The Hershey Bears could see a few former members suiting up for Team Canada in the 2018 Olympics.
Andrew Gordon, Sean Collins, Jacob Micflikier, Justin Peters, Patrick McNeill, and Chay Genoway have all been named to Team Canada’s pre-Olympic tournament rosters.
HERSHEY, PA – Ryan Stoa celebrates his first period goal with teammates during Hershey’s 5-3 win (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The Hershey Bears debuted on Giant Center ice for the only time this weekend with a Saturday night match against the Springfield Falcons. Bears Play-by-Play voice Scott Stuccio tweeted hours before puck drop, “Bears undoubtedly will be ready to go for this one. Springfield (25-6-1-3) is the AHL’s top team (.771 points %).”
Hershey dropped a 4-2 tilt in Binghamton, NY the night before. However, Stuccio also tweeted Saturday afternoon that the Senators appeared to have too many men on the ice during their second period, game-winning goal.
Just as Stuccio warned, the Bears were ready to play and grinned out a 5-3 win over the top team in the American Hockey League.
Professional hockey games consist of a 60 minute regulation length. Some duels can be loss from the get-go, while other matches are decided by late game heroics. The Hershey Bears in dire need of a victory faced the Manchester Monarchs in New Hampshire. The New England states continue to deny the Bears of fortune in a 4-3 loss to the Monarchs.
The game was decided early with a crucial, first period scoring assembly which included three Manchester goals in a 1:49 span.
Worcester and Hershey face off in a game earlier in the season (Worcester Sharks Facebook Page)
Desperate for a win to close out the weekend, the Hershey Bears battled the Worcester Sharks for a Sunday matinee at the DCU Center. Following two crushing losses in Connecticut and Manchester, Garrett Mitchell received first star honors in a 4-1 victory over the Sharks.
HERSHEY, PA – Boyd Kane skates during warm-ups of the 2013 AHL Outdoor Classic. Kane scored his 500th AHL point tonight during Hershey’s 6-4 loss to Manchester (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Saturday night, American Hockey League history was made with Boyd Kane’s 500th career AHL point against the Manchester Monarchs. Kane became the 85th player in league history to reach the milestone. However, the memorable moment was soon spoiled, as Manchester came back to answer Hershey’s early scoring onslaught with a scoring parade of their own. The Monarchs tallied three goals in both the second and third period to down Hershey, 6-4.
HERSHEY, PA – Ryan Potunly looks on during a game earlier in the season (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
It is no lie the Hershey Bears in many instances this season have struggled to put forth a complete game, 100-percent effort against the opposition. However in a 3-2 shootout loss against the Connecticut Whale, effort was no where near a concern for the Chocolate and White.
HERSHEY, PA – Philipp Grubauer watches Binghamton’s game tying power play goal during Herhsey’s 3-2 loss to the Senators (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The Hershey Bears closed out the second weekend of March with their final divisional match up this month. Looking to bounce back after a disappointing two game stretch in Norfolk, the Bears coughed up a late 2-1 lead and fell 3-2 on regulation after failing to kill off back-to-back penalties in the final four minutes.
HERSHEY, PA – Ryan Potulny celebrates his second period goal during Hershey’s 3-0 win over Adirondack (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
When the Hershey Bears and Adirondack Phantoms last met on November 24, 2012, the Bears began heading south in the standings after dropping a 3-1 decision. It was Hershey’s sixth loss in their previous seven games in a slumping month of November.
Since then, the Bears have battled over the .500 mark in the standings and entered Saturday’s action against Adirondack with a chance to win their 25th game of the campaign. Philipp Grubauer stonewalled the Phantoms for his first AHL shutout in a 3-0 win at Giant Center.
HERSHEY, PA – Binghamton scores their game winning goal as Alex Berry and Braden Holtby look on (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Saturday the Hershey Bears looked to kick off the New Year by beating the red hot Binghamton Senators. The Senators enter their second contest of 2013 at Hershey with a 20-7-1-2 record, second in the East Division. Mike Hoffman scored the game-winner at the 12:08 mark, as the Bears only fired 21 shots on goal in a 3-1 loss to Binghamton.
HERSHEY, PA – Zach Hamill scores in the first period during the Bears 5-2 win over Bridgeport (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Friday evening, Braden Holtby earned his third consecutive start, as the Hershey Bears looked to continue their winning ways against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Four Hershey third period goals proved to be the decisive factor, as the Bears silenced the Sound Tigers, 5-2.
