SEWELL, NJ– A rare mid-week game for the Maryland Black Bears, as they travelled to South Jersey to take on the Philadelphia Rebels. It was the first of three meetings this week between the two teams, the other two happening in Odenton on the weekend. The Black Bears weren’t great guests and they came into Hollydell Ice Arena and took a 5-2 victory.
The Black Bears got things started early as they converted on their first power play of the night with Gunnar VanDamme creeping down the slot to receive a Brad McNeil pass for his second of the campaign. McNeil’s assist continued his four-game assist streak. Maryland would continue the barrage on Jakub Krbecek; but couldn’t seem to add more to their lead. The Rebels defense got into passing and shooting lanes to stymie the Black Bears more. Conversely, the Maryland defense only allowed four shots on Jack Wieneke, who stopped them all and was seeing the puck very well through the traffic he faced.
Philadelphia got the early man-advantage in the second, but that did not deter Maryland with Brayden Stannard breaking in off a pass from Sean Kilcullen leading to Krbecek trying to beat Stannard– but to no avail. Stannard knocked the puck through Krbecek and into the open net to give the Black Bears a 2-0 lead. It was the 12th shorthanded goal of the season for Maryland. Moments later, as the Black Bears penalty ended, the Rebels get one back with Tyler Stern getting a pass in front and outwaiting Wieneke to make it a 2-1 game. The Black Bears did have some penalty issues for themselves, but the penalty kill was up to the chore and despite having chances on net; they only had a one-goal lead going into the third.
It was another early start for the Black Bears with Kareem El-Bashir went to his backhand for his fourth of the year after a Trey Scott shot found El-Bashir’s stick to make it 3-1. Penalties would bite the Black Bears again by the midway point with Connor Sedlak wristing one over the glove of Wieneke to make it a one-goal game again. Maryland kept pressing with sustained time in their own zone, which paid off with Luke Van Why putting home his 10th of the year as he dropped down from the point to the slot for a backhand goal of his own to make it 4-2 Black Bears. Maryland withstood the late push by the Rebels and Christian Catalano was able to use his speed to get a dump-out from Maryland and turn it into an empty netter to seal the 5-2 win.
These two teams meet up again this weekend at Piney Orchard. Head to Tickets.MarylandBlackBears.com to get your tickets for this weekend’s match-ups.