Preseason Game Preview: Bears at Penguins, 10:30 a.m.
AHL Hershey Bears

Preseason Game Preview: Bears at Penguins, 10:30 a.m.

Published on October 3, 2025 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


(Wilkes-Barre Township, PA) - The Hershey Bears continue their 2025 preseason schedule as they visit the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for a morning clash.

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

Oct. 3, 2025 | 10:30 a.m. | Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza

Referees: Andrew Bell (6), Chris Conway (33)

Linespersons: David Rozitis (62), Patrick Dapuzzo (57)

Broadcast Information

Voice of the Bears, Zack Fisch on the call

RADIO: No radio coverage (GIANT Bears Radio Network to resume coverage during regular season)

WATCH LIVE: AHLTV on FloHockey

Pre-game coverage starts at 10:20 a.m.

LAST TIME OUT:

The Bears opened their preseason slate with a 5-1 home win against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday. After trailing 1-0 after the first period, Hershey reeled off five straight goals, including three in a span of 3:43 in the second period. Kyler Kupka paced the Bears with three points (2g, 1a), while Garin Bjorklund played the entirety of the contest for Hershey, making 23 saves.

RENEWING THE I-81 RIVALRY:

Hershey and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will renew the I-81 rivalry a total of 10 times during the 2025-26 regular season. The Bears won the season series in the previous campaign with a 7-3-1-1 record in 12 encounters. Nicky Leivermann's six points - all assists - against the Penguins are the most of any returning player on the current Hershey roster.

COLOR ME KUPKA:

Forward Kyler Kupka's three points led the Bears in Wednesday night's contest, as the second-year pro expects to receive a sweater again this morning. Kupka earned a 12-game tryout with the Calgary Wranglers last season, and signed an AHL contract with the Bears this summer after earning a spot on the ECHL's All-Rookie Team last season after producing 53 points in 54 games with the Brabham Cup-winning South Carolina Stingrays.

PAIR OF KINGS:

Defenseman D.J. King is expected to draw into the lineup for Hershey this morning. The 6-foot-4 defenseman is attending camp on a tryout after signing an ECHL contract with the South Carolina Stingrays this summer. The 25-year-old is the oldest son of Bears head coach Derek King and has played eight career games in the American Hockey League with Grand Rapids and Rockford, while spending the majority of his pro career in the ECHL with Fort Wayne, Norfolk, and Indy.

BEARS BITES:

Following the loans of several players to the Bears this morning from Washington, 16 skaters on Hershey's training camp roster played at least one game for the Bears during the 2024-25 regular season, while all three of Hershey's goaltenders made at least one appearance...Of Hershey's projected game group this morning, forward Jalen Luypen owns the most AHL experience, with 120 regular-season games and 14 postseason contests under his belt.

ON THIS DATE IN BEARS HISTORY:

Oct. 3, 2009 - The Bears opened the 2009-10 campaign with a 3-1 win over the Norfolk Admirals in front of 10,075 at GIANT Center. Andrew Gordon recorded a hat trick by scoring all three of his goals with the man advantage, while Alexandre Giroux assisted on all three tallies, and Braden Holtby made 23 saves. Hershey would go on to repeat as Calder Cup champions following an AHL-record 60-win regular season campaign.

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