Bears pound Penguins, Manchester at GIANT Center Saturday
March 22, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release
Last Week: After dropping a 4-2 decision to the Hartford Wolfpack on St. Patrick's day, the BEARS came roaring back with the club's best overall game of the season in a 5-0 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Sunday. HERSHEY outshot the Penguins 44-21, tied a season best by scoring three power play goals, and racked up a season high 106 penalty minutes in several brawls near the end of the third period. The game featured a total of 223 penalty minutes, 16 fighting majors and 39 minor penalties. Shane Willis and Cody McCormick scored second period goals to give the BEARS a 2-0 lead after two periods. Dennis Bonvie, Steve Brule and Sheldon Keefe all scored third period goals to rout the Penguins. Keefe was named the game's number one star with a goal and two assists. Dennis Bonvie picked up the "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" with a goal, an assist and a fighting major. Phil Sauve earned his second shutout in four games with HERSHEY this season, stopping all 21 shots he faced. The BEARS begin the week in sixth place in the East Division, but only one point behind Norfolk and Binghamton for fourth place. HERSHEY is also just two points behind third place Wilkes-Barre after the victory on Sunday.
Notables: Dennis Bonvie is HERSHEY'S nominee for Sher-Wood AHL Player of the week honors. It's the first time since being acquired on January 23rd that Bonvie has been nominated for the award. The BEARS have scored at least one power play goal in all nine meetings with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, including three on Sunday night in a 5-0 win. Overall, HERSHEY is 13 for 47 (27.1 percent) against Michel Therrien's Penguins this season. Shane Willis has scored six of his 24 goals against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2003-04. The BEARS had five different goal scorers on Sunday, the fifth time this season that HERSHEY enjoyed the luxury of five different players in the goal-scoring column. Eric Perrin begins the week one point back of Manchester's Pavel Rosa for the American Hockey League scoring lead. Rosa scored two goals and assisted on a third in an 8-3 Monarchs win over Springfield Sunday while Perrin picked up two assists in HERSHEY'S win over Wilkes-Barre. Rosa has 11 games left, including Saturday's game at GIANT Center. Perrin has nine regular season games remaining. Following Saturday's game with Manchester, the BEARS will not play again at GIANT Center until Saturday April 10th.
Colorado Update: The Avalanche were zero for Canada last week with a 4-2 loss at Montreal, a 2-0 shutout loss against the Ottawa Senators and a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre Saturday night. Despite the losses, the Avs still hold down first place in the Northwest Division standings. Colorado has 93 points, while second place Vancouver is four points back with 89 points. If the playoffs started today, the Avalanche would be the two seed in the Western Conference and play the Nashville Predators in the quarterfinals. Colorado returns home tomorrow night with a game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Pepsi Center. Tony Granato's club will host the Detroit Red Wings Thursday night before traveling to face the Wings at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday.
Tampa Bay Update: Despite two losses last weekend at Boston and the New York Islanders, Tampa Bay still leads the Eastern Conference Standings with 97 points. The Lightning trail the Detroit Red Wings by just two points for the best point total in the NHL. Tampa has an schedule edge on the Red Wings down the stretch. The Bolts play their last road game of the regular season this Tuesday in Toronto against the Maple Leafs before closing out the 2003-04 season with five straight home games. Tampa will be at home Thursday to play the New Jersey Devils before hosting the Washington Capitals at the St. Pete Times Forum on Saturday.
Upcoming promotions: Kunzler Ham Shoot night is set for Saturday, March 27th when the BEARS host the Manchester Monarchs at 7:00 p.m. All fans will have a chance after the game to come onto the ice and shoot for a free ham, courtesy of Kunzler. Fairview Golf Course night is Saturday April 10th when the BEARS take on the Norfolk Admirals at 7:00 p.m. The first 3,000 fans in attendance will receive a HERSHEY BEARS golf ball, compliments of Fairview Golf Course. The final home game of the season is Sunday, April 11th when the Philadelphia Phantoms are the opponent. The 2003-04 HERSHEY BEARS Player Awards will be presented in pre-game ceremonies.
Practice Schedule (Subject to Change):
Monday, March 22: Off Day
Tuesday, March 23: Practice at HERSHEYPARK Arena 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, March 24: Practice at HERSHEYPARK Arena 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, March 25: Practice at GIANT Center 10:00 a.m.
Friday, March 26: Pre-game skate 10:00 a.m. Game at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 27: Home game vs. Manchester 7:00 p.m. Bus to Albany after game
Sunday, March 28: Road game vs. Albany 5:00 p.m.
The week ahead:
Friday, March 26: BEARS at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 7:05 PM Game #72, Road Game #35 Radio: 92.7 WSJW PRE-GAME 6:45 PM
Saturday, March 27: Manchester Monarchs at BEARS 7:00 PM Game #73, Home Game #38 Radio: 92.7 WSJW PRE-GAME 6:40 PM
Sunday, March 28: BEARS at Albany River Rats 5:00 PM Game #74, Road Game #36 Radio: 92.7 WSJW PRE-GAME 4:40 PM
FOR TICKET INFORMATION, CALL THE GIANT CENTER BOX OFFICE AT (717) 534-3911
American Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2004
- Bulldogs look to clinch playoff berth this week - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Royal Review - Manchester Monarchs
- Admirals Weekly - Milwaukee Admirals
- Wolves Playoff Tickets on Sale Tuesday - Chicago Wolves
- Wolves Go "Outside the Lines" on ESPN on March 23 at 11 p.m. - Chicago Wolves
- Moose wrap up road trip this week - Manitoba Moose
- Wolves Weekly - Chicago Wolves
- Phantoms Weekly - Adirondack Phantoms
- LW Josh Olson reassigned to San Antonio - San Antonio Rampage
- Griffins in dogfight with Admirals - Grand Rapids Griffins
- River Rats in a Penn state of mind - Albany River Rats
- Sound Tigers Split First Four Games Of Seven Straight On Road - Bridgeport Islanders
- Thomas named AHL Player of the Week - Providence Bruins
- AHL scoring leaders have plenty in common - AHL
- Bruins' Thomas named Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Power Play Breaks Out - Syracuse Crunch
- Roadrunners Weekly - Edmonton Road Runners
- Barons Weekly Report - Cleveland Barons
- Gillies and Wilson at Friendly's this evening for Family Fun Night - Springfield Falcons
- Bears pound Penguins, Manchester at GIANT Center Saturday - Hershey Bears
- Admirals split two with Aeros - Norfolk Admirals
- B-Sens weekly - Binghamton Senators
- Phantoms to help out former "Slap Shot" star - Adirondack Phantoms
- Admirals Playoff Tickets on Sale - Milwaukee Admirals
- Aeros go 1-2-0 on Northeast swing; play six of final eight at Toyota Center - Houston Aeros
- Pens' slide continues with 5-0 loss to Hershey - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
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