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A “Come To Jesus Meeting” For First Place Bears

A “Come to Jesus Meeting” for First Place Bears

A first place team, with sky high expectations yet when Todd Nelson looked inside his locker room he wasn’t 100% pleased where it’s mindset was heading into Saturday’s game against the Crunch.

“We had a come to Jesus meeting before the game with everybody, even the guys who were not playing, and we just talked about getting ready for playoffs,” said Nelson after the game on Saturday night.

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State Of The Den: Post-Deadline Edition

State of the Den: Post-Deadline Edition

Pencils down! Those were the directives all 32 NHL general managers received when 3 p.m. elapsed on Friday – signaling the anticipated trade deadline.

Depending on who you ask, the few moves made by Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan could yield various reactions.

During his press conference, MacLellan indicated that varying factors – such as market analysis differences and current standings position – were the reasons why the team did not go in full sell mode.

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Connor McMichael Scores Hat Trick In Hershey’s 3-1 Victory

Connor McMichael scores hat trick in Hershey’s 3-1 victory

It only took Connor McMichael five games with the Hershey Bears to register his first professional hat trick, scoring all of the Bears’ goals on Saturday afternoon to lead Hershey to a 3-1 victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The 19-year-old has impressed in his first four-game games with the Bears, but number five was special. McMichael got on the board first, cleaning up a rebound in front of Wilkes-Barre’s goalie Max Lagace on the power play to tie the game a 1-1.

“I felt pretty good tonight, and then obviously scoring in the first period it helps you out a lot,” said McMichael. “You just feel a lot more comfortable throughout the game, and you just build off that. My line and our defense that I was out there with played really well, and [Fucale] had a great game as well. It’s great to build up the first one and get a couple more.”

His second goal of the afternoon came on a breakaway, going glove side on Lagace to give the Bears the lead at 2-1. “I saw that there was a little opening on the glove side, and it took advantage of it.”

McMichael almost had the hat trick before the end of the second period, scoring on a delayed penalty but having the play called dead by a whistle before the puck crossed the line. But he made up for it, with a 120-foot empty-net goal to seal the victory for Hershey and his first professional hat trick.

“The puck follows him around,” said head coach Spencer Carbery after the game. “Somehow, someway, he’s just in the right place, right time, and he sees the game that way. And that’s something as a coach – you can’t teach that.

“The thing I think we’re going to learn to appreciate about Connor is he is a very intelligent player. He is adapting on the fly to pro hockey and learning things. I’ve already had a couple conversations with him about small, little things he has to start to do at the pro level he could get away with in the OHL and now are going to be essential to being successful not only in the NHL but in pro hockey in general.”

“I talk to Carbs basically every single day,” said McMichael. “It’s just little things like in the D zone, being more aggressive, some faceoff work. The coaching staff and the guys have been great with me so far.”

Ilya Samsonov Impresses In Return To Chocolate Town

Ilya Samsonov impresses in return to Chocolate Town

“Probably the best five goals against I’ve ever seen as a coach in 11 years.” That’s how Hershey Bears head coach Spencer Carbery described Ilya Samsonov’s Valentine’s Day afternoon performance against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

It was the first time in nearly a month the 23-year-old netminder suited up for a hockey game after being sidelined with COVID-19.

When Samsonov was diagnosed with COVID-19 last month, he became ill. So ill, he said he struggled to even walk. “When I got sick, it felt a little bit hard (to) breathe and really really tired. You do just seven steps and you feel so bad. Right now, I don’t have any symptoms. I do hard work. Everything is good right now.”

Getting back on the ice for the first time since the diagnosis was a big step in Samsonov’s recovery, but his first period back between the pipes was not easy.

“I thought that first period was the worst 20 minutes I’ve seen over the two years and a month I’ve been here,” said head coach Spencer Carbery postgame. “I felt terrible, and I’ll probably apologize to him later, for Sammy having not played in a month and to be thrown into a situation where he’s facing 15 Grade-A chances.

“I’m surprised he’s not hurt, to be honest with you. I know that sounds a little bit trying to be funny, but he had to make post to post (saves). I’m surprised his groins are alright getting out of that first period.”

Samsonov made 12 saves on 14 shots in the first period, challenging him with an onslaught of chances right out of the gate. “First period a little bit hard, but after I feel much better,” said Samsonov. “Everything is good, but bad result. We will keep working.”

After allowing three goals in the first 23 minutes, the Bears settled down, scoring two goals of their own to tie the game at 3-3. Following third-period goals for both Hershey and Lehigh Valley, the game went to overtime, where a scramble in-front of Samsonov and loose puck allowed the Phantoms’ David Kase to beat the Russian netminder near post for the winner.

“I cannot remember five goals being given up and him making I’m going to guess 20 Grade A saves in the game,” said Carbery.

“I know that doesn’t give him any solace or make him feel any better, and I’m not trying to overstate that, probably the best five goals against goaltender performance I’ve been around as a coach for 11 years and probably as a player.”

Samsonov said he felt ready to go and return to the NHL, but he will first have to discuss the situation with current Washington and former Hershey goaltender coach, Scott Murray. “I am good. I am ready. I feel good today—no breathing (problems). Heart rate is pretty good. I feel normal.”

Boudreau Bringing USPHL Team To Hershey

Boudreau bringing USPHL team to Hershey

Former Hershey Bears head coach Bruce Boudreau is headed back to Hershey, PA.

Bruce and his Crystal announced Friday they had purchased a junior hockey team in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) that will be coming to Hershey to start play in 2021-22. The team will play their games at historic Hersheypark Arena.

“Crystal and I moved back to Hershey because we love the people, the town, and the history,” said Boudreau in a press release. “We started the Blue Ox in Minnesota, it went really well, and was a great addition to the community. We love working with the young men and the fans, and growing the game of hockey. We are hoping to do the same in Hershey.”

