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AHL Hershey Bears

Game Preview: Bears at Penguins, 7:05 p.m.

October 25, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


(Wilkes-Barre Township, PA) - The Hershey Bears conclude their four-game road trip with their first meeting of the season with Atlantic Division rivals, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Hershey Bears (4-1-0-0) at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (2-2-0-0)

October 25, 2023 | 7:05 p.m. | Game 6 | Mohegan Sun Arena

Referees: Mason Riley (79), Jack Young (24)

Linespersons: Ryan Jackson (84), Chandler Yakimowicz (60)

Broadcast Information

Voice of the Bears, Zack Fisch on the call

RADIO: WFVY-100.1 FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM, SportsRadio 98.9-FM & WOYK 1350-AM

WATCH LIVE: AHLTV

LISTEN LIVE: Fox Sports AM-1460 Stream

Radio pre-game coverage starts at 6:35 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT:

The Bears enter tonight's game having won four straight contests. Hershey completed a road sweep of a three-in-three in its last outing, a 3-2 overtime decision at Bridgeport last Sunday. Hershey opened up a 2-0 lead on goals from Ivan Miroshnichenko at 7:33 of the first period and Alex Limoges at 2:47 of the second period. However, the Islanders tied the game thanks to tallies from Matt Maggio at 18:21 of the second period and Tanner Fritz at 10:21 of the third. The game progressed to overtime, and Hershey's Mike Sgarbossa tallied the winning marker at 3:32 over the extra-session, giving him his 200th point as a Bear in his 600th professional game. Hershey's Mitch Gibson won his professional debut in goal, turning aside 21 shots, including 12 in the third period and three in overtime. The Penguins last skated on Saturday, scoring a 3-1 victory on home ice over the Springfield Thunderbirds. Vinnie Hinostroza scored just 1:35 into the game for Wilkes-Barre, and Rem Pitlick had a goal and an assist for the Baby Pens. Joel Blomqvist stopped 31 shots in net to earn his first AHL win.

I-81 RIVALRY RENEWED:

Tonight is the first clash of Keystone State rivals in the first of 12 meetings in the I-81 rivalry series between Hershey and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Last year Hershey went 6-3-3-0 versus the Penguins, including going 3-2-1-0 at Mohegan Sun Arena. Veteran center Mike Sgarbossa led the pack in head-to-head scoring for Hershey last year, collecting 11 points (6g, 5a) in 12 games versus the Penguins, while Mike Vecchione (eight points) and Ethen Frank (four goals) were also standouts. Hershey's special teams struggled versus the Penguins going just 12.2% on the power play and sitting at 77.5% on the penalty kill. Valtteri Puustinen paced the Penguins with 10 points (3g, 7a) versus Hershey in 12 games, while forward Jonathan Gruden scored six goals versus Hershey last year. Entering tonight's game, the Bears roster features former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defender Colin Swoyer, who collected two assists in his Hershey debut last Sunday at Bridgeport.

ROE GETS GOING:

Forward Garrett Roe is expected to make his Bears debut tonight, his first American Hockey League game since April 21, 2013, when he picked up an assist against the Albany Devils as a member of the Adirondack Phantoms. Following that season, the veteran skater continued his career overseas in Austria, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland. The Vienna, Virginia native desired to live closer to family this season, prompting him to return stateside this summer and sign with Hershey.

PITLICK PARALLEL:

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton forward Rem Pitlick is the son of former Hershey Bears defender Lance Pitlick. The elder Pitlick played for the Bears from 1990-94, skating in 179 games for Hershey, and tallying 53 points (15g, 38a). As for Rem, he is in his first season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after splitting time in the NHL and AHL last season, including collecting 22 points (5g, 17a) in 18 games for the Laval Rocket. He was a 20-goal scorer in his lone full AHL season with Milwaukee in 2019-20 and has also appeared in 123 career NHL games for Nashville, Minnesota, and Montreal, scoring 54 points (21g, 33a).

SHEPARD MAKES NHL DEBUT TONIGHT:

Goaltender Hunter Shepard, recalled from Hershey yesterday by the Washington Capitals is slated to make his NHL debut tonight when he starts for Washington against the New Jersey Devils. The 2023 Jack A. Butterfield Trophy winner as most valuable player of the Calder Cup Playoffs is 2-0-0 this season with Hershey, sporting a 2.88 goals-against average and an .885 save percentage. Shepard will be the second Bear to make their NHL debut this season, after Hardy Häman Aktell skated for Washington at Montreal last Saturday.

BEARS BITES:

Goaltender Clay Stevenson returned to Hershey on Tuesday with Shepard's recall. He is 1-0-0 lifetime versus the Penguins, winning at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Dec. 17, 2022 thanks to a 23-save performance...Center Mike Sgarbossa has points in four straight games (3g, 3a), and his next point will be the 400th of his AHL career...Defender Chase Priskie is two points from 100 professional and AHL points...Mike Vecchione has five points (2g, 3a) in his last four games...Hershey's power play unit is tied for eighth in the AHL, going 5-for-20 (25%)...Forward Riley Sutter is celebrating his 24th birthday today.

ON THIS DATE:

Oct. 25, 1944 - The Bears played a home game against the Indianapolis Capitals, initially losing, 7-3. However, general manager John B. Sollenberger immediately filed a protest with the AHL league office following the game, arguing that Indianapolis had illegally dressed Jud McAtee, Steve Wochy, and future Hockey Hall of Famer Ted Lindsay, who had been promptly returned to the Detroit Red Wings, in violation of the AHL's two-week rule at the time, which stipulated players needed to suit up for the AHL club while on loan for two weeks before returning to the NHL. AHL president Maurice Podoloff ultimately ruled in favor of Hershey, notifying Sollenberger on Oct. 30 that the Bears had been retroactively credited with a 3-0 win.

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