NAHL Maryland Black Bears

Stitz OT Winner Chargers Maryland Past Rochester

Published on March 23, 2024 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Maryland Black Bears News Release


The Maryland Black Bears looked to bring out the brooms and sweep its East Division rival the Rochester Jr. Americans after beating them on Friday night 4-3. The Black Bears and Jr. Americans went at it again on Saturday night in a back-and-forth high-scoring affair that saw Maryland forward Samuel Stitz score the overtime game-winning goal to secure a 6-5 win over Rochester.

The scoring started when Jr. Americans' forward Alex Zakrzweski let a wrist shot from the point go on the powerplay, beating Black Bears' goalie Owen Lepak through a screen to make it 1-0. Maryland responded two minutes later with two quick goals just 1:05 apart. The first came while the game was being played four-on-four when forward Tyler Stern fed the puck to the far side where forward Dimitry Kebreau sent a one-time slap shot past Rochester goalie Cole O'Donnell to make it 1-1. Moments later, defenseman Luke Amell won a puck battle behind the net and sent it to the slot for forward Riley Ruh to chip the puck far side for a 2-1 lead.

The Jr. Americans took control in the second period with three goals. The first two came on the powerplay on a two-man advantage, where forward Matteo Disipio buried a rebound on the far side for a 2-2 tie followed 36 seconds later by forward Michael Sandruck redirecting a shot in the slot for a 3-2 lead. Later in the frame, Rochester forward Luca Leighton snuck home a rebound on the far side to make it 4-2.

Maryland came storming back in the third period, starting with an early period goal from forward Mathew Croxall, who sent a shot along the ice from a sharp angle five-hole past O'Donnell and in to cut the deficit to 4-3. With 5:04 to go in the game, Cole O'Donnell lost his goalie stick in a scrum. This left extra space for Black Bears' forward Michael Urgo to redirect a point shot stick side to tie the game up 4-4. Maryland took the with 2:39 to go in the game when forward Jérémi Tremblay scooped home a rebound in the crease to give the Black Bears a 5-4 lead. However, with 30.9 seconds to go, Rochester forward Thomas Rockey banked a shot off the shoulder of Lepak and in to tie the game 5-5, sending the game to overtime.

In overtime, it was Stitz playing the hero for Maryland, receiving a pass in the slot from defenseman Dylan Gordon and shooting the puck top right corner for a 6-5 overtime win.

The Black Bears hit the road on March 29th and 30th as they take on the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks. Maryland returns home on Friday, April 5th and Saturday, April 6th for its final two regular season games against the Johnstown Tomahawks. All games can be streamed on NAHLTV.

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North American Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2024


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