NAHL Maryland Black Bears

Maryland Rides Hot Start to Take Down Northeast

Published on February 3, 2024 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Maryland Black Bears News Release


After a chippy game on Friday night that saw the Northeast Generals beat the Maryland Black Bears 6-4, the two teams took the ice Saturday night in a rematch between the two teams. It was another hard-hitting game, but this time the home team ended up on top as Maryland beat Northeast 4-1.

The Black Bears started off red hot, scoring the first two goals of the game in the first period in the span of one minute and 13 seconds. The first goal came as Maryland defenseman Cal Huston got the puck at the near point and threw the puck on goal where forward Samuel Stitz deflected the puck in the slot under the blocker of Northeast goaltender Toby Hopp and in for a 1-0 lead. The Generals thought they had tied the game up on a breakaway goal from forward Ben Campeau, but behind the play, Northeast defenseman Gregor Jennersjo took down Black Bears' forward Luke Janus resulting in an interference penalty and a Maryland powerplay. There, it was Black Bears' defenseman Dylan Gordan burying a rebound of a slap shot from Maryland forward Ryder Nienhuis, chipping it to the far side of the net over Hopp and in for a 2-0 lead.

The Black Bears scored the lone tally of a fast-paced second period. Maryland forward Luke Rubin shot the puck on goal and while Hopp turned aside the first shot, the rebound went right to Black Bears' forward Magnus Gadowski who buried the puck into the net for a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes. Northeast struck first in the third period when Generals' forward Jake Gutwirth got the puck after Maryland goaltender Owen Lepak turned it over behind the net, and wrapped the puck into the net to cut the lead to 3-1. The Black Bears got the goal back late in the period on the powerplay, where forward Ryder Nienhuis scored on the one-time slapshot to make it 4-1, a score that would hold on to be the final. Lepak made 26 saves in the winning effort while Hopp stopped 28 shots in the loss.

Maryland will have next weekend off before hitting the road on February 16th and 17th as they take on the Rochester Jr. Americans. The Black Bears return home on February 23rd and 24th to host the New Hampshire Mountain Kings. All games can be streamed on NAHLTV.

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North American Hockey League Stories from February 3, 2024


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