Casey Wellman Archives · Chocolate Hockey

Jakub Vrana Scores First AHL Goal With Hershey (Video)

May 2, 2015
Kyle Mace
News, Photos, Video

HERSHEY, PA – Jakub Vrana holds up the puck for his first goal with the Hershey Bears on Friday night. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

When Jakub Vrana arrived in Hershey late in the regular season, little was known about the 19-year-old Czech would bring to Hershey. After spending the first part of this season with Linkopings HC, playing along side with former Bear Jeff Taffe, Vrana joined the Chocolate and White and immediately became a force to be reckoned with. In only three regular season games, the Prague native assisted on five goals.

PHOTOS: Hershey Eliminates Worcester in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

May 2, 2015
Kyle Mace
Game Recap, Photos

HERSHEY, PA – Pheonix Copley shakes Bryan Lerg’s hand after Hershey’s game 4 win over Worcester in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

A playoff game usually doesn’t result in a 10 goal effort, but the Hershey Bears put together their best offensive game of the season and beat the Worcester Sharks 10-4 on Friday night to advance to the Calder Cup conference semi-finals.

PHOTOS: Bears and Devils Battle it Out in Back and Forth Game

January 17, 2015
Kyle Mace
Game Recap, Photos

HERSHEY, PA – Opening faceoff of Saturday night’s match up between Hershey and Albany Saturday night. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

One of the struggles the Hershey Bears have had this year is finding the back of the net. When the Bears score, they only score an average of two to three goals a game. When Hershey is able to put four goals on the board, they normally don’t have an issue with winning the game. But in the wonderful world of hockey, that’s not always the case.

PHOTOS: Hershey Moves Within Two Points of First After Win Over Norfolk

December 31, 2014
Kyle Mace
Game Recap, Photos

HERSHEY, PA – Casey Wellman celebrates his ninth goal of the season during Hershey’s 2-1 win over the Admirals (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

Coming into a weird two game Tuesday-Wednesday back to back series of games for the Hershey Bears actually became a big two game set for the Chocolate and White. Coming into game one of two, Hershey was only four points behind first place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with two games in hand. The Bears played one of those two games tonight, looking to gain some ground on the Baby Pens before facing off against them on New Year’s Eve.

Hershey Takes 4-2 Win from Lehigh Valley

December 27, 2014
Chocolate Hockey
Game Recap, Photos

HERSHEY, PA – Connor Carrick and Stan Galiev celebrate Galiev’s goal as Brandon Manning leaves the penalty box in the third period of Hershey’s 4-2 win over Lehigh Valley (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

After coming off of a tough stretch of losing three straight games, the Hershey Bears faced off against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms exactly one week after being shutout by Anthony Stolarz in a 2-0 loss. Stolarz would get the nod again against the Chocolate and White, but this game would end a bit differently for the two teams.

PHOTOS: Hershey Bears Top Wilkes-Barre on Opening Night

October 26, 2014
Kyle Mace
Game Recap, News

HERSHEY, PA – Tomas Kundratek celebrates Casey Wellman’s goal with teammates during Hershey’s 4-1 win over the Penguins Saturday night (Kyle Mace – Chocolate Hockey)

The Bears kicked off their home season Saturday night against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Hershey topped the baby Penguins of a score 4-1 with goals coming from Tim Kennedy, Dane Byers, Casey Wellman, and a penalty shot goal from Dustin Gazley. Hershey will take on Lehigh Valley Saturday night against the Phantoms.

Below the jump, check out photos from Saturday night’s game.

Bears Fall to Falcons in Skills Competition, 4-3

April 12, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

Ryan Stoa, seen here earlier in the season, had a goal and shootout goal during Hershey’s 4-3 loss to Springfield (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

While “X” marked the spot in Wilkes-Barre Township with the Penguins celebrating a playoff berth, the Hershey Bears aimed to inch closer in a battle against the Springfield Falcons.

65 minutes was not enough for either side, leading to Hershey’s 12th skills competition of the 2013-14 campaign. Ryan Stoa became the AHL leader in shootout goals, but the Bears dropped a 4-3 decision in five rounds.

Hershey Gains Point in OT Loss to Binghamton

April 12, 2014
Kyle Mace
Game Recap

Nate Schmidt, seen here earlier in the season, scored his first goal since opening night with Hershey on Friday night against Binghamton during the Bears’ 5-4 loss to the Senators (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

The Bears face another nearly must win situation tonight, when they face one of the best teams in the league, the Springfield Falcons. Hershey remains in control of the 8th and final playoff spot in the AHL Eastern conference, by just one point, with five games to go.

Hershey Silents Sound Tigers, Leap Admirals in Standings

April 6, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

Bridgeport, CT – David Leggio celebrates Hershey’s 5-4 win with Cameron Schilling Sunday afternoon over the Sound Tigers (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

In all honesty, the intensity of a hockey team on the cusp on clinching the 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs, in the season’s dying weeks is worthy of a documentary. But while the HBO Sports crew is off completing bigger and better projects, it’s now on our shoulders to recap the parade of American Hockey League events on Sunday.

The Hershey Bears entered the weekend finale with a game in hand against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Tigers were noted as a team of unknown rookies all bidding for future stays in the AHL. The Bears-Sound Tigers matinee was scheduled for a 3pm start time, as well as a game between the seventh seed Albany Devils and Adirondack Phantoms. Hershey entered play only three points back from the Devils with one less game played.

Lastly, also in Connecticut, the Hartford Wolf Pack played host to the Norfolk Admirals. Norfolk entered one point in front of Hershey for the eighth and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. It was an absolute perfect standings night for the Bears, as shortly after an entertaining 5-4 win in Bridgeport, both Albany and Norfolk fell to their respective opposition in regulation.

Casey Wellman Lifts Bears Over Sharks in OT

April 5, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

Casey Wellman, seen here earlier in the season, scored the game winning goal during Hershey’s 3-2 win over Worcester Saturday night. (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

At the start of the third period, Worcester Sharks’ play-by-play commentator spoke the words, “The Sharks’ season is on the line in this period.” At the moment, Worcester trailed to Chocolate and White by a 2-1 score entering the stanza.

This was a playoff games in the eyes of the Sharks, as they entered play in the tenth seed of the Eastern Conference, five points removed from the Bears and six from Norfolk. Dan DaSilva tied the game for Worcester with the extra attacker on the ice in the final minute, sending the game to overtime. But Casey Wellman ended the game in Hershey’s favor by finishing a quick, breakaway chance at the OT’s 2:49 mark, to conclude a massive 3-2 victory.