AHL Hershey Bears

Bears in St. John's for final time this weekend

Published on February 28, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


Last Week: HERSHEY began the week with a road game in Bridgeport on Wednesday and emerged victorious by a 5-2 score. Marek Svatos netted his first multi-goal game of the season, scoring three goals and assisting on a fourth, while Jeff Ulmer and Brett Clark scored single goals in the winning effort. Peter Budaj won his 23rd game of the season, making 26 saves on 28 shots. Following a 4-1 loss at Philadelphia on Friday, the BEARS rebounded with a come from behind victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday night at GIANT Center 2-1. Wilkes-Barre took a 1-0 lead into the third period, but Mike Souza would tie the game at the 2:00 minute mark with his fourth goal of the season. Dennis Bonvie potted his first game-winning goal of 2004-05 at the 6:51 mark to give the BEARS the lead and eventually the win. Budaj again would earn the victory in goal, making 31 saves on 32 shots to be named the game's number one star. On Sunday, the BEARS paid tribute to the late Frank Mathers in pre-game ceremonies and defeated the Albany River Rats 3-0 at GIANT Center. On a night where Mathers, whose uniform number three hangs in the GIANT Center rafters, the BEARS scored three goals and also fired 33 shots on Albany goaltender Ari Ahonen to earn the third win of the week. Souza scored his second goal in as many games to begin the game early in the first period, while Mathieu Darche reached the 20-goal plateau early in the third period. Ulmer also potted his 16th goal of the season in the win. HERSHEY begins the week 32-26-1-0, good for 65 points and fifth place in the East Division standings. The BEARS trail a playoff spot by four points, but trail first place Norfolk by just six points with 21 games remaining in the regular season.

Notables: The win over Albany Sunday gave HERSHEY a perfect 8-0-0-0 record against the Rats in 2004-05. Dating back to April 7 of last season, the BEARS have won nine straight games against their conference rivals from New York's Capital District. The 16 goals for Jeff Ulmer is a new career high. With his 25th win Sunday, Peter Budaj has the most victories by a HERSHEY goaler since Phil Sauve won 26 during the 2002-03 season. No BEARS backstop has won 30 games in a season since J.F. Labbe won 34 during the Calder Cup Championship season of 1996-97. Labbe's win total ranks third all-time in HERSHEY history for most wins in a season, trailing only Red Henry's 38 wins in 1950-51 and 35 victories in 1951-52. After scoring just one goal in his first 24 games in a HERSHEY uniform, Mike Souza has four goals in his last eight games, and goals in two straight to begin the week. The trip to St. John's this week marks the final time the BEARS will play a team from the Canadian Maritimes. HERSHEY first visited eastern Canada to face the Nova Scotia Voyageurs on December 5-7, 1972. The Maple Leafs are leaving St. John's after this season to move to Toronto. The BEARS are one win away from equaling last season's total of 33 with 21 games to play.

Upcoming promotions: Sunday, March 13 is Throwback night at GIANT Center, with the BEARS taking on the Norfolk Admirals at 5:00 p.m. HERSHEY will wear commemorative 1968-69 jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game for charity. Sunday, March 20 is Bic Graphic USA Photo Night when the BEARS take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a free HERSHEY BEARS marker from Bic, and all fans may come onto the ice after the game to take photos of BEARS player All fans that enter the ice after the game will also receive a complimentary team photo. The HERSHEY BEARS Booster Club will host their Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Drive on Saturday, March 26 when the BEARS host the Philadelphia Phantoms at 7:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to bring a food donation to the game. Sunday, March 27 is Commerce Bank Car Flag night at GIANT Center when the BEARS take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 5:00 p.m. A free HERSHEY BEARS car flag will be given away to the first 3,000 adults through the games, thanks to Commerce Bank.

Down on the Farm: The Reading Royals stand just one point out of first place in the ECHL's North Division as play begins this week. The Royals shutout the Toledo Storm on Sunday 2-0 at the Toledo Sports Arena. Barry Brust earned the shutout Sunday, outdueling former BEARS goaltender and current Storm backstop Scott Fankhouser. Mike Sandbeck and Eric Fortier scored goals for Reading to earn the win. The Royals have collected points in eight of its last ten games to close within one point of first place Wheeling. The UHL's Quad City Mallards won Sunday night at home over Kansas City 3-1. Mike Kompon scored two goals for QC to pace the win, his 21st and 22nd lamp-lighters of the season. The Mallards are 25-24-9, and in fourth place in the UHL's Western Division. Quad City trails third place Missouri by 15 points as the week begins.

Practice Schedule (Subject to Change):

Monday, February 28: Off day

Tuesday, March 1: Practice-HERSHEYPARK Arena 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, March 2: Practice-HERSHEYPARK Arena 10:00 a.m. Bus to New York

Thursday, March 3: Travel day to St. John's-Flight departs LGA

Friday, March 4: Road game at St. John's 6:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 5: Road game at St. John's 6:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 6: Off day-Travel home from St. John's

The week ahead:

Friday, March 4: BEARS at St. John's Maple Leafs 6:05 PM Game #60, Road Game #28 Radio: 1460 AM/1390 AM PRE-GAME: 5:45 PM

Saturday, March 5: BEARS at St. John's Maple Leafs 6:05 PM Game #61, Road Game #29 Radio: 1460 AM/1390 AM PRE-GAME: 5:45 PM

Check out the Hershey Bears Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2005


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.

OurSports Central