BLAINE, MN– In the first two games of the NAHL Showcase, the Maryland Black Bears took on two foes they have played in previous Showcases in the Odessa Jackalopes and Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Maryland lost those two games in the past, but this year’s team was able to avenge those losses, as the Black Bears start the Showcase with two big wins. 

Write up courtesy of Scott Wasilewski of the “Defending The Den” and “Chesapeake Hockey Week” Podcasts, found on twitter: @DefendingDenMBB & @ChesapeakeHWPod
Photo credits to Jon Pitonzo, FOHS Media Faction & Jim Harding

 

 

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 13th, 2023: BLACK BEARS (6) vs. Odessa (3): Maryland started off their pressure early, with Kareem El-Bashir getting his first goal of the season on a zone-entry and wristed one high and hard passed Odessa’s Kael Depape to give the Black Bears the lead only 3:20 into the game. Maryland would continue the pressure and used their transition game to their advantage with numerous chances after the goal, but nothing to show on the scoresheet. It was Odessa who would get on the board next with Braden Pietila firing one through a mass of players and got behind Mason Joseph to tie the game. That goal vaulted Odessa’s offense, as only 2:03 later, Michael Kadlecik fired one home to give Odessa the 2-1 lead in the middle of the first. While Maryland kept the pressure on, they were unable to get the equalizer after 20 minutes. 

The Black Bears had a power play to start the second, but could not connect; while also taking a penalty of their own. On the penalty kill, Odessa scored again with Cameron Dunn finding the loose puck in front and putting it home for the 3-1 Odessa lead. After that, Maryland drew another power play and it took only 24 seconds before Tamas Toth ripped home a power play goal for the Black Bears after a great pass from Devin Nabozny to get to within one. Odessa kept their pressure on, but Mason Joseph robbed them of a glorious chance with a post-to-post glove save to keep the Black Bears within one. Maryland would tie it up late, with Adam Schankula ripping a snapshot to the back of the net with 4:40 remaining in the period to knot the game at 3. Only 1:25 later, Schankula won a board battle in the corner and fed Jeremi Tremblay in front with a nifty little forehand-backhand-goal light move in tight space to give the Black Bears the 4-3 heading into the third period. 

Early in the third, Joseph was tested, but able to keep the one-goal lead for Maryland. Odessa was clogging up a lot of the neutral zone and not giving the Black Bears much to work with, leading to some turnovers, but the defense recovered to maintain the lead. With six minutes remaining, Maryland would get a two-goal lead when Tremblay finished off a 3-on-2 rush off a great transitional play in the neutral zone to put the Black Bears up 5-3. Peyton Miller finished it up 1:36 later off a Luke Rubin rebound to make it 6-3 and give the Black Bears another win behind five unanswered goals. 

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 14th, 2023: BLACK BEARS (4) at Fairbanks (0): Things seemingly got off to a rough start for Maryland, as a checking from behind penalty assessed to Adam Schankula put them down a man, but the penalty kill would help get the Black Bears on the board first, as Jeremi Tremblay put home his fourth of the year off a Kareem El-Bashir pass to make it 1-0 only 2:01 into the game. Maryland would get into more penalty trouble in the early going, but Jack Wieneke and the team kept the scoresheet clean. The Black Bears also had a couple of chances on the power play, but could not convert, going into the locker room up by a goal. 

In the second period, the physicality picked up between the two squads, with big hits levied from both sides. Plenty of stretch passing attempts, as well; which led to many icings on for each side. Maryland had a golden chance in the middle of the frame with El-Bashir ringing one off the crossbar, keeping it a 1-0 affair after 40 minutes. 

Pace of play picked up in the third, with rushes from both sides in the early going, but Maryland would get their second of the night thanks to solid board play. Winning a battle in the corner allowed the puck to get to Keaton Lipsett, who fired one from the point, which got redirected by Jesse Horacek to make it a 2-0 game. Just 42 seconds later, Dimitry Kebreau got on the board after a pass from the corner from Evan Sofikitis reached the captain’s stick and he fired it home for a 3-0 Maryland lead. In the middle of the frame, Wieneke made a big save on a tic-tac-toe passing play by Fairbanks, as the Black Bears finished the penalty kill to keep it a 3-0 game. Fairbanks kept the pressure on, but Wieneke stood on his head to keep his shutout intact. After withstanding the pressure, the Black Bears put a bow on the game with Tamas Toth putting home a backhander after an outlet pass from Schankula to make it 4-0 and give the Black Bears their first shutout of the season. 

The Black Bears conclude their Showcase with the Minnesota Wilderness on Friday and the Shreveport Mudbugs on Saturday with all the games on NAHLTV.