BLAINE, MN– For the third time in four years, the Maryland Black Bears represented the East Division in Blaine for the Robertson Cup. In their semifinal best-of-three, they took on the Lone Star Brahmas in a rematch of the 2024 Robertson Cup Final. Though the Black Bears went down 2-0, they clawed back and won in overtime to take it 3-2 and take the first game of the best-of-three series.
Maryland came out of the gate heavy, trying to set the tone physically against a defensive-minded Lone Star team. Both sides threw their weight around trying to get an edge. Maryland’s biggest chance came with a mini-breakaway from Harrison Smith that got blockered away. Both sides also had two power plays in the frame, but neither team could get on the board, keeping the game scoreless after 20 minutes.
Starting the second, Maryland tried to get some offense going, but couldn’t get many big chances on net. Penalties started to hinder the Black Bears towards the middle of the frame, creating a two-man advantage for Lone Star, which they were able to convert on with Gustav Lexall outwaiting Ryan Denes to open the scoring. Maryland continued to battle, getting some decent looks, but Lexall struck again, gathering a rebound to make it 2-0 for Lone Star. Maryland tried to get anything they could going, but were unable to find a hole through the Lone Star defense, going into the intermission down by two goals.
An early power play for Maryland allowed them to sustain pressure in the zone, but it wasn’t until after the power play when Harrison Smith would strike with his fourth of the playoffs to cut the deficit to one. While Maryland pushed, it wasn’t until seven seconds remaining on the power play with the extra attacker when Kris Krumins redirected a pass from Smith to tie the game and force it into overtime.
With a power play in the early going, the Black Bears had to surpass a 4-on-4 situation to get back on the power play. Off a face-off, Ryan Franks took a rebound off the back boards from a Smith shot to put it home for his fifth of the season and the game winner to give Maryland the 1-0 series lead.
Game Two between these two teams will take place on Saturday with a 5 PM puck drop from Blaine. All action is available on NAHL TV and at the Chesepiooc Real Ale Brewery in Crofton for the watch party.
Clutch And Crab Hockey 