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AHL Hershey Bears

Pens and Milwaukee in final

June 1, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


The 2004 Calder Cup Finals are set with the Milwaukee Admirals and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins set to battle it out. Game 1 is Tuesday night at the Bradley Center in Wisconsin. The Pens were able to advance after Matt Murley's overtime game-winner in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals Saturday night in Hartford. Wilkes-Barre is just the second team in AHL history to win two Game Sevens on the road in the same postseason, and both have come in overtime. Tough to pick a winner from this final, but the offense that Milwaukee has shown is too powerful to ignore. This looks like a seven game series to me, but I think the Admirals have what it takes. I'll go with Milwaukee to win. If you're interested in seeing a game at Wachovia Arena, Game 3 is Friday with Game 4 on Sunday night. Game 5 if necessary will be in Wilkes-Barre on Monday.

Fresh coaching news for you on this Tuesday in the AHL. The Chicago Wolves announced recently that head coach John Anderson will return for his 8th season in the Windy City. The Wolves were eliminated this past season by the Milwaukee Admirals in the West Division finals. Also, following elimination by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Hartford Wolfpack and former BEARS player Ryan McGill expressed his interest in the vacant New York Rangers coaching job. McGill told Hartford Courant writer Bruce Berlet "I'd be lying if I didn't say I want to be a coach in the NHL. Do I think I'm ready for it? I don't know...Whether you win or lose, every year helps as far as experience, working with different personalities and trying to reach different personalities in the room." The article in the Courant on May 31 said McGill has yet to talk to Rangers GM Glen Sather about the job, but McGill's odds improved when Jacques Martin took the Florida Panthers job last week. Joel Quenneville is reportedly no longer in the running for the Rangers gig either.

Congratulations to our Peter Budaj on being named to the Slovakian World Cup team. Peter has a real chance to see playing time against the game's best and brightest in September. The other two goaltenders for Slovakia are AHLers Rastislav Stana and Jan Lasak. Good goaltending could give the Slovaks a pretty good chance to compete.

How about this collection of talent: Minnesota's Marian Gaborik, Philly's Michal Handzus, Branko Radivojevic and Radovan Somik, Peter Bondra, Marian Hossa and Zdeno Chara from Ottawa, Ziggy Palffy and Josef Stumpel from Los Angeles and Miroslav Satan from Buffalo. Not only does it promise to be a great experience for Peter, but playing great hockey in August and September is only going to have him better prepared in October when the BEARS hit the ice.

An article in the Springfield Union-News by Fran Sypek recently listed candidates for the vacant Falcons head-coaching job. Among those on the list: Marty Howe, Dirk Graham, former BEARS coach Jay Leach and current HERSHEY assistant coach Paul Jerrard. Tampa Bay is expected to name someone to the Springfield job after the season concludes.

By the way, not a real good penalty for ex-BEAR Ville Nieminen Monday night at the end of Game 4. If Calgary had any chance of getting on the board and tying the game Monday, Ville took care of that with a five minute major for running Vinny LeCavalier. With a 1-0 win, Tampa Bay tied the series at two games apiece.

On to your questions...

John:

Thanks for keeping us up to date with all the hockey doings during the summer months. My question has to do with the players who were with the Bears and also the Reading Royals this season. First are Dean Arsene and David Masse both property of the Avalanche. If they are I would hope to see them stay with Hershey for the entire season, both are very good players with great skills and both can help for an entire season. Also how does the front office decide who to call up and who not to if say the players aren't Avs property .

Mike Ott

Lebanon

Mike, I had a chance to see Dean and David play in Reading during the Kelly Cup playoffs a couple of weeks ago. Masse was dominating at that level, he was really fun to watch. As far as Arsene goes, I love the way he finishes his checks and hits people. Both could have a chance to fill roles here next season. The answer to your second question about who decides who gets called up, that resides as a combination of the coaching staff along with team President/General Manager Doug Yingst. Doug is the best when it comes to finding players to fill in from the ECHL level, and the call-ups are agreed upon between him and coaches Fixter and Jerrard.

Hi John:

Will Tommy Lawson be back to play for Hershey next season?

Steve

Mt. Hope

Steve, I would say there is a good chance. Sadly with the potential lockout looming in the NHL, there is a lot of uncertainty everywhere. Budaj and Sauve could still be here as well, but one of the three in a normal year might get a chance to back up in Denver. Let's hope for the good of our game that camps open and the NHL resumes as normal come September 15th.

John:

I heard a few weeks ago, I don't remember from whom, but this person said that the Bears and Avs might not be affiliates anymore in a few seasons. That surprised me because I have grown to love the Bears and wouldn't want them to not be our farm team anymore. I certainly hope that it was just a rumor, would you happen to know if there's any truth to this rumor?

Jessica Craver

Denver

Jessica, there is one year remaining on the agreement between Colorado and HERSHEY. There is nothing going on as far as new deals for either the Avalanche or the BEARS.

As in any business partnership, both sides will have items that will need to be addressed to get a new agreement assembled. Anything is possible after next season for both the Avs and HERSHEY, but no rumors you may have heard are true.

John:

I listen to games online here in Windsor, and it seems like you and Paul Fixter get along pretty well. Who's a better golfer, you or the coach? What other fun stuff keeps you busy in the off-season?

Mike

Windsor, Ontario

Wow. Yes Mike, we do get along very well. First things first though, Fix is a much better golfer than me. However the way I've been playing this summer, that doesn't say very much. He is whacking the ball pretty good right now. We've been to Fairview in Lebanon a few times this summer. Secondly as far as the hockey travel staff goes, equipment guru Justin Kullman is probably second in the power rankings at the moment. We also play tennis from time to time when we get a chance. I fare a little better at that, but trainer Dan Stuck (a.k.a. The Beaker) brings a pretty mean game.

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