Bears Weekly Recap- Week of 10/27
Greetings, Bears fans, as we head into Hockey Fights Cancer Month, or as normal people call it, November. I kid, I kid, it is a significant cause that all hockey players partake in everywhere and every corner of North America.
The Bears had their first actual road trip of the season as they ventured into the Northeast for a 3-game swing along I-95.
The first stop was in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to take on the Islanders on Wednesday, October 29, at the Total Mortgage Arena. The Islanders would get on the board first as Cam Berg would get the first goal to make it 1-0. The Islanders would take that lead into the locker room at 1st intermission with Bridgeport leading on shots on goal 11-9. Hershey would respond in the 2nd period with goals by Ilya Protas and Ryan Chesley, and a power-play goal from Graeme Clarke would make this a 3-1 game. In the third, Bridgeport would try to get a goal to get back into the game, but Hershey would hold a 2-goal lead. One of the best moments of the weekend came from the PK unit as they stayed out for over a minute on the penalty in the last 2 minutes of the game. Matt Strome, Aaron Ness, and others put in yeoman's work to keep a two-goal lead and earn a victory for the boys from Hershey.
If Hershey is still playing hockey in mid-May, this penalty kill could be looked at when it all came together.
Photo Credit: Leah Hollenbach/Olde City Sports Network
On Halloween night, Hershey ventured to Springfield to take on the Thunderbirds. Hershey will face Springfield for the third time in this early season. Springfield traveled to Hershey for a two game set a few weeks prior. Springfield split both games at Hershey over the weekend. This game started with a bang as Justin Nachbaur and Kale Kessy dropped the gloves and had a seven-bell fight. The fight was a modest one, with swinging fists, circling, and jabs exchanged between the two. After a few minutes, the Kale and Justin were separated and sent to the locker room. However, both men would have their night end early, as per the AHL; they both received game misconducts for fighting after the opening faceoff. After the fights, both teams settled in and put both goaltenders to work as Hershey and Springfield put 13 shots at the goalies after one period. In the 2nd period, Hershey would get two goals on two separate breakaways as Grant Cruikshank and Bogdan Trineyev both scored. Cruikshank would get his first goal of the season, and Trineyev would get his third of the young season. Springfield would answer as Hugh McGing would get one past Clay Stevenson to make it 2-1 heading into the third period. Springfield would get the tying goal as Dylan Peterson cleaned up a net-mouth scramble to tie the game. In overtime, the Bears would get a 4-on-3 power play, and Andrew Cristall would find a wide-open Calle Rosen, who deflected a puck past Vadim Zherenko and won it for Hershey. It would be Hershey's first win in the extra session this season, and 4 points on the road trip.
As the calendar flipped to November and spooky season ended, Hershey went to Rhode Island to take on the undefeated Providence Bruins. The P-Bruins were 7-0-0-0 to start the season, while Hershey had swept Providence last season, 4-0-0-0. Hershey would get the first goal on a power play, as Ryan Chesley unloaded a blue line blast past goaltender Simon Zajicek. The game would become a goaltender's duel as both Zajicek and Garin Bjurklund would stop everything in front of them, except for Chesley's goal. Providence would get some looks in the 3rd period, but Bjurklund stood firm, and Matt Strome would get an empty net goal to make it 2-0. Hershey would get the win, the shutout for Bjorklund, his first of his career, and sweep the northeast road trip. The sweep puts Hershey in 4th in the Atlantic Division as we head into November, and a pair of home games this week against Toronto and Rochester.
However, Monday would bring some trade news for Hershey as Calle Rosen was traded to St. Louis for Corey Schueneman and Sam Bitten, with future considerations included. Schuenenman has 6 points on the season, and Sam Bitten provides toughness on the bottom six.
- Rich Blosser/Olde City Sports Network
- Photo Credit- Leah Hollenbach/Olde City Sports Network
