The End of an Emotional Week For Hershey Marks the Beginning of Their Toughest Challenge Yet


Photo: @TheHersheyBears

When watching the video of Bears captain Garrett Mitchell being told he was getting his first NHL call-up, you could feel the emotion coming through whatever screen you were looking at, even though there might not have been much excitement on Mitchell’s face. “When I look at the video, even my wife goes ‘You don’t look that excited,'” said Mitchell. “Honestly, I could have started crying right there. I couldn’t have been more excited.

“I didn’t know it was coming. Once [Troy Mann] said Chandler [Stephenson’s] name, I was kind of like ‘Oh man.’ I was very happy for Chandler, but that’s always something you hope might be you. But then he goes ‘He’s been waiting for six years…’

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Madison Bowey Poised for Return to Hershey Lineup

It’s a week Madison Bowey would like to forget. After spending Christmas back home with his family in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the 21-year-old defenseman had issues getting back to Central Pennsylvania with flight issues preventing his return in time for a game against Lehigh Valley on December 26. “Definitely not the way I wanted to start my second half,” said Bowey after Bears practice Wednesday. “I was geared up and ready to go for the Syracuse game, but getting injured there on my third shift was pretty tough.”

Despite wearing kevlar socks and a bunga pad, Syracuse Crunch defenseman Luke Witkowski’s skate sliced the front tendon on Bowey’s left leg in a freak accident. While an injury like that could cause a player to focus more on skate blades, it’s not something Bowey is too worried about. “When I’m playing I’m not thinking about it. I know watching games – past games and games on TV – you notice more skates now and how close they can get to flesh and could cause an injury. But if you’re playing, you can’t really think about it.”

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Bryan Helmer Announced as Hershey Bears VP of Hockey Ops

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An emotional Bryan Helmer, on the same day as his seventeenth wedding anniversary, was introduced as the new head man of the Hershey Bears Hockey Club. Helmer, 44, becomes the first ever former Bears player, captain, and coach to take over the franchise, as he follows the path laid out by another former defenseman, Frank Mathers.

“Now I get to call Hershey home,” Helmer said. “I have stability with this job where I don’t have to move every one to two years. My family is excited. They get to stay in one spot.

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Connor Carrick Makes Return to Chocolate Town in Eastern Conference Finals

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HERSHEY, PA – Former Hershey Bear Connor Carrick will make his return to Giant Center Friday night for Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

It wasn’t difficult for Connor Carrick to walk past his old locker room on Thursday before the Toronto Marlies practiced at Giant Center. “I just kept going. Got the memo awhile ago.”

After spending parts of three seasons in a Chocolate and White sweater, the 22-year-old defenseman was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs right before the trade deadline in February. “A lot of confusion,” Carrick said about when he first learned of the trade. “A lot of trying to figure out the logistics of where am I going, when [I am going], where am I playing, who am I playing, and that kind of thing.

“You kind of going into a survival mode. You try and figure out ‘Alright, what time is my flight, what time should I eat, what can I eat at the airport?’ And try not to forget anything important in the move. You try and roll with the punches and just try and figure out one thing at a time.”

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Jonas Siegenthaler Scores First AHL Point In First Game With Hershey

Jonas Siegenthaler Scores First AHL Point in First Game with Hershey

Allentown, PA – Jonas Siegenthaler poses with the puck from his first AHL point after Hershey’s 8-0 win over Lehigh Valley Wednesday night. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

In Hershey’s historic 8-0 win last night over Lehigh Valley, the newest Hershey Bear Jonas Siegenthaler scored his first AHL point with an assist on Erik Burgdoerfer‘s second period goal.

“It was a good, high paced game,” the 18-year-old said after the win. “I really enjoyed to play with the Bears. It was a lot of fun.

“They’re great guys; they’re helping you all the time. I would not say [tonight] was easy, but since the team helps you a lot, it made [my first game] easier.”

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Scott Gomez Ready to Roll with the Hershey Bears

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HERSHEY, PA – New Hershey Bears forward Scott Gomez shares a laugh with Bears assistant coach Bryan Helmer during Hershey Bears morning skate Friday morning. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

At 36-years-old, Scott Gomez is not a typical AHL rookie. After a 16-season NHL career, the centerman is looking to revive his NHL career with a stint with the Hershey Bears.

“I think every guy in here is trying to make it to the NHL,” Gomez said Friday. “I’m here to do my part, here to play hockey, here to help out as much as I can. It’s kind of what you learn; hockey from the older guys and you’re here to pass it down to the younger guys and help them out.”

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Bears Feeling Good After Two Wins to Start 2016

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After being down four goals with 35 minutes left on Saturday, the Hershey Bears have rattled off ten goals and two wins. The Bears current line-up looks a lot different than it did a few weeks ago. Centerman Chandler Stephenson is still injured with an upperbody injury, Zach Sill is still called up to Washington and currently suspended. Aaron Ness and Ryan Stanton are working Washington’s blue line as Brooks Orpik and John Carlson are both on injured reserve. Despite all of that, the Bears are staying strong, taking games a weekend at a time.

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