AHL Hershey Bears

Bears Open Up East Division Semi-Finals Wednesday

April 12, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


The HERSHEY BEARS Hockey Club, who posted the most wins in a single season in AHL history in 2009- 10, open the 2010 Calder Cup playoffs this Wednesday night. HERSHEY will face the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in round one, the fifth place team from the Atlantic Division. Bridgeport crossed over into the East Division by having more points than the fourth place Norfolk Admirals.

The BEARS won both games this season against Bridgeport, outscoring the Tigers 15-5. The first two games of the series will be this Wednesday and Friday at Giant Center before shifting to Connecticut this Saturday and Sunday for Games 3 and 4. Should Game 5 be necessary, it would be played at Giant Center on Wednesday, April 21. A potential Game 6 would be back in Bridgeport on Friday, April 23, and should a Game 7 be needed, Giant Center would host the game on Saturday, April 24.

Tickets for Game 1 and Game 2 of the best-of-seven series are on sale now at the Giant Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911.

Giroux reaches 50 goals: Alexandre Giroux scored his 50th

goal of the season Saturday in Norfolk, giving him 110 regular season goals over the last two seasons. Giroux scored three times on Friday and once on Saturday to post back-to-back seasons with 50 or more goals.

MVP! MVP!: Keith Aucoin was named the AHL's most valuable player this past Friday, the first time the Waltham, MA native has been honored. Aucoin finished the 2009-10 season with a career-high 35 goals and 106 points. He also claimed his first AHL scoring title at the close of action around the league on Sunday.

Practice schedule: The BEARS will practice Monday at 10:00 a.m. at HERSHEYPARK Arena and Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. at Giant Center in preparations for Game 1 of the East Division Semi-Finals Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m.

Best win total in history: The BEARS officially set an AHL record Sunday by winning 60 regular season games, the most ever in a single season in league history. The team also finished with 123 points, the second highest total in the 74-year history of the AHL.

More Aucoin and Giroux: Keith Aucoin officially wrapped up the AHL scoring title Sunday, finishing the 2009-10 season with 106 points. He won the AHL's John Sollenberger trophy for the accomplishment. Giroux won the AHL goal scoring title by posting 50 goals this season. He earned the Willie Marshall award, named after the former BEARS forward and given to the AHL's top goal scorer every season.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 12, 2010


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