The Maryland Black Bears started off their defense of the Robertson Cup in style, recording a 5-1 win on the road and a 3-0 win at home, both against the Philadelphia Rebels. Now the team shifts its focus to the first two-game set at Piney Orchard Ice Arena against a foe they’ve fought many times in the past for East Division supremacy. The Johnstown Tomahawks come to town looking to bounce back from an opening-season loss against the Northeast Generals. Last season, they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2023 after going 24-26-9 for 57 points, finishing seventh in the division.
Through the opening weekend, Maryland finds itself in a familiar spot: first in the East Division. It started last Friday at Hollydell Ice Arena with a 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Rebels. Despite an early hiccup, a turnover that led to the Rebels’ lone goal of the weekend just 30 seconds into the season, the Black Bears responded with a complete effort. Forward Tanner Teranova tied the game on the power play late in the first period, using a one-time slap shot from the far circle to tie the game at 1-1. In the second period, forward Joseph Gasperko buried a rebound at the top of the crease for a 2-1 lead. Maryland would receive third period goals from forwards Ajay Rai, Brady Anes, and Jesse Gauthier to secure a 5-1 win. Goaltender Cole Werthman made 24 saves for the Black Bears. The following night at Piney Orchard Ice Arena saw Maryland raise their regular season and Robertson Cup Championship banners to the rafters. The Black Bears then took the ice once more against the Philadelphia Rebels, and forward Noi Jonasson buried a rebound in the second period to lift Maryland to a 1-0 lead. In the third period on the power play, defenseman Jusso Rantala let a wrist shot go from the point, which was tipped in by Gasperko for a 2-0 lead. Forward Brayden Wade iced the game with an empty-net goal late in the third for a 3-0 Maryland win. Goaltender Michael Iliff stopped all 30 shots he saw for the Black Bears’ first shutout win of the season.
The Johnstown Tomahawks saw an uncharacteristically bad season by their standards in 2025-2026. Despite having the fifth-best offense in the division, the defense left a lot to be desired. Johnstown’s 210 goals against in 2025-2026 were the third-most in the East Division, playing a big role in their seventh-place finish. Nine players who played in at least one game last season for the Tomahawks are returning to the team, including forward Jack Genovese, who was third on the team in assists with 26 and points with 38. Johnstown was scheduled to play a two-game set this past weekend against the Northeast Generals. However, one of the games was postponed until January 11th, 2027, leaving only one game for them on opening weekend. The Tomahawks, in their lone game, fell behind 2-0 quickly in the first period before a late first period power play goal by Jacob Duval cut the deficit to 2-1. The Generals would get the next two goals for a 4-1 lead by the early portion of the third period. Despite a pair of third period goals from forward CJ List, Johnstown would fail to make a comeback and lost 6-3. Goaltender Matthew Wood made 26 saves for the Tomahawks.
Maryland and Johnstown met eight times last year, and the Black Bears dominated the series with a perfect 8-0-0 record against the Tomahawks, outscoring them 38-18. Maryland scored at least nine goals in each set of games and scored no fewer than four goals in a single game. The Tomahawks’ last win against the Black Bears came on April 5th, 2025, by a score of 3-2.
Players to Watch:
Tanner Terranova (F, MYD): Terranova’s Maryland debut couldn’t have gone any better, recording points on four of the Black Bears’ eight goals in their two-game sweep of the Rebels. The veteran forward moved the puck well and generated numerous scoring chances in both games. He made his presence felt on the power play as well, recording three power play points.
Michael Rossi (D, JTN): Rossi joins the Tomahawks after spending a majority of the last two years playing for Westminster School in Simsbury, Connecticut, in the United States High School Preparatory League. In 51 games over the past two seasons, Rossi recorded two goals and 12 assists for 14 points. He impressed in his Johnstown debut with a pair of assists in the 6-3 loss to Northeast.
Maryland and Johnstown take the ice at Piney Orchard Ice Arena on Friday, September 18th, and Saturday, September 19th, at 7:00 p.m. ET both nights. All games can be streamed on NATV.