AHL Hershey Bears

Bears to honor Frank Mathers Sunday

Published on February 21, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


Last Week: The BEARS kicked off the post All-Star break schedule with a 6-1 loss at Norfolk against the Admirals. Nick Naumenko scored the lone goal for HERSHEY with a power play tally late in the second period as Tom Lawson made 44 saves in defeat. Saturday, the BEARS returned home to face Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and fell 7-1 to its East Division rival. Eric Perrin potted his 17th goal of the season early in the third period for HERSHEY'S only goal of the evening. On Sunday, the BEARS rebounded to defeat the Syracuse Crunch at GIANT Center 3-1. Naumenko, Perrin and Chris Bala accounted for the goals, while Peter Budaj made 34 saves on 35 Syracuse shots to preserve the victory. The win for HERSHEY gave the club a record of 29-25-1-0 as the week begins, which places the team six points behind both Norfolk and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a playoff spot in the East Division standings.

Notables: The memory of Frank Mathers will be honored this Sunday when the BEARS take on the Albany River Rats. Several events are planned prior and during the 5:00 p.m. game this Sunday, including the first 8,000 fans through the gates receiving a replica Frank Mathers Hockey Hall of Fame banner, the same banner that hangs in the GIANT Center rafters. The BEARS will dedicate the game program on Sunday to Frank's memory along with a pre-game ceremony celebrating the life of the greatest HERSHEY BEAR ever. The BEARS are also proud to announce that veteran NHL announcer and Emmy award winner Mike Emrick will serve as the master of ceremonies for the event. Saturday's game with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will be televised on WHTM-TV (abc-27). It will be the final televised game of the regular season, as the TV game on March 26 had to be changed to this Saturday due to an ABC scheduling conflict. John Walton and Gregg Mace have the call beginning at 7:00 p.m. HERSHEY is now 3-3-0-0 against Western Conference teams after the win over Syracuse Sunday. The game Sunday was also the last home game for the BEARS against a Western Conference foe. Four road tilts remain against the West for HERSHEY, including two games at St John's, one at Syracuse and one at Rochester. The BEARS drew 18,917 fans to GIANT Center this weekend for the games against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Syracuse.

Upcoming promotions: Kunzler Ham Shoot night is this Saturday when the BEARS host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7:00 p.m. All fans will have the opportunity to shoot for a free ham after the game on the ice courtesy of Kunzler. COCO THE BEAR Bobblehead night, sponsored by your hometown Dodge Dealers, is Sunday, February 27 when the BEARS play the Albany River Rats at 5:00 p.m. A free bobblehead doll of HERSHEY BEARS mascot COCO to the first 4,500 fans through the gates. 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.

Down on the Farm: The Reading Royals won in overtime on Sunday 4-3 on the road in Wheeling against the Nailers. Cail MacLean scored two goals for his 12th and 13th of the season to give the Royals a 2-0 lead early, but the Nailers would score the next three to take a lead into the third period. Jon Francisco tied the game at the 7:33 mark of the third, and Tom Galvin won it in overtime with just his second goal this season. Former BEARS forward Yevgeny Lazarev scored his 16th goal of the season for Wheeling in the game. Matt Yeats won the game for Reading in goal, making 20 saves. The Royals stand in third place in the ECHL's North Division standings with 61 points, trailing first place Wheeling by just two points. The UHL's Quad City Mallards won 5-0 on Sunday at home against Richmond. Greg Barber scored his 11th goal of the season for QC, while Mike Kompon and A.J. MacLean each scored single goals for the Mallards. Quad City was paced in the game by Terry Hollinger, who scored his sixth and seventh goals of the season in the victory. The Mallards are in fourth place in the UHL's Western Division with 55 points, trailing third place Missouri by 13 points entering play this week.

Practice Schedule (Subject to Change):

Monday, February 21: Off day

Tuesday, February 22: Practice-HERSHEYPARK Arena 10:00 a.m. Bus to Bridgeport

Wednesday, February 23: Road game at Bridgeport 7:05 p.m.

Thursday, February 24: Practice-TBA

Friday, February 25: Road game at Philadelphia 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, February 26: Home game vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, February 27: Home game vs. Albany, 5:00 p.m.

The week ahead:

Wednesday, February 23: BEARS at Bridgeport Sound Tigers 7:05 PM Game #56, Road Game #26 Radio: 1460 AM/1390 AM PRE-GAME: 6:45 PM

Friday, February 25: BEARS at Philadelphia Phantoms 7:05 PM Game #57, Road Game #27 Radio: 1460 AM/1390 AM PRE-GAME: 6:45 PM

Saturday, February 26: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at BEARS 7:00 PM Game #58, Home Game #31 Radio: 1460 AM/1390 AM PRE-GAME: 6:40 PM TV: WHTM-TV (abc-27) AIR-TIME 7:00 PM

Sunday, February 27: Albany River Rats at BEARS 5:00 PM Game #59, Home Game #32 Radio: 1460 AM/1390 AM PRE-GAME: 4:40 PM

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American Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2005


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