AHL Hershey Bears

John Walton's weekly column

Published on August 10, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


The 2004-05 regular season schedule hit the newsstands this afternoon, and for the boys from Chocolatetown, I see a lot of positives. While it may not be as diverse as we would have liked in terms of number of teams that we will see in 04-05, I think it's pretty travel friendly. Let's take a look at what's to come.

Highlight number one for me would be the holiday season. Not a single road game between December 15 and January 5. I love the New Year's Eve game against Philadelphia; an early start time at 5:00 p.m. in front of a big drawing team like the Phantoms should make for a great evening of hockey. The holiday stretch is a seven-game homestand in all, and fans should like the fact that the seven gamer features seven different teams at GIANT Center.

The month of January is another positive as far as I'm concerned. Following a three-game trip at the start of the month, the BEARS will have seven home games that mix in a lot of Saturday games with even a couple of Sundays off. At the midway point of the season, it should benefit the guys to have a couple of days here and there to rest.

Far and away the weirdest part of the schedule for 2004-05 is the ten game series with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Pens do not come to GIANT Center until Saturday, February 19 while HERSHEY doesn't head up I-81 to Wachovia Arena until January 28. While it's a strange schedule quirk, it's hard to say it's a negative for two reasons. One, head to head games within the division during the second half of the season make for exciting hockey. Two, not to detract too much from Michel Therrien's band of followers, but the Pens have lost a lot from their Eastern Conference Championship team. No Tom Kostopoulos, David Koci and Toby Petersen among others. Unlike in HERSHEY and Philadelphia, there haven't been a lot of players signed for Wilkes-Barre to this point. There is still time in the off-season for player movement for everyone, but I think it's fair to say the Baby Pens still have some work to do before Opening night.

I'm sure there will be a number of critical stretches during the season, but I look at November and early December and think that will be the first real test for Paul Fixter's club in 04-05. Four home games of seven in October looks fine on paper, but November starts in Philadelphia on the 5th to kick off a tough six week stretch. A five-game trip through New England AND Norfolk. Home games around the Thanksgiving holiday with two more games against Philly. Follow up the home game with the Phantoms on the 27th with another five game roady through New England from December 1 to 10 with stops in Albany, Worcester, Portland, Providence and ending in Philly. If this club has the good fortune to be in the top half of the division come December 10, it has the makings of a very nice season.

When we first saw the grid of teams for 2004-05 a few weeks ago, I was hoping to see a team from the west pop up in exchange for the games in Newfoundland against St. John's. Given the news yesterday that the Maple Leafs are moving the team after this season into Toronto, I've changed my mind. I'm glad we're going for what will be one of the last regular season games to be played at Mile One Stadium ever. The BEARS travel to St. John's on March 4 and 5 when the countdown will really be on for one of the longest running franchises in the AHL. I have to admit, I was a little surprised at the announcement this week. Given the public nature of the move already, it should be interesting to see how fan support holds up. Word has it a junior team will take up residence at Mile One starting in 2005-06.

There is one part of the schedule I don't like, and that's the last three games. Playing at Philly, Binghamton and Bridgeport to wrap up the regular season away from home is tough. Let's hope that all that will be left for the Chocolate and White by that point is preparations to host a playoff series at GIANT Center.

If you're looking for road trip ideas for the upcoming season, I would put St. John's at the top of the list since this is their swan song. Flights to "the rock" are not always easy to find though. I've had a couple of people e-mail me and say they found pretty decent prices at HIA, so you might want to check into that now while the fares are lower. I would say the last three games of the season in Philly, Binghamton and Bridgeport would be good to see right before the playoffs. I would also look into the first part of December. You can't go wrong with a trip to Portland, Maine ever, and the Providence game on Sunday makes it a pretty good weekend.

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American Hockey League Stories from August 10, 2004


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