AHL Hershey Bears

Bears in Wilkes-Barre Wednesday, Sound Tigers visit Saturday

March 28, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


Last Week: HERSHEY opened the week last Wednesday night at GIANT Center with a narrow 3-2 loss to the Portland Pirates. Jeff Ulmer and Jamie Rivers scored goals for the BEARS in the defeat, while Peter Budaj made 31 saves. On Friday night, the BEARS traveled to Rochester to face the Americans at Blue Cross Arena. Rochester entered the game with the most wins in the American Hockey League, but the Amerks were blasted at home by a final score of 6-1. Mike Souza paced the offensive attack by scoring three goals, while Jeff Ulmer scored a goal and assisted on two others. Eric Perrin became the first HERSHEY skater this season to notch four assists in one game, and Mathieu Darche and Josh Olson rounded out the scoring by each scoring single goals. Tom Lawson allowed just one goal to earn his eighth win of the season. Lawson made 32 saves on 33 Rochester shots. On Saturday, the BEARS returned home to face Philadelphia and lost to the Phantoms 4-2. HERSHEY led 2-1 after two periods with goals from Jeff Ulmer and Dennis Bonvie, but Philly rallied with three third period lamp-lighters. Sunday found the BEARS at home against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and HERSHEY emerged with a 5-3 victory over the Penguins. Five different goal scorers paced the offense, while Tom Lawson returned in goal to post his second victory in three days. Martin Hlinka, Jeff Finger, Eric Perrin, Marek Svatos and Mathieu Darche all scored goals in the win that pulled HERSHEY within six points of the final playoff spot in the East Division standings. The BEARS have a 37-31-2-1 record with nine regular season games remaining.

Notables: The BEARS recalled Adam Borzecki from Reading Sunday morning to replace Carl Corazzini in the lineup for the game against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Borzecki became the 40th player to wear a HERSHEY uniform during the 2004-05 season. With Sunday's win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the BEARS are now 5-2-0-0 against the Penguins with three regular season games remaining. Eric Perrin scored his 22nd goal of the season Sunday against Wilkes-Barre in his 71st game of the season. Perrin was recalled to Tampa Bay after 71 games played in 2003-04, having scored 21 goals in that time. Mike Souza's hat trick Friday night in Rochester was his first in a HERSHEY uniform. Souza has 10 goals in his last 14 games entering play this Wednesday at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Carl Mallette, who was recalled week from the Toledo Storm (ECHL) had points in two straight games Friday at Rochester and Saturday against Philadelphia. Bridgeport's visit to HERSHEY this Saturday will be the Sound Tigers' final visit in 2004-05.

Upcoming promotions: Fairview Golf Course night is Saturday, April 9 when the BEARS face the Philadelphia Phantoms at 7:00 p.m. A free HERSHEY BEARS golf ball will be given away to the first 3,000 fans through the turnstiles thanks to Fairview Golf Course. Player Awards night is set for Sunday, April 10 as the BEARS take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 5:00 p.m.

Down on the Farm: The Reading Royals stand just one point behind the first place Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in the North Division standings as play begins this week. The Royals suffered the club's worst loss of the season this past Saturday night with a 6-2 loss to the Trenton Titans in a game at the Sovereign Center. Jeff Miles and Eric Fortier accounted for the goals in the loss for Reading. The Royals have seven games remaining in the regular season, and have two games in hand on Atlantic City Reading travels to Dayton this Friday to face the Bombers before returning home to face AC Saturday and Peoria on Sunday. The Quad City Mallards of the UHL defeated Kansas City on Saturday night 6-2. The Mallards are in fourth place in the UHL's Western Division with a 35-27-10 record, just four points behind the third place Missouri River Otters. Quad City plays at home this Wednesday against Rockford before traveling to Kansas City Friday night.

Practice Schedule (Subject to Change):

Monday, March 28: Off day

Tuesday, March 29: Practice-HERSHEYPARK Arena 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, March 30: Road game vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 7:05 p.m.

Thursday, March 31: Practice-HERSHEYPARK Arena-9:00 a.m.

Friday, April 1: Road game at Philadelphia 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, April 2: Home game vs. Bridgeport 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 3: Off Day

The week ahead:

Wednesday, March 30: BEARS at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 7:05 PM Game #72, Road Game #35 Radio: 1460 AM/1390 AM PRE-GAME: 6:45 PM

Friday, April 1: BEARS at Philadelphia Phantoms 7:05 PM Game #73, Road Game #36 Radio: 1460 AM/1390 AM PRE-GAME: 6:45 PM

Saturday, April 2: Bridgeport Sound Tigers at BEARS 7:00 PM Game #74, Home Game #38 Radio: 1460 AM/1390 AM PRE-GAME: 6:40 PM

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