| Text Color: | Yellow |
| Bg Color: | black |
| Text Outline: | Red |
| Team: | Maryland Black Bears |
| Logosize: | 220px |
| City: | Odenton, Maryland[1] |
| League: | North American Hockey League |
| Division: | East |
| Founded: | 2018 |
| Arena: | Piney Orchard Ice Arena |
| Colors: | Red, white, black, gold [2] |
| Owner: | Piney Junior Hockey, LLC |
| Gm: | Clint Mylymok[3] |
| Coach: | Clint Mylymok |
| Affiliates: | Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) Team Maryland (EHL) |
| Name1: | Maryland Black Bears |
| Dates1: | 2018–present |
| Division Titles: | 2 (2022-23, 2023-24) |
The Maryland Black Bears are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's East Division. The Black Bears play their home games in the Piney Orchard Ice Arena in Odenton, Maryland. Founded in 2018, the Black Bears are the first team in the 42-year history of the NAHL to be based out of Maryland.[4]
Playing on the NHL-sized sheet of ice at the Piney Orchard Ice Arena, a former training center of the NHL's Washington Capitals, the Black Bears' organization has exclusive use of over 7,000 square feet of space for locker rooms, training and equipment, offices, and workout areas. The organization also launched a team in the Tier III Eastern Hockey League, called Team Maryland,[5] and several youth teams in the 2018–19 season, while also purchasing an ownership stake in the Tier I United States Hockey League's Youngstown Phantoms.[6]
The Black Bears played their inaugural game on September 14, 2018, at Piney Orchard, losing 6–3 to the New Jersey Titans.[7] [8]
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | 60 | 16 | 37 | 7 | 39 | 141 | 244 | 6th of 6, East 23rd of 24, NAHL | did not qualify for post season play | |
| 2019–20 | 54 | 20 | 25 | 7 | 47 | 157 | 166 | 4th of 7, East 18th of 26, NAHL | Balance of season cancelled due to covid | |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 25 | 21 | 8 | 58 | 146 | 159 | 4th of 6, East 11th of 23, NAHL | Won Div. Semifinals, 3–2 vs. Johnstown Tomahawks Lost Div. Finals, 0-3 vs. Maine Nordiques | |
| 2021–22 | 60 | 29 | 19 | 12 | 70 | 189 | 176 | 5th of 7, East 14th of 29, NAHL | did not qualify for post season play | |
| 2022–23 | 60 | 40 | 15 | 5 | 85 | 215 | 140 | 1st of 7, East 2nd of 29, NAHL | Won Div. Semifinals, 3-0 vs. Northeast Generals Won Div. Finals 3-1 vs. Maine Nordiques Lost Robertson Cup Semifinal 1-2 vs. Austin Bruins | |
| 2023-24 | 60 | 41 | 14 | 5 | 87 | 208 | 145 | 1st of 9, East, 3rd of 32 NAHL | Won Div. Semifinals, 3-0 vs. New Jersey Titans Won Div. Finals, 3-2 vs. Maine Nordiques Won Robertson Cup Semis, 2-0 vs. Minot Minotauros Lost Robertson Cup Finals, 2-4 vs. Lone Star Brahmas |