Julien Brouillette Archives · Chocolate Hockey

PHOTOS: Hershey Shutout by St. John’s, 2-0

November 23, 2014
Kyle Mace
Game Recap, Photos

HERSHEY, PA – Dane Byers looks at the scoreboard after St. John’s scores one of their two goals in route to their 2-0 win over Hershey (Kyle Mace – Chocolate Hockey)

It was the return of two former Bears Sunday night. Julien Brouillette, who spent three seasons in Hershey on the Bears blue line, and goalie Peter Budaj, who started his pro career in Hershey back in 2002.

Now in St. John’s, Brouillette, who started the game, and Budaj, who was the backup Sunday, were on a side the both were very familiar with in Giant Center: the winning side. The IceCaps, lead by goalie Connor Hellebuyck’s 33 saves, shutdown Hershey, allowing them to leave Chocolate Town, USA with the two points and a win.

2014 SHOEY Awards: Social Media Awards

April 24, 2014
Kyle Mace
SHOEY Awards

We are four days into voting for our first ever SHOEY Awards and all races are still really close, especially the social media awards. There are three categories that fall under the social media awards: Tweet of the Year, Tweeter of the Year, and Social Media Champion. Three, it’s a magic number. Will that magic wear off on some of our nominees?

Hershey Bears Exit Interview and Locker Clean Out Day

April 21, 2014
Kyle Mace
News, Video

Monday morning might be the final time some Bears players ever walk though Giant Center as a Bear. As the 2013-14 season comes to a close, the Bears players took some time to reflect on their season as they cleaned out their lockers. It was a surreal moment for all as Hershey missed the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons.

Hershey Drops Back-to-Back Games Against Worcester, Manchester

March 23, 2014
Chocolate Hockey
Game Recap

Casey Wellman, seen here earlier in the season, had two points during Hershey’s loss Saturday night to Worcester (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

There are 11 games remaining in the regular season for the Hershey Bears, who are now five points out of the 8th and final playoff spot. That’s not an impossible obstacle to overcome, but the Bears current slump is making the road to the playoffs even harder. Hershey dropped two of three this weekend with back-to-back losses in Worcester on Saturday and in Manchester on Sunday afternoon.

Hartford Ties Game Late, Blitz Past Bears in Shootout

March 1, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

David Leggio, seen here earlier in the season, had 34 saves in Hershey’s shootout loss Friday night (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

It was an odd Friday night around the American Hockey League to kickoff a three game weekend, and one that was slightly beneficial to the Hershey Bears Hockey Club despite a 2-1 shootout defeat to the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Peter LeBlanc scored Hershey’s lone goal with 1:04 remaining in an end-to-end second period. David Leggio was superb and earned third star honors from stopping 34 of 35 shots through 65 minutes.

Bears Hammer Admirals 3-1 on Groundhog’s Day

February 3, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

HERSHEY, PA – Brandon Segal celebrates his second period goal with teammates during Hershey’s 3-1 win (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

Which is of the following is more abnormal– The Hershey Bears wearing Groundhog Day jerseys in their Sunday game against Norfolk, or Groundhog Day combining with Super Bowl Sunday?

Regardless the answer, at an early 2pm start time the Bears faced the Anaheim Ducks’ top affiliate, Norfolk Admirals. Nearly 24 hours after the Adirondack Phantoms snapped Hershey’s overall six game winning streak, the Bears extended their home win streak to nine games in a 3-1 win over the Admirals.

Hershey Splits Series with Adirondack

February 2, 2014
Chocolate Hockey
Game Recap

Julien Brouillette and Peter LeBlanc, both seen here earlier in the season, had goals in Hershey’s win over Adirondack in the Bears first game against the Phamtoms this weekend

Perhaps the Hershey Bears are trying to make a statement to the schedule makers. Three games in 31 hours is very unusual in any league. But when the Bears played Adirondack in Philadelphia, they were going for their seventh straight victory and second in an 18 hour span. In the first game with the Phantoms, the Bears came up with a 5-3 victory Friday night in Glens Falls, beating the Phantoms to keep their winning streak alive.

Michael Latta Shines, Bears Sweep Home-and-Home Against Syracuse

January 26, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

HERSHEY, PA – Michael Latta celebrates his first goal of the night with Matt Watkins in Hershey’s 3-2 win (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

We can all appreciate a sports season that is evenly split between two calendar years. It provides every team with a chance to start fresh and turn the page if it’s felt necessary.

In 2013, the Hershey Bears struggled to stay above the .500 mark in the AHL standings, had a power play unit ranked near the league’s worst and floated near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

But into the final Saturday of 2014’s opening month, the Bears suddenly hit a power surge bringing them to 20 wins at the 40 game mark. A sudden six game Giant Center win streak and a climb in the special teams rankings has helped Hershey to their recent success. Entering Saturday’s contest against Syracuse, the Chocolate and White had the best point percentage (.750%) in their previous ten games compared to all other Eastern Conference teams.

An impressive angle on Friday’s win in New York was winning by a three goal margin despite going 0-for-5 on the improving power play unit. In the next night’s rematch, the power play was blanked once more, but Michael Latta’s two goals lifted Hershey to a thrilling 3-2 win.

Bears Capture Sixth Straight GC Win in Third Period Comeback

January 19, 2014
Matt Trust
Game Recap

HERSHEY, PA – Casey Wellman celebrates with his teammates after his shootout goal in the Bears’ 4-3 win over Albany (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

The Hershey Bears battled the Albany Devils for the second time in as many weeks Sunday night. The Bears entered riding a 5-2-1-0 record in 2014. A win would up-lift Hershey into the eighth seed of the Eastern Conference standings.

The Chocolate and White also entered with a five game winning streak on Giant Center ice.

A two-goal, third period comeback lifted the Bears for the second time this season over Albany by a 4-3 shootout final.

Hershey Bears Photos of the Year: 2013

January 5, 2014
Kyle Mace
Photos

We are five days into the new year, but we still have sometime to look back on 2013. Today, I took 26 of my favorite shots from the year and looked back on them. Above, probably my favorite photo from the year; Tom Wilson celebrating his first professional goal. The image captures Wilson’s excitement of getting the goal at a professional level for the first time, plus the excitement of the Bears faithful as Wilson scored the goal ahead goal in Game 4 of the first round series between Hershey and the Providence Bruins.