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AHL Hershey Bears

End of an era tonight as Bears host St. John's

January 26, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


The St. John's Maple Leafs visit Chocolatetown for the final time tonight at 7:30 p.m, marking the end of an era. The Maple Leafs are the final team remaining in the AHL from the Canadian Maritimes, and HERSHEY will host a Maritime team at home this evening for the last time.

The BEARS first hosted a team from the Maritimes here in central Pennsylvania during the 1971-72 season when the Nova Scotia Voyageurs came to town. Nova Scotia first came to HERSHEYPARK Arena on October 30, 1971. Many other teams then called the Maritimes home, including the Cape Breton Oilers, Fredericton Canadiens, Fredericton Express and the Halifax Citadels. There were also three different teams in Moncton, including the Alpines, the Golden Flames and the Hawks. The New Brunswick Hawks played during the late 1970's and early 1980's, while the Nova Scotia Oilers, Prince Edward Island Senators and the Saint John Flames also played in the league in the last twenty years. St. John's became the last team standing in eastern Canada when the Saint John Flames folded after the 2001-02 season.

HERSHEY won the 1988 Calder Cup in Fredericton against the Express, capping off the greatest postseason in AHL history. The BEARS won twelve games without a loss to claim its seventh Calder Cup Championship.

The BEARS will play the Leafs for the final time ever on March 4-5 at Mile One Stadium in Newfoundland. Tonight's game can be heard on the BEARS radio network with John Walton and Dave Sottile beginning at 7:10 p.m. Tonight is also HERSHEYPARK pass night at GIANT Center. A free HERSHEYPARK pass will be given to all in attendance for the 2005 season, good until July 4, 2005.

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