
Bears Gain Point in 3-2 OT Loss to Crunch
April 16, 2025 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release
(Hershey, PA) - The Hershey Bears (43-19-7-1) battled back to force overtime but fell to the Syracuse Crunch (36-22-8-4) by a 3-2 score on Wednesday night at GIANT Center, as the club continued its 2024-25 season, presented by Penn State Health.
The point earned reduced Hershey's Magic Number to clinch the Atlantic Division title to one point.
The Bears finished their regular-season series with the Crunch with a 2-1-1-0 record, with the road team winning every game.
NOTABLES:
Hendrix Lapierre and Alex Limoges each recorded a goal and an assist for Hershey. Lapierre deflected Nicky Leivermann's shot from the point past Brandon Halverson at 4:42 of the first period to give Hershey a 1-0 lead. Lapierre then set up Limoges for a tap-in goal at the far post to tie the game at 2-2 at 3:08 of the third period after stealing the puck from Joel Teasdale inside the Syracuse blue line.
Conor Sheary scored 23 seconds into the overtime period to win the game for Syracuse.
Bears defenseman Jake Massie returned to the lineup for Hershey after missing the previous 29 games with a lower-body injury.
SHOTS: HER 23, SYR 18
GOALTENDING: HER - Hunter Shepard, 15-for-18; SYR - Brandon Halverson, 21-for-23
POWER PLAY: HER - 0-for-1; SYR - 1-for-2
THEY SAID IT:
Bears head coach Todd Nelson on what contributed to tonight's loss:
"We played a good first period - second period, not so great. We spent more time in our zone than we had to do, we didn't get pucks out on the walls like we should have. They had extended time in our own zone, and Shep had to make some big saves in the second period. They got two on us, they got a power-play goal; they won the special teams battle. But we came back in the third here and Lapierre makes a great play, stealing the puck and finding Limoges back-door. And we were surging in the third - we just didn't get that third goal."
Nelson on how the team has trended recently:
"We had some inconsistency the last couple of weeks, but tonight's game, I thought it was a good hockey game by both sides - really tight-checking for both sides. Both teams didn't get very many shots on goal. When our team did get hemmed in [in the second period], that one shift I think they only generated one shot off it, they missed the net on a few, but we kept them to the outside pretty good."
NEXT GAME:
The Bears continue the 2024-25 regular season, presented by Penn State Health, when they host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at GIANT Center. Fans 21-and-over can take advantage of a pre-game happy hour from doors to puck drop featuring a $5 16 oz. select beer special. Purchase tickets for the game.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2025
- Iowa Falls 3-1 to Chicago - Iowa Wild
- Penguins Lose to Providence on Late Goal, 3-2 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Sens Stay in Playoff Hunt with 2-1 Road Win in Laval - Belleville Senators
- Luca Cagnoni Named to 2024-25 AHL All-Rookie Team - San Jose Barracuda
- IceHogs Suffer Setback to Griffins, Lose 2-1 - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolves Drop Wild 3-1 - Chicago Wolves
- Bears Gain Point in 3-2 OT Loss to Crunch - Hershey Bears
- Tufte's Late Tally Lifts P-Bruins Past Penguins - Providence Bruins
- Crunch Clinch Playoff Berth with 3-2 Overtime Win over Hershey - Syracuse Crunch
- Devine, Okuliar Impress in Charlotte's Clutch Win - Charlotte Checkers
- Monsters Drop Final Game against Amerks 4-1 - Cleveland Monsters
- Anton Blidh Scores Career-High 19th Goal, But Wolf Pack Fall 3-2 to Checkers - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Checkers Clinch First-Round Bye, Announce Second-Round Home Dates - Charlotte Checkers
- Utica Falls in Second to Last Home Game - Utica Comets
- Phantoms Power Play Presented by Provident Bank - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Playoff Hockey Is Here: First Round Tickets for Abbotsford Canucks on Sale Now - Abbotsford Canucks
- Blues Assign F Dalibor Dvorsky to T-Birds - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Belleville Senators Hiring Key Roles to Expand Marketing Team - Belleville Senators
- Blackhawks Assign Korchinski and Levshunov to Rockford - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolves' Nadeau Named to AHL All-Rookie Team - Chicago Wolves
- Tristan Luneau Named to 2024-25 AHL All-Rookie Team - San Diego Gulls
- Justin Hryckowian Selected to AHL All-Rookie Team - Texas Stars
- 2024-25 American Hockey League All-Rookie Team Unveiled - AHL
- Villalta and Yamamoto Assigned to Tucson Roadrunners from Utah Hockey Club - Tucson Roadrunners
- Ville Koivunen Named to AHL All-Rookie Team - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Mapping out Playoff Scenarios - Charlotte Checkers
- Firebirds Announce Pop-Up Events Around the Coachella Valley to Promote Playoff Action - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Forward Jared Wright Signs ATO with Ontario - Ontario Reign
- Panthers Assign Matt Kiersted, Rasmus Asplund and Jesse Puljujarvi to Charlotte - Charlotte Checkers
- Game-Worn El Lazo Jersey Raffle Set for Friday's Game against Colorado - Tucson Roadrunners
- Game Preview: Bears vs. Crunch, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- IceHogs Sign Goaltender Cameron Rowe - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolf Pack Welcome Checkers to Town for Penultimate Game of the Season - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Penguins Sign Christian Stoever to ATO - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Providence Bruins Recall Nolan Maier from Mariners - Providence Bruins
- Game Preview: Condors v Canucks, 6:30 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- IceHogs Begin Final Home Series against Grand Rapids - Rockford IceHogs
- Jake Furling Named San Jose Barracuda 2024-25 IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year - San Jose Barracuda
- Lucas Ciona Named Wranglers AHL Man of the Year - Calgary Wranglers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Hershey Bears Stories
- Clay Stevenson Loaned to Hershey, Mitch Gibson Recalled by Capitals
- Shepard, Bears Blank Phantoms 3-0 in Game 1
- Atlantic Division Semifinals Game 1 Preview: Bears vs. Phantoms, 7 p.m.
- Bears Add Andrew Perrott and Mitch Gibson to Roster
- Bears Open Series with Phantoms

