Black Bears Return Home to Face Aviators
Published on October 7, 2026 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Maryland Black Bears News Release
The Maryland Black Bears are enjoying success despite playing all but three games away from their home rink at Piney Orchard Ice Arena. This weekend, the Black Bears finally return home to the place fans refer to as "The Den" to continue their successful start to the season, sitting in first place in the East Division with an 8-0-1 record and a perfect 6-0-0 record within the division. Maryland will play the Elmira Aviators for the first time this season. Elmira currently sits at sixth in the division with a 3-5-1 record and seven points.
The Black Bears continued their dominance over the Johnstown Tomahawks, winning their eleventh and twelfth games in a row against Johnstown last weekend. Game one was a nail-biter. Despite forwards Ajay Rai and Matthew Shpungin giving Maryland a 2-0 first period lead, Johnstown stormed back to score the next three and took a 3-2 lead in the third period. Forward Noi Jonasson saved the day for the Black Bears, scoring a game-tying power play goal with just 41 seconds left in regulation. The game eventually went to a shootout, where Maryland went three for three in the skills competition, including a game-winning goal by forward Joseph Gasperko to secure a 4-3 Black Bears win. Cole Werthman made 18 saves in the win.
Maryland followed up that game with an impressive 6-3 win. Despite allowing the game's first two goals, the Black Bears responded with the next five. Forwards Tanner Terranova and Brayden Wade tied the game in the first period at 2-2 before a pair of goals from newcomer forward Will Schletchweg in the second period made the score 4-2 Maryland. Terranova made the score 5-2 with his second goal of the game later in the second period. Despite a response goal from Johnstown, Shpungin buried his second goal of the weekend to ice the game for the Black Bears with a 6-3 win. Michael Iliff made 25 saves for Maryland in the win.
The Aviators halted a five-game losing streak by splitting a pair of games with the Danbury Hat Tricks. Game one saw forward Adam Sebastian Kurka strike first for Elmira before the Aviators allowed the next three goals in a 3-1 loss. Game two was a different story, with forwards Jacob Baratta, Cael Primanti, and Lucas Novak responding to Danbury's lone goal in the second period to give the Aviators a 3-1 lead heading into the third period. The Hat Tricks responded with a goal early in the third period before Elmira forward Nico Pohjola answered right back for a 4-2 lead. Despite a late third period goal from Danbury, Aviators defenseman Kevin Delaney iced the game with an empty-net goal and a 5-3 win. Through nine games, Elmira has allowed a division-high 36 goals against.
The Black Bears and Aviators played six times last season, with Maryland going 5-0-1 against Elmira. Three of the final four games between these two teams went to overtime, with the Black Bears winning two of the three games.
Players to Watch:
Will Schletchweg (F, MYD): Schletchweg comes to Maryland from the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League, where he had one assist in three games. In just two games with the Black Bears, he has made in instant positive impact on the offense by putting up two goals and two assists in his first two games, with all four points coming in Maryland's 6-3 win over Johnstown this past Saturday.
Matthew Maglio (F, ELM): Maglio returns to Elmira for this third season with the franchise and currently leads the team in assists with 10 and points with 13. In 126 games with the Aviators, Maglio has 37 goals, 48 assists, and 85 points. He was a thorn in the Black Bears' side last season, recording three goals and five points in six games.
Maryland and Elmira take the ice at Piney Orchard Ice Arena on Friday, October 9th, and Saturday, October 10th, with puck drop taking place at 7:00 p.m. ET both nights. All games can be streamed on NATV.
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