Hershey Bears Start A New Era With A Crunch

Finally, after months of clickbait articles, reels, and endless predictions, the AHL season got underway this past weekend.  The Hershey Bears came off a season that marked the end of a run with 2 Calder Cups and many players moving on, whether to the NHL or the KHL.  One thing was for sure: there was going to be a lot of newness in Hershey, with new players, a new head coach, and new possibilities. 

On Saturday, the Bears opened up the 2025-2026 season with a pair of games against a team from the North division, the Syracuse Crunch, affiliates of the Tampa Bay Lightning.  

Photo Credit: Leah Hollenbach/Olde City Sports Network

Over the past several years, Syracuse has always been a formidable opponent for the Bears, whether it's multiple-goal comebacks or challenging physical play that caused injuries.   Hershey would have a tall task ahead of them with a new roster, including reinforcements from the Capitals in Ethen Frank and Clay Stevenson. 

After a team introduction, which saw the debut of Andrew Cristall, Sheldon Rempal, Ilya Protas, and more, the event began.  After all of the spectacle of opening night, the puck was dropped on the new season, and the first period was a feeling-out process for both teams, with neither registering a goal.  Both teams were getting used to new linemates and experiencing first-game jitters, as their passes were a bit off and players were still trying to figure out what worked in the offensive zone or assignments.  Some players seemed out of position or were winging it out there because they didn't know their place on the team. 

In the second period, though, the Bears would get on the board as Ethen Frank collected a pass from Henrik Rybinski and skated past the defenseman and tucked a puck past Halverson to give Hershey the lead!   It was Frank's first of the new season and got the Giant Center on their feet.  A few minutes later, Frank would score another as he deflected a blueline blast from Louie Belpedio to make it 2-0 with his second tally of the night.  

However, penalty problems would arise for the Bears as the Crunch scored a pair of power-play goals, including a 5-on-3 goal, caused by Henrik Rybinski using his hand to play the puck after a face-off.   The teams would remain tied at 2-2 heading into the final frame. 

The Crunch would take the lead in the third as Charle-Edouard D'Astous would get his first of the season halfway through the third period.  The Crunch would smother the Bears from the third period, limiting the Bears to just two shots on goal and causing them to go nearly 18 minutes without a SOG.  Syracuse would get another PPG from Jakob Pelletier, his second of the season, and the Crunch would get an empty net goal to seal a 5-2 win for the boys in blue.  

It was a damp feeling leaving Giant Center on a soggy Saturday night, as it was obvious to most Bears fans that this team will be a work in progress through the first quarter of the season. 

On Sunday, October 12, the Bears had their rematch against the Syracuse Crunch during Dark Knights Take Over Night at Giant Center.  The Bears would change things up lineup-wise: Cam Allen would make his debut, as would Luke Toporowski and Ryan Hofer. 

The Bears liked that the previous night, they would get on the board early in the 2nd period as Bogdan Trineyev would score a shorthand goal on Ryan Fanti to give Hershey the lead.  It was Hershey's first special teams' goal of the early season and seemed to fire up the 6,000 at Giant Center. The Bears would add another at the new Hershey Bear, Graeme Clarke would deflect a Calle Rosen shot to make it 2-0.  

Much like the previous night, the Crunch battled back and cut the lead to one after Scott Sabourin came out of the box and led a 2x1 rush to get the tap-in goal.  Assisting on the play was the former Phantom, Brenden Furry.  There isn't any stat for that; I like typing his name. 

The Bears held the 2-1 score into the third and sat on the lead through the third period.  Hershey had opportunities to extend their lead with multiple breakaway chances, including two from Ivan Miroshnichenko, but goaltender Ryan Fanti kept the Crunch in it.  The Crunch would tie the game with 3:14 to go as a shot from Declan Carile snuck past Garin Bjorklund. 

Both teams got standings points as we went into overtime to determine which would get the extra winner's point.  Alas, it would be the Crunch as a blown non-tripping call on Miroshnichenko as he cut in front of the goalie, leading to a 3x2 rush for the Crunch as Dominic Jones roofed a corner snipe shot that won it for the Crunch.

Ref call aside, the Bears had their chances to extend their lead but couldn't bury them, allowing the Crunch to hang around.  As much as it stinks, the Bears have to put it behind them as they focus on a whole week of practice ahead.  

Hershey will be back at it on as the Springfield Thunderbirds come to town for a pair of games, Saturday, October 18th and 19th.  We must remember that this is a team still figuring things out, with new players, a new head coach, and a new playing style.  We have been spoiled with hot starts the past several years, and this team will get better even if it takes until Thanksgiving or Christmas for that to happen.

- Richard Blosser/Olde City Sports Network

- Photo Credit/Hershey Bears