The new Hershey USPHL team will be a Tier III Junior A team in the Premier Division. The club will have players’ ages ranging from 17-to-20 years old. They will join 62 other teams, including a few neighboring teams; the Pittsburgh Vengeance, Philadelphia Hockey Club, and Skipjacks Academy in York.

“The only thing missing in the Hershey hockey landscape is a junior team,” said Boudreau. “We hope to give back to the community, continue to grow the game, and share in the history of hockey in Hershey.”

Further information, including more on the selection of the team’s name and logo, will be released in the coming months. 

Hershey Bears To Rebroadcast 2010 Calder Cup Finals On Social Media

Hershey Bears to rebroadcast 2010 Calder Cup Finals on social media

It’s been a decade since the Hershey Bears miraculous come back in the 2010 Calder Cup Finals, and fans will have the chance to relive those memories. The Hershey Bears have announced they will be re-broadcasting Game Three through Six on their social media pages to commemorate the tenth anniversary of their Calder Cup victory. 

Starting on Sunday, June 7, at 7 PM, fans will be able to watch abc27’s broadcasts of the 2010 Calder Cup Finals on the Bears Facebook and YouTube Channels

“If you talk to anyone in our fan base, what always gets brought up in recent memory is the 2019-10 team and the back to back cups,” said Zack Fisch, current voice of the Bears. “Working closely with Bryan Helmer, Patrick Wellar, and John Walton, I’ve gotten to hear the stories of the magical run to Texas. It was a four-game stretch for the record books.

“Now that it’s the tenth anniversary, what better time to show them again and relive arguably the greatest team in the American Hockey League history.” 

All three games in Texas were broadcasted by abc27, with a viewing party hosted at Giant Center for Game Five and Alexandre Giroux’s magical overtime goal. The schedule of the re-broadcasts will follow the same date as the games ten years ago on the Bears YouTube and Facebook pages.  

BROADCAST SCHEDULE:

Game 3: Sunday, June 7 at 7 PM EDT

Game 4: Tuesday, June 9 at 7 PM EDT

Game 5: Thursday, June 11 at 7 PM EDT

Game 6: Sunday, June 14 at 7 PM EDT

Calling the games were the former voice of the Bears and current voice of the Capitals, John Walton, and the late abc27 sports director, Gregg Mace. 

The Bears have been broadcasting classic games on their Facebook and YouTube pages since the suspension and later cancelation of the 2019-20 season, allowing fans to relive favorite memories.

“With these classic games, we are showing as many as we can, but currently don’t have access to all our archives in Giant Center,” said Fisch. “We partially have an archive for games pre-Giant Center, but some might not exist. When we get back to Giant Center, we’ll be able to share more favorite games for our fans.” 

But rest be assured, more favorite Bears games are coming soon. “The most requested game is certainly the 2006 Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 against Portland. The AHL requested to show that so stay tuned. We look forward to sharing more information when that will be re-broadcasted.”

Watch the rebroadcast on Facebook or YouTube

Chocolate Hockey To Host “Hungry To Help” Telethon On June 4

Chocolate Hockey to host “Hungry To Help” telethon on June 4

Chocolate Hockey is pleased to announce “Hungry To Help,” a special online telethon to benefit Cocoa Packs on Thursday, June 4, 2020, at 7 PM on YouTube.

Cocoa Packs is a weekly program that provides food assistance for students in need from the Hershey area. Founded in 2015, today their enrollment is nearly 600 students, enrolling 63 new students during the current pandemic. This number continues to rise weekly due to current family challenges and food insecurity caused by the Coronavirus.

Co-hosting the event starting at 7 PM on June 4 on Chocolate Hockey’s YouTube channel is a local favorite Hershey Bears hockey player Liam O’Brien. Liam has spent the past six seasons playing for the Bears, having strong community involvement during those six-seasons in and around the Hershey area in numerous philanthropic endeavors.  

“I was able to take part in a number of Cocoa Packs Events and appearances this year, and they do such a great job,” said Liam O’Brien. “The families who come in and pick up their food, toys at Christmas, and other necessities are so lucky to have them put in the work they do. The volunteers have the greatest energy and really do love helping these kids and their families. I think that’s the main reason why I want to get involved with them – they have special relationships with these families and kids, and it’s a really beautiful thing to witness.”

Also making appearances throughout the telethon will be other members of the Hershey Bears hockey team, including Matt Moulson, Pheonix Copley, and Riley Sutter.  Co-hosting the event with Liam is Kyle Mace, founder of Chocolate Hockey and the son of the late local television sports broadcaster Gregg Mace. Kyle has covered hockey in Hershey for ten seasons, while his late father hosted many telethons during his 40-year career in television.

Kyle Mace added, “I’ve seen firsthand how wonderful the people in Central Pennsylvania are and how they unite in times of need. During the many telethons that my father hosted, our family was inspired by how this region stepped up.  Our goal is to fight hunger and support the health and well-being of our youth who may not know where their next meal is coming from.”

Fans and donors can tune into the telethon at Chocolate Hockey’s YouTube channel, YouTube.com/ChocolateHockey, or head to ChocolateHockey.com for more information.

COCOA PACKS: Cocoa Packs provides supplemental food and other support to local children in need to enhance their overall wellness, with a vision of a world where all children have what they need to succeed. With schools closed, this leaves a bigger gap daily, on weekends, over the holidays, and in the summer for those children facing food insecurity. The aim of Cocoa Packs is to fill this gap, providing packs to students filled with a variety of nutritious breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack items.

NOTE: This event is not affiliated with the Hershey Bears, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, the American Hockey League, or any related properties of the aforementioned groups.

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