The Maryland Black Bears and Johnstown Tomahawks dueled once again for the third time in three days. The Black Bears took the first two games 6-2 and 4-2. In round three, Maryland once again used a hot start to fuel a victory by the score once again of 4-2 over Johnstown.
Maryland started the scoring just 45 seconds with forward Christian Catalano letting a wrist shot go on a two-on-one past the blocker of Tomahawks’ goalie Mathew O’Donnell to make it 1-0. Less than five minutes later it was Black Bears’ forward Branden Piku scoring on a breakaway shot once again past the blocker to make it 2-0. Johnstown got a response from forward Anthony Galante on the breakaway to make it 2-1.
Maryland scored two more in the second period. Forward Gabriel Westling increased Maryland’s lead to 3-1 with a rebound goal in the slot. Then just one minute and 14 seconds later, Black Bears’ defenseman Trey Scott scored a shorthanded goal, receiving a pass from forward Kal Essenmacher and letting a wrist shot go top shelf to make it 4-1. Johnstown got a goal back on the powerplay with forward James Barbour scoring on a wrist shot to make it 4-1, but the Tomahawks’ comeback bid fell short with 4-2 being the final. Maryland goalie Jack Wineike made 14 saves in the winning effort.
The Black Bears will be off next weekend but return home on November 11th and 12th to Piney Orchard Ice Arena to take on the Philadelphia Rebels. Puck drop time for both nights will be 7:30 PM ET with all games being streamed on HockeyTV.
