Saturday Scores: Brahmas and Minotauros Advance to Robertson Cup

Maryland forces a Game 5 after defeating Maine in Game 4 (Photo Credits: Cover: Candice Bryan & Patty Bockoven. Story photo: James Harding)

Maryland 4 @ Maine 2 (Series Tied 2-2): The Maryland Black Bears have forced a Game 5 in the East Division Finals as Jérémi Tremblay and Dimitry Kebreau each lit the lamp twice to extend the Maryland season at least one more day. Tremblay broke through in the first period and added his second a little over midway through the middle frame. Kebreau found the back of the net for the first time in the final minute of the period giving his team a 3-0 lead heading into the locker room. Maine came back with some fight early in the third as Luke Chappelle and Ryan Panico brought the Nordiques within one. Kebreau would make sure that Maine would not tie it up as his second tally of the game provided insurance for the Black Bears. Owen Lepak earned the win in between the pipes as he made 27 saves for Maryland. Carter Richardson was dealt the loss as he also finished with 27 saves for the Nordiques.

Minot 3 @ Bismarck 1 (Minot Wins Series 3-1): For the first time since 2018, the Minot Minotauros are heading to Robertson Cup. The Minotauros knocked off the Bismarck Bobcats 3-1 in Game 4 of the Central Division Finals to secure their spot in Blaine. Minot struck first on the power play as Nicholas Sewecke netted his seventh of the postseason in the closing minutes of the opening period. Jake Peterson responded for Bismarck in the second with his first of the playoffs. Trevor Stachowiak scored the eventual game winner later in the middle period as he got a shot to trickle past Klayton Knapp. Then in the third, John Small delivered the dagger as his fourth of the playoffs put this one out of reach for Minot. Lukas Swedin was victorious in goal as he stopped 27 of 28 shots fired in his direction. Knapp was stuck with the loss as he ended the night with 30 saves.

Lone Star 4 @ Shreveport 0 (Lone Star Wins Series 3-1): The Lone Star Brahmas are headed back to the Robertson Cup for the first time since they won it all in 2017. The Brahmas blanked the Mudbugs 4-0 in Game 4 to secure a 3-1 series victory in the South Division Finals. Ivan Zadvernyuk got the game’s first goal in the second period after a lengthy review determined his shot did indeed cross the goal line. Brock James fired home a perfect shot toward the end of the period to double the Brahmas lead. In the third, it was Connor Bergeron getting on the scoresheet to increase the Lone Star lead and then James finished it off with his second of the night in the final minutes. Deivs Rolovs was a perfect 30 for 30 as he earned his second shutout of the playoffs. Eliot Seguin-Lescarbeau was given the loss in goal for the Mudbugs, he stopped 25 shots.