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AHL Hershey Bears

Bears Red Hot with Five Straight Wins

March 3, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


Last Week: The Bears enjoyed its best week of the season to date as the club picked up three wins in three nights over the weekend, and have now won a season high five games in a row. Friday night, the Bears played the first place team in the East Division, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and won at the Arena at Harbor Yard 5-4. Brian Willsie scored a goal and added two assists, and Vaclav Nedorost scored a goal in his first game of the season with the Bears. HERSHEY then came home Saturday night and defeated another team with 30 plus wins, the Manchester Monarchs, by a final score of 6-2. Brian Willsie tied a Bears season high with four points in the contest, while Vaclav Nedorost scored two goals in less than a minute in the second period. Peter Budaj won his 9th game of the season against the Monarchs. Sunday night, the Bears had an opportunity to pull to within one point of first place in the South Division, and they took advantage in dramatic fashion. Trailing the first place Norfolk Admirals 1-0 after two periods, HERSHEY got power play goals from Jordan Krestanovich and Steve Brule in the third to defeat the Admirals 2-1 at GIANT Center. The win was the 30th of the season for Mike Foligno's team, who now own the longest current winning streak in the AHL at five straight.

Notables: Nedorost was sent down from the Colorado Avalanche on Friday, and has three goals and four points in three games. Willsie was nominated for Sher-Wood AHL player of the week honors, after collecting seven points on the weekend. The Bears will break the club's all time season attendance record on Sunday when the Binghamton Senators come to GIANT Center. The all time record, which stands currently at 262,323, was set during the 1994-95 season. After Sunday's game with the Admirals, the Bears have drawn 261,039 fans to GIANT Center. HERSHEY still has six home games remaining. Eric Bertrand has a five game point streak heading to Rochester on Friday. The win on Sunday was the 180th of Mike Foligno's career with the Bears. He stands just one win away from tying John Paddock for third place all time in Bears history.

Colorado Update: The Avalanche begin the week having won 13 of it's last 16. Colorado slipped by the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime Sunday night as Alex Tanguay scored the game winner. After a slow start, the Avalanche now trail first place Vancouver by just four points in the Northwest Division. Colorado plays this week at Florida against the Panthers on Wednesday, at Tampa Bay on Friday, and at Philadelphia against the Flyers on Saturday.

Practice Schedule (Subject to Change):

Monday, March 3:

Off Day

Tuesday, March 4:

Practice-10:00 a.m. HERSHEYPARK Arena

Wednesday, March 5:

Practice-10:30 a.m. HERSHEYPARK Arena

Thursday, March 6:

Practice-10:00 a.m. HERSHEYPARK Arena, Bus to Rochester after practice

Friday, March 7:

Practice-11:15 a.m., Road Game at Rochester, 7:35 p.m., Bus to Hershey after game

Saturday, March 8:

Road game at Wilkes Barre/Scranton, 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 9:

Home game vs. Binghamton, 6:00 p.m.

Games This Week:

Friday, March 7:

Bears at Rochester Americans 7:35 PM

Game #64, Road Game #30

Radio: BIG 92.7 FM Pre-Game:7:15 PM

Saturday, March 8:

Bears at Wilkes Barre/Scranton 7:05 PM

Game #65, Road Game #31

Radio: BIG 92.7 FM Pre-Game:6:45 PM

Sunday, March 9:

Binghamton Senators at Bears 6:00 PM

Game #66, Home Game #35

Radio: BIG 92.7 FM Pre-Game 5:40 PM

For ticket information on home games, phone the GIANT Center Box Office at (717) 534-3911.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2003


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