Bears Post Strong Finish To Pre-Season
October 8, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release
75th Season Opener Set for Saturday at Syracuse
After falling to the Binghamton Senators on Wednesday and Friday, the HERSHEY BEARS Hockey Club completed the 2012 pre-season with consecutive wins over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday and Sunday. Alex Berry, who was among four players assigned to the ECHL's Reading Royals on Sunday night, scored the game-winning goal in both games against the Penguins. Berry paced all BEARS players with three points in the pre-season, showing a strong return to hockey after missing all of last season due to injury. Goaltenders Dany Sabourin and Braden Holtby split the duties in a 3-2 come-from-behind win in Wilkes-Barre Township on Saturday, combining for 13 saves on 15 shots. Holtby went the distance on Sunday at GIANT Center and showed the form that pushed the Washington Capitals into the Eastern Conference Semifinals last spring, stopping 27 of 28 shots sent his way in a 3-1 BEARS victory. Forward Joel Champagne, also assigned to ECHL Reading on Sunday, picked up an assist in the game to push his point total to three points (1-2-3) in three contests. Stanislav Galiev and Mattias Sjogren registered one goal and one assist each in the pre-season.
The BEARS finished the 2012 pre-season with a record of 2-1-0-1. HERSHEY will face the Syracuse Crunch on the road this Saturday, with faceoff slated for 7:30 PM. The club's 75th home opener is coming up on Saturday, October 20 at 7:00 PM against the Rochester Americans.
NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PRE-SEASON
PK SUCCESS: Despite allowing two power-play goals on Saturday night at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the BEARS finished the pre-season with a penalty-killing success rate of 80.1% (17-for-21). The club was a perfect 6-for-6 in Sunday's game against the Penguins.
BERRY BURIES TWO: Forward Alex Berry scored two goals to pace all teammates in the pre-season. Both goals were game-winners and both came against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Berry last saw AHL action on April 10, 2011 while playing for the Norfolk Admirals.
HOLTBY BACK IN FORM: Braden Holtby made the most of his one full game of pre-season on Sunday with 27 saves, including 10 in the final period. Holtby showed a 1.98 goals-against average and .921 save percentage in pre-season action.
SLOW STARTS, STRONG FINISHES: The BEARS were held to just one goal in all first periods combined this pre-season, but managed 11 goals in the second and third periods.
PP-D's: The BEARS scored twice on the power play in pre-season, and both goals came from defensemen (Tomas Kundratek, Friday vs. Binghamton and Julien Brouillette, Saturday at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton).
SPREADING THE WEALTH: Of the 29 forwards and defensemen remaining on the BEARS roster for the three game weekend set, 21 found the scoresheet.
SHOT STRUGGLE: HERSHEY allowed an average of 20 shots on goal over the course of the weekend's three games in three nights. The BEARS averaged 22 shots per game.
ROSTER AT 27: Following Sunday's game, four more players were released from training camp: Berry, Joel Champagne, Brett Flemming and T.J. Syner. All will report to ECHL Reading. The BEARS have 27 players remaining on the active roster: two goaltenders, nine defensemen and 16 forwards.
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American Hockey League Stories from October 8, 2012
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