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AHL Hershey Bears

Game Preview: Rocket Fly into Hershey on Dietz & Watson Ham Shoot Night

March 31, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


(Hershey, PA) - The Hershey Bears look to snap a three-game skid tonight as they host the Laval Rocket. This is Laval's first ever visit to the Giant Center. Both teams are no longer in playoff contention heading into tonight's contest, but the Bears will look to finish the season strong on home ice in front of the Hershey faithful as after tonight, they only have two home games remaining. This evening is the fan-favorite Dietz and Watson Ham Shoot.

Laval Rocket (24-37-7-2) at Hershey Bears (28-33-4-5)

Saturday, March 31, 2018, 7 p.m.

Giant Center

RADIO: WQIC-100.1 FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM

LISTEN LIVE: Fox Sports AM-1460 Stream, Caps Radio 24/7

WATCH LIVE: AHLLive.com

LAST TIME OUT: The Hershey Bears played in Utica last night, falling 3-1 to the Comets. The loss was the third straight for Hershey, and the Bears first ever loss in Utica vs. the Comets. Alexis D'Aoust scored twice on the evening for Utica, opening the scoring on a deflection at 8:29. The power play goal was his 9th marker of the season. At 1:12 of the second period, Chris Bourque scored for the Chocolate and White to even the game, 1-1, on an unassisted strike. D'Aoust scored again before the period ended, earning his 10th goal of the season. Andrew Cherniwchan scored the empty net goal for the Comets with less than one second left in regulation to give Utica the win. Adam Carlson stopped 20 shots in goal for Hershey, and the Bears outshot Utica 26-23. Laval also lost last night, dropping a 3-2 decision at Binghamton. Chris Terry and Jeremy Gregoire scored for the Rocket, but Nick Lappin's goal at 2:39 of the third period turned out to be the winning tally for the Devils.

ROCKET TAKE FLIGHT: As the Bears celebrate the club's 80th Anniversary Season, tonight marks a first in franchise history as the Bears meet the Rocket for their inaugural contest in Chocolate Town. The Rocket franchise was moved from St. John's, Newfoundland where they were the IceCaps, and the minor league affiliate of Montreal since 2015. Hershey went 3-1-0-0 versus St. John's last season, including earning a pair of wins on home ice in February. The Rocket roster features several players who skated vs. Hershey as members of St. John's last season, including goaltender Charlie Lindgren, and forward Chris Terry who had three goals versus Hershey last season.

LAST TIME VS. LAVAL: The Bears won the club's first ever meeting with the Laval Rocket, 6-3, on Feb. 16 at Place Bell. Travis Boyd had the best individual effort of his American Hockey League career, scoring four goals for the Chocolate and White. Liam O'Brien also added a pair of goals for Hershey, scoring two shorthanded markers in the win. Hershey's penalty kill was a perfect 4-for-4, while the Bears went 1-for-4 on the power play. Vitek Vanecek made 17 saves to earn the win for Hershey, while the Bears outshot the Rocket, 27-20.

BOURQUE BACK IN BIG WAY: Chris Bourque returned to the lineup yesterday with vengeance, scoring his 14th goal of the season in the 3-1 loss at Utica. For Bourque, who was serving a three-game suspension, both of his two goals following his return from the Olympics came vs. Utica, as he also scored on Mar. 3 in a 3-0 win over the Comets at Giant Center. Bourque leads the Bears with 49 points on the season (14 goals, 35 assists). His next point will give him his ninth AHL season, and fourth straight, with at least 50 points. Bourque has 193 career goals with the Chocolate and White, and is only one away from tying Mitch Lamoureux for seventh all-time in franchise history at 194.

SILL STRIKES 200: Last night was the 200th game in the Hershey career for forward Zach Sill. In the 200 regular season games with the Chocolate and White, the veteran forward has 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists) to go along with 120 penalty minutes. He is one of just two Bears, with the other being Wayne Simpson, who have played in all 70 games this season for Hershey. The Nova Scotia native has recorded 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in 2017-18.

ROCKET IN A TAILSPIN: Hershey and Laval have both had tough season, but the Rocket has been in a big rut of late. The club has lost six straight games (0-5-1-0) and is 1-8-1-0 over the past 10 games. Surprising enough, the Rocket have been decent away from Quebec, going 14-16-4-1 on the road this season.

TERRY ON: Laval's Chris Terry leads the league with 66 points (29 goals, 37 assists). He is in the midst of a seven-game point streak, scoring three goals and seven assists in that span. His next goal will give him his third 30-goal season in his AHL career. With Albany, Charlotte, St. John's and Laval, Terry has 435 points in his AHL career (180 goals, 255 assists).

BEARS-ROCKET FACTS: If he dresses tonight, it will be the 399th game in the professional career for Hershey captain Garrett Mitchell. Tonight will also mark the 699th game with the Chocolate and White for Hershey forward Chris Bourque...Laval's Adam Cracknell was longtime teammates with Hershey's Anthony Peluso with the AHL's Peoria Rivermen, and Cracknell also started the season in Hartford as teammates with Hershey's Joe Whitney and Adam Chapie...On Thursday the Bears announced that Mason Mitchell has been named the team's winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Hershey community during the 2017-18 season.

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