Four-Game Week Looms For Bears
January 7, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release
The HERSHEY BEARS Hockey Club suffered two regulation setbacks this past weekend, first falling to the Binghamton Senators on Saturday night by a 3-1 final score. Ryan Potulny opened the scoring when Patrick McNeill's point shot deflected off of the forward, off of the back boards and into the net off of a Senators defenseman. Goaltender Ben Bishop then stopped the remaining shots he faced, finishing with 20 saves. Braden Holtby turned aside 33 of 35 shots in the contest, only allowing goals by Stephane Da Costa and Mike Hoffman. Mark Stone found the empty net while the Senators were working a late-game power play to seal the win. On Sunday, the BEARS tried to work back from a 2-0 deficit against the Worcester Sharks. Matt Tennyson scored on the power play in the first period, and Jon Matsumoto struck in the second period to give the Sharks their lead. Goaltender Alex Stalock frustrated the BEARS during a strong second period for HERSHEY, but the hosts finally broke through on Jeff Taffe's eighth goal of the season early in the third. Stalock stopped the remainder of the BEARS shots while Worcester's penalty kill held their ground in the final 1:41 of play.
The BEARS hit the road for Bridgeport on Monday and will take on the Sound Tigers on Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM. HERSHEY will then visit Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a Friday night matchup, then return home for a pair of games against the Connecticut Whale on Saturday and Sunday.
BEARS NEWS AND NOTES
DECEMBER'S BEST, HERSHEY'S FAVORITE: Goaltender Braden Holtby may have played his last games in a HERSHEY sweater, with the recent news of the NHL lockout ending. Holtby, targeted to return to the Washington Capitals and fresh off of being named the CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month for December, holds a career record of 73-45-7 with 14 shutouts. Holtby ranks seventh all-time in BEARS goaltender wins, and fifth all-time in shutouts.
GRUBAUER RETURNS: ECHL All-Star goaltender Philipp Grubauer was reassigned to the BEARS on Monday morning. Grubauer leads the ECHL in wins (19), ranks second in minutes played (1542), fifth in goals-against average (2.30). Grubauer was recently named a starter in the ECHL All-Star Game, and was the Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Month for November while playing with the BEARS' affiliate Reading Royals.
KANE'S COUNTDOWNS: LW Boyd Kane is closing in on significant milestones. Kane is three games away from joining an elite group of 12 names with more than 900 AHL games to their credit. At 897 games, Kane sits one back of Dick Gamble for 14th place all-time in the AHL. Additionally, the native of Swift Current, SK needs one more game to reach 1,000 in his ECHL, AHL & NHL professional career, and just two more points to join HERSHEY's 200-point club (93-105-198).
BUCKLE DOWN ON "D": The BEARS defense and goaltending have pushed the club into third place in the AHL in goals against per game (2.50).
ROAD CREW: The BEARS currently own the longest active road winning streak in the AHL at six games. The streak is also tied for the second-longest in the league this season.
INSTANT CLASSIC: The BEARS and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will take to the elements at HERSHEYPARK Stadium in just 13 days in the Capital BlueCross AHL Outdoor Classic. The two team's alumni will face off on Saturday, January 19 at 3:00 PM, with the Classic puck drop slated for 5:00 PM on January 20. It will be the second consecutive season that the BEARS will play outdoors, and the first time in team history at home.
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American Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2013
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- Three Recalled from Toledo - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolves Weekly Notes - Chicago Wolves
- Hamilton Bulldogs Weekly - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Admirals Recall Two from Cincinnati - Milwaukee Admirals
- Sharks Have Won 4 of 5 Heading into Busy Week - Worcester Sharks Weekly - Worcester Sharks
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- Defenseman Jace Coyle Returns to Texas - Texas Stars
- Bears Announce Roster Changes - Hershey Bears
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- Heat Announce Post Game Concert to Follow Upcoming Chicago Wolves Game - Abbotsford Heat
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- Stars Call up Two Forwards from Idaho - Texas Stars
- Nicastro Returns to Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Four-Game Week Looms For Bears - Hershey Bears
- J.T. Miller Returns to Whale Roster - Connecticut Whale
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