Hershey Bears Add Three To Roster Ahead Of Game Four
On May 6th, 2025, The Hershey Bears announced they have added three players to the roster ahead of game four against Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday evening. All players were recalled from the South Carolina Stingrays, who were eliminated last week from Kelly Cup Playoff contention in game seven against the Orlando Solar Bears.
Ryan Hofer
Photo Credit: South Carolina Stingrays
23-year-old Hofer is in his second year of professional hockey with the Washington Capitals organization. He is currently signed to a three year contract, which expires at the end of the 2025-2026 season.
Hofer played in 40 games for the Hershey Bears in the 2023-2024 season and posted four goals and four assists. In the 2024-2025 season, Hofer played in 52 regular season games for the South Carolina Stingrays, posting 12 goals and 14 assists. Hofer also dressed in five games for the Hershey Bears during the regular season. He suited up in all seven post-season games for the Stingrays this year, posting three goals and two assists. If Hofer is plugged into the Hershey lineup for Friday, this will be his first AHL Calder Cup Playoff appearance.
Alex Suzdalev
Photo Credit: Orlando Solar Bears
Suzdalev, 21-years-old, is having an outstanding year as a rookie in his first professional season with the Capitals organization. Suzdalev has played in three regular season games with Hershey, but a majority of his rookie season has been spent in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays. Suzdalev has dressed in 50 games for the Stingrays and notched 15 goals with 24 assists. He also dressed in all seven playoff appearance this year for the Stingrays and tallied an even two goals and two assists.
Justin Nachbaur
Photo Credit: South Carolina Stingrays
Nachbaur, 25-year-old Minnesota native, is in his fourth professional season. Nachbaur has suited up in 151 ECHL games for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Kansas City Mavericks, and South Carolina Stingrays. Throughout the course of four seasons in the ECHL, Nauchbaur has tallied 39 goals and 40 assists. He has also suited up three times in the AHL for the Charlotte Checkers, Ontario Reign, and Hershey Bears. He has played in 12 games in the AHL, but has not tallied any points. Nachbaur is sixth in the ECHL for PIMS with 173, he is behind Ty Cheveldayoff, Mikael Robidoux, Matthew Quercia, Kelly Bent, and Nico Blachman.
These three players are players that can add some depth and grit to a Bears lineup. The Bears will face off against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Friday evening in Allentown. This is a must-win game for Hershey!
- Samantha Wismer/Olde City Sports Network
- Photo Credit: Hershey Bears/South Carolina Stingrays/Orlando Solar Bears