAHL debut. Maryland did sit Ryan Franks and Cole Peters for rest in the last regular season game of the year. Maryland and Danbury had a couple chances early, but it was scoreless through the first half of the period. With 7:06 left, Sokrat Markarian redirected a rebound while driving to the net to give the Black Bears the lead. Moments later, on the power play, affiliate player Matteo Alvarez redirected a point shot to make it 2-0 for Maryland. The Black Bears got another power play, but a misplay by Byers off the boards allowed Luke Vanderrroest to put one into the open net to make it 2-1.
The second period didn’t have much excitement to it, as both teams did have power play chances, but neither could connect on them. Both defenses kept the puck to the outside and were able to give their goaltending clear vision of any threat ahead.
Danbury was trying to find the equalizer and had plenty of chance, but Byers was able to keep the lead in the early going. Maryland’s offense tried to get into the zone and create something, but couldn’t find clear spots for a solid opportunities. It wasn’t until under five minutes remaining when Danbury would even the score with Ludovik Gauvin getting behind the defense and scoring to make it 2-2. Neither team could find the winner in regulation, so it was off to overtime.
Plenty of chances for both sides, but it was Brady Anes who played the role of hero with a wrister from the slot to end the game and give Maryland their 49th win and 102nd point on the season. Bennett Byers got his first NAHL win in his debut.
The Black Bears are off next weekend, as they prepare to open the East Division Semifinals on Friday, April 17th against the lowest ranked team left from the play-in round. To get your playoff tickets, head to Tickets.MarylandBlackBears.com for more information on seats.
Clutch And Crab Hockey 