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AHL Hershey Bears

Hershey Embarks on 77th Regular Season This Weekend

October 6, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


The Hershey Bears Hockey Club completed their pre-season schedule with a 3-1-0-0 record, and now look to build on the "little things" as the club's 77th regular season kicks off this weekend in Hampton Roads.

On Wednesday, the Bears spoiled the party for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, coming back from a 1-0 deficit to post a 3-1 victory in PPL Center's inaugural AHL pre-season contest. Rookie goaltender Pheonix Copley turned aside 23 of 24 shots in the win, while Joel Broda opened up the Bears' scoring with a shorthanded goal to tie the game. Stanislav Galiev posted the game-winner, while Braden Pimm provided the insurance.

The two teams got together on Friday at GIANT center, and the Bears posted a near repeat performance. Former Hershey star Andrew Gordon staked the Phantoms to the lead with the first power-play goal allowed by the Bears, but Dustin Gazley - on his 26th birthday - tied the contest late in the second period. Galiev again potted the eventual game-winner behind backup goaltender Connor Knapp, and Garrett Mitchell rounded out the scoring with a goal inside the final two minutes of play.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins would finally put a loss on the Bears' side on Saturday night at Mohegan Sun Arena, claiming a 4-2 victory. Nathan Walker scored first, sprung on a breakaway by Chandler Stephenson and beating netminder Matt Murray. But Penguins rookies Josh Archibald, Jean-Sebastien Dea, Scott Wilson and Bryan Rust would score in succession to give the hosts a comfortable lead. Caleb Herbert's first of the pre-season finished up the scoring just past the halfway point of the third period.

Fireworks can often be associated with finales, and Sunday's rematch at GIANT Center certainly lived up to that. In a game marred by 220 combined penalty minutes, Hershey capitalized four times on the power play - which included numerous major penalties handed to the Penguins - and routed the visitors by a 6-1 score. Broda scored twice, including the game-winner, while Galiev, Chris Conner, Mitchell and Erik Burgdoerfer added to a 6-0 lead. Rust would break Philipp Grubauer's shutout bud with 10:38 left to play. Grubauer won both of his pre-season starts, allowing just one goal in each game.

HERSHEY BEARS NEWS AND NOTES

BRODA'S BACK: Joel Broda, originally selected by the Washington Capitals in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, solidified his chances at a Hershey roster spot by tying for the scoring lead in pre-season. The Yorkton, Saskatchewan native scored the first goal of pre-season shorthanded on Wednesday at Lehigh Valley, and finished (3-2-5) while playing in all four games.

STAN THE MAN: Bears winger Stanislav Galiev posted a strong pre-season, appearing in all four games and nearly making Bears exhibition history. He scored the game-winning goal in both games against Lehigh Valley on Wednesday and Friday, and nearly ended up with the winner on Sunday against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Galiev finished with (3-0-3) in his four contests.

WELCOME RETURNS: Hershey fans were treated to the return of two fan favorites in the same game on Friday vs. Lehigh Valley. Last season's alternate captain Garrett Mitchell returned from a shoulder injury that sidelined him since December 1, 2013 vs. Providence. Mitchell scored the insurance goal in the Bears' 3-1 win on Friday, and added his second goal in Sunday's win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Defenseman Tomas Kundratek also saw the GIANT Center ice for the first time in a while, as fans haven't seen him since he left the game with a lower body injury on November 10, 2013. The versatile blueliner recorded two assists and a team-leading plus-three rating in his return on Friday, and chipped in a power-play helper in Sunday's win.

CONTENT COACHES: After leading the Bakersfield Condors on their longest playoff run in team history last season, Troy Mann returned to guide the Bears through a very successful training camp and pre-season schedule. Demanding speed, hard-nosed but smart play and accountability, Mann was happy with the overall camp performance. His power play units also broke out for four goals on eight chances in Sunday's win, and finished the pre-season at 21.1% (4-for- 19). Assistant coach Bryan Helmer, Hershey's captain of their 2009 and 2010 back-to-back Calder Cup championship teams and the AHL's all-time scoring leader among defensemen, guided the Bears camp hopefuls to a penalty kill percentage of 87.5% (21-for-24), with Joel Broda netting one shorthanded goal.

VENERABLE VETS: Hershey's newest veterans have jumped in to give fans reasons to be excited for the season. Forward Tim Kennedy, who has 162 games on his NHL resume, led the Bears with five assists in three pre-season tilts. Forward Chris Conner scored once and added an assist in Sunday's win. And defenseman Mike Moore, serving as team captain three times in his AHL career, has provided needed leadership among Hershey's blue line corps.

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