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AHL Hershey Bears

Bears Clinch 2010 Playoff Spot And Reach 100 Points

March 8, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


The HERSHEY BEARS Hockey Club won all three games last week to reach the 100-point plateau and clinch the first 2010 Calder Cup playoff spot. As the team closes in on an East Division championship, the BEARS hit the road Friday to begin a four-game road trip.

HERSHEY, two wins short of a franchise record 51 wins in a single season, plays at Adirondack Friday night against the Phantoms at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The BEARS then take on the Springfield Falcons Saturday night at Mass Mutual Center before challenging the first place Worcester Sharks out of the Atlantic Division Sunday afternoon. The road trip concludes next Wednesday night with a date in Binghamton against the Senators. The 2009-10 regular season concludes April 10.

HERSHEY'S next home game is Friday, March 19 against the Albany River Rats at Giant Center. Tickets for the game are on sale now at the Giant Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911.

Officially heading to the dance: The BEARS clinched the first 2010 Calder Cup playoff spot Saturday with a win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. As HERSHEY hits the road for New England this week, the team's magic number for clinching the 2010 East Division title stands at five. Any points HERSHEY earns or Albany does not earn totaling five clinches the Chocolate and White's third division championship in the last four seasons. The BEARS also won the 2006-07 and 2008-09 East Division titles.

No place like home.: Having already bested the AHL and NHL records for consecutive home wins, HERSHEY on Sunday won its 23rd straight home game, eclipsing the 1965- 66 Muskegon Mohawks for the longest winning streak in pro hockey history. The BEARS have not lost a game at Giant Center since November 28, a span over three months in length. The next home game for the Chocolate and White is Friday, March 19 against Albany.

Practice schedule: The BEARS will practice Tuesday and Wednesday at Giant Center at 10:00 a.m. in preparations for Friday's game at Adirondack.

Helmer sets new assist mark: Defenseman Bryan Helmer picked up his 387th career assist Sunday against Adirondack, surpassing Steve Kraftcheck's AHL record for most assists by a defenseman in a career. The assist came on Boyd Kane's goal in the closing moments Sunday against the Phantoms.

Comparing then and now: The 2006-07 BEARS, coached by current Washington Capitals bench boss Bruce Boudreau, holds the franchise record for wins in a single season with 51. With 17 games to go in 2006-07, HERSHEY had just 39 wins, ten fewer than this year's team. Last season's Calder Cup champions won 49 games during the regular season, and had 40 wins at the same point in the campaign.

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