Hershey Bears Recap- Week of 10/19
It has been a week for the Hershey Bears as they wrapped up the home portion of their October calendar with a departure. Sheldon Rempal had his contract with the Capitals mutually terminated as he was going to the KHL. The news came as a surprise to many Bears fans, as they had scored just two points in four games, including his first goal as a Bear last Saturday against the Thunderbirds.
In a lineup full of youth, he is one of the veterans stepping up as the season got underway. He is off to Russia to play for Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL, and we wish him the best. To add to this, the Capitals recalled Ethen Frank as the boys from DC dealt with injuries. It should come as no surprise that Frank is getting called up, as he was the last player sent to Hershey before the AHL season started.
The season keeps going despite injuries, as the Hershey Bears had their first road trip of the season, going to the corner of 7th and Hamilton to take on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The two teams haven't played each other since October 4th, and it was definitely a rivalry rekindled.
Early in the first period, Karsen Dorwat would deflect a shot from Alex Bump to give the Phantoms an early lead, 1-0, on a power-play tally. However, the Bears would answer with their own power play goal from Graeme Clark to tie the game, 1-1. The Phantoms would snake a puck past Clay Stevenson, and Zayde Wisdom would get a lazy board shot to make it 2-1. Tucker Robertson would benefit from some puck luck, as the Phantoms had a puck bounce up in the air behind the net, and Robertson would bounce the puck as Stevenson had no clue where the puck was. The Phantoms would take a 3-1 lead into the lockers despite being outshot 16-7 in the period.
The Bears would respond quickly in the second period as Spencer Smallman would tuck a puck underneath Aleski Kolosov to make it 3-2. The Phantoms would benefit from more luck as Louie Belpedio's stick broke on a breakout pass, which was stolen by Alexis Gendron and finished by Jacob Gaucher to make it 4-2.
The Bears would get another power play goal, this time from Matt Strome, to make it 4-3 heading into the third period. In the third, Hershey would get the tying goal on a breakaway from Clarke once again to tie the game at 4, but the Phantoms would get the last laugh as Wisdom would score with 44 seconds left in the game to give the Phantoms the win at the PPL Center.
The two teams would have their rematch on Saturday, October 24th. The Phantoms traveled down 78 to Giant Center for their first trip to Chocolate Town.
Photo Credit: Leah Hollenbach/Olde City Sports Network
The Phantoms would get on the board early as Carl Gundstrom would score 62 seconds into the game, surprising the Bears' faithful. The Bears would answer quickly as Bogdan Trineyev would get his second of the season to tie the game, 1-1. Hershey's special teams would come through again as rookie Andrew Cristall would get his first professional goal on the power play to make it 2-1 after one.
In the second period, the Phantoms would retake the lead by getting two goals in the period as Helge Grans would tie the game. Captain Garrett Wilson would give Lehigh the lead as he ripped a puck past Garin Bjurklund to make it 3-2.
Hershey would get the tying goal in the third from Smallman, as he got a cross-ice feed from Captain Aaron Ness to tie the game at 3-3. The two teams battled into the extra session to get the extra standings point, but no one would get it, and Hershey headed to a shootout.
The lone goal in the shootout came from Illya Protas for the Bears, and goaltender Bjorklund stopped all three Phantoms shooters. Hershey split the weekend series with the Phantoms as the Bears prepare for a long road trip ahead.
Hershey will hit the road for a three-game northeast road trip, which sees them visit Bridgeport to take on the Islanders on Wednesday, October 29th. Next, it is down the I-95 to Springfield to take on the Thunderbirds in Hershey's first visit to the MassMutual Center on Halloween night. To start November, the Bears go to Providence to take on (at the time of this article) the undefeated Providence Bruins.
It is a tall task ahead for the Bears, who are banged up and looking for points in this early season. But many hockey players will tell you, road trips like this bring a team together, and the Bears may need some time away from Giant Center.
- Richard Blosser/Olde City Sports Network
- Photos: Leah Hollenbach/Olde City Sports Network