
Capitals Recall Hunter Shepard from Hershey
April 4, 2025 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release
(Hershey, PA) - The Washington Capitals, the National Hockey League affiliate of the Hershey Bears, announced today that goaltender Hunter Shepard has been recalled from Hershey. The announcement was made by Washington senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick.
Shepard, 29, has posted a 22-11-3 record this season in 37 games for Hershey with a 2.81 goals-against average, a.891 save percentage, and three shutouts.
Shepard went 27-4-3 in 34 appearances for Hershey in an exceptional 2023-24 campaign that saw him lead the league with a 1.76 goals-against average - the lowest in club history and fifth-lowest mark in AHL history - and a .929 save percentage while recording five shutouts. He won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding goaltender for the 2023-24 season and helped Hershey capture the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the AHL's regular season champions. He was named to the 2023-24 AHL First All-Star Team and won the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award along with teammate Clay Stevenson as Hershey surrendered a league-low 2.10 goals per game.
In the playoffs, Shepard guided Hershey to a second straight Calder Cup, going 14-6 in the playoffs with a 2.49 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. In the 2023 postseason, Shepard had an identical record with a 2.27 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage to go along with three shutouts, earning him the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as most valuable player in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
In his AHL career, Shepard is 77-26-11 in 116 games for Hershey with a 2.21 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage, and 11 shutouts.
In four career NHL games with the Capitals, Shepard has a record of 2-1-1 with a 3.19 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage.
The Bears continue the 2024-25 regular season, presented by Penn State Health, when they visit the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday, April 4, at 7:05 p.m. at PPL Center. Hershey returns home to host the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday, April 5, at 7 p.m. at GIANT Center for Harrisburg International Airport Luggage Tag Giveaway Night. The first 6,000 fans in attendance will receive a luggage tag, courtesy of Harrisburg International Airport. Purchase tickets for the game.
American Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2025
- Barracuda Down First-Place Eagles, 6-3 - San Jose Barracuda
- Iowa Rides Three-Goal First To 4-2 Win Over San Diego - Iowa Wild
- Gulls Downed by Wild - San Diego Gulls
- San Jose Scores Four Unanswered to Top Eagles, 6-3 - Colorado Eagles
- Griffins Erupt For Season-High Eight Goals Against Rockford - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Merilainen Masterful in Shutout Performance to Lead Sens Past Amerks - Belleville Senators
- Ahcan's Hat Trick Leads Pierogies to 7-1 Win Over Penguins - Cleveland Monsters
- Bears Open Weekend With 2-1 Win Over Phantoms - Hershey Bears
- Amerks Blanked in Belleville, 5-0 - Rochester Americans
- Penguins Drubbed in Cleveland, 7-1 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Crunch Topple Marlies, 4-1 - Syracuse Crunch
- IceHogs Outmatched by Griffins, Lose 8-3 - Rockford IceHogs
- Charlotte Falls 4-0 Against Providence - Charlotte Checkers
- Bussi, P-Bruins Blank Checkers - Providence Bruins
- T-Birds' Sticks Run Cold in Utica - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Comets Clip Thunderbirds, Win 5-2 - Utica Comets
- Getting to Know Jett Luchanko - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Marlies Acquire Forward Brandon Baddock - Toronto Marlies
- Chrona Signs Contract Extension - Milwaukee Admirals
- Preview: Phantoms vs. Bears, Game #67 - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Anaheim Ducks Announce Roster Moves - San Diego Gulls
- Eagles Sign Defensemen Kelley, Kempf to AHL Contracts - Colorado Eagles
- Dominik Shine Returns to Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Eamon Powell Inks One-Year AHL Deal for Next Season, Joins Checkers on ATO - Charlotte Checkers
- Belleville's Hodgson Suspended Two Games by the American Hockey League - Belleville Senators
- Senators' Hodgson Suspended for Two Games - AHL
- Moose Sign Patrick Guzzo to Tryout - Manitoba Moose
- Game Preview: Bears at Phantoms, 7:05 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Capitals Recall Hunter Shepard from Hershey - Hershey Bears
- IceHogs Visit Grand Rapids as the Playoff Push Continues - Rockford IceHogs
- Bojangles Game Preview: April 4 at Providence - Charlotte Checkers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Hershey Bears Stories
- Spencer Carbery Wins Jack Adams Award
- Bears Sign Goaltender Antoine Keller to AHL Contract
- Capitals Re-Sign Garin Bjorklund to One-Year, Two-Way Contact
- 2024-25 Season Ends for Bears in 6-3 Game 3 Loss to Checkers
- Atlantic Division Finals Game 3 Preview: Bears vs. Checkers, 7 p.m.

