The Johnstown Tomahawks will hit the road and head to Maryland this weekend to wrap up the home and home series with the Black Bears over back to back weekends. Puck drop for Friday night’s contest will be at 7:30PM on October 24th and 7:00PM on Saturday, October 25th.
A LOOK BACK AT LAST SEASON
The Tomahawks have lost three straight and find themselves at the #5 spot in the East Division, while Maryland remains one of the league’s hottest teams, riding an eight-game win streak including sweeping the Tomahawks last weekend.
Maryland has been in the NAHL for about half of the time that the Tomahawks have been, currently playing in their 8th season. The Black Bears have also been one of the most successful teams during this time as they’ve achieved a winning record in all but two seasons, with those being the inaugural and the second season. Through their first seven full seasons plus their 14 games played this season, Maryland has a strong all time record of 209-148-51. The Tomahawks are coming off a tough weekend at home last weekend losing both games to the Black Bears by three or more goals. The East Division has become one of the most competitive in the league through the first portion of the season, so although the Tomahawks currently sit at the #5 spot, they’re only just two points away from hopping right back into second place. Maryland currently holds an outstanding 12-1-1 record with 25 points, while the Tomahawks are enduring their first negative slide of the season, dropping three straight in regulation and boasts a 7-4-2 record and 16 points.
Last year the Tomahawks and Black Bears faced off eight times, which is actually the only matchup annually on the Hawks’ in-division schedule that shows up eight times, while the others show up just six times. The Tomahawks ended up winning the season series five games to three, capturing crucial points in the East Division standings. Unlike their rivalry with Rochester, the two teams did not end up meeting in the playoffs, as they were both bounced in their round 1 matchups. All eight games played out in relatively tight fashion with five of the eight finishing with wins by two goals or less. The biggest loss from either side came from a four-goal win for Maryland in Johnstown. The Tomahawks got the last laugh, winning the final game by a score of 3-2 at home.
NOV 15TH – 5-3 W IN JOHNSTOWN
NOV 16TH – 4-3 W IN JOHNSTOWN
NOV 29TH – 1-4 L AT MARYLAND
NOV 30TH – 4-1 W AT MARYLAND
FEB 7TH – 5-3 W AT MARYLAND
FEB 8TH – 2-3 L AT MARYLAND
APR 4TH – 1-5 L IN JOHNSTOWN
APR 5TH – 3-2 W IN JOHNSTOWN
TOMAHAWKS WIN SERIES FIVE GAMES TO THREE
2025-2026 KEYS TO THE MATCHUP
SEASON SERIES: 2-0 MARYLAND
FRIDAY, OCT 17th – Maryland wins 5-1. Black Bears dominated the game, held Johnstown to just 13 shots on goal for a season low.
SATURDAY, OCT 18th – Maryland wins 6-3. An overall better hockey game was played as the Tomahawks kept themselves in it for about 2 out of the three periods. This was the most physical game of the Tomahawks season through 13 games and they did a good job of holding their own.
- Tomahawks first year Head Coach Adam Houli will look to find a way to get through to his team after a rough three game stretch where they’ve surrendered 23 goals and have scored just seven.
- The Black Bears are riding an 8-game win streak and have only two losses on the season (1OTL). This breaks the record for a win-streak in Maryland team history.
- After a historic start to the season, The Tomahawks are still in a solid position but will need to step up big time this weekend and if nothing else, prove to themselves that they can hang with the mighty Black Bears. This weekend will wrap up a series of four-straight against the Black Bears.
- There will be no shortage of offense in this series as the NAHL’s goal scoring leader, Nick Jarmain comes in with 13 goals in 13 games, while Maryland will match with the league’s overall leading scorer Harrison Smith. Smith is averaging over two points per game with an incredible 26 points through his first 12 games and is riding an 11-game point streak.
It’s a big weekend for the Tomahawks as they get back on the road and try to steal back those four points that were taken from them last weekend.
FALL INTO HOCKEY BOGO OFFER – UPCOMING HOME GAMES
- Buy two tickets for the price of one during the Fall months! *All seats available aside from glass seating*
11.14 – 7:30PM
11.15 – 7:00PM
11.21 – 7:30PM
11.21 – 7:00PM
https://www.gofevo.com/group/FallOffer25
BY: DREW P. PFEIL