AHL Hershey Bears

Surging Bears winners of six straight, Norfolk up next

Published on January 10, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


Last Week: HERSHEY visited New York's Capital District for the final time in 2004-05 and emerged with two victories that pushed the teams' win streak to six straight games. On Wednesday night, the BEARS scored two power play goals and defeated Albany 5-3 at Pepsi Arena. Mike Souza scored his first goal and assisted on another to be named the game's number three star. Defenseman Nick Naumenko also scored a goal and added a playmaker while Marek Svatos, David Masse and Jamie Rivers scored single goals to lead HERSHEY to victory. Goaltender Peter Budaj won his third game without defeat against Albany in 2004-05, and also extended his personal winning streak to seven straight games. Friday night, the BEARS remained in Albany and rallied in the third period to defeat the River Rats 2-1. Trailing 1-0 after two periods, HERSHEY'S Andre Savage scored a power-play tally at the 1:53 mark of the third to tie the game before Mathieu Darche scored the game-winning goal with just under 38 seconds remaining in regulation. The goal was Darche's team-leading 15th of the season, and it proved to be the game-winner as HERSHEY'S winning streak increased to six in a row. The BEARS are two games over the.500 mark for the first time this season at 19-17-1-0 as the current week begins. HERSHEY stands just five points out of fourth place in the East Division standings and just six points out of second place with two games on the horizon this week.

Notables: Eric Perrin has points in six straight games entering Wednesday night's game at Norfolk. Brett Clark holds HERSHEY'S mark for longest point streak this season by making the scoresheet seven games in a row from October 30 to November 12. Perrin has tallied a point in every game since December 26, and the BEARS are 6-0-0-0 during that time. Nick Naumenko brings a five-game point streak into Wednesday's game at Norfolk. Naumenko has two goals and four assists in his last five games. The six-game winning streak is the longest of head coach Paul Fixter's professional career. Fixter's previous best was a five-game winning streak from October 15-24, 2003. With two wins at Albany last week, the BEARS now stand a perfect 6-0-0-0 against the River Rats with two games remaining in the season series. Both of the remaining two games are at GIANT Center, with Albany visiting on Sunday, January 30 and Sunday February 27. Through six games of the series, the BEARS have outscored the Rats 22-11 David Masse scored a power play goal Wednesday against Albany for his 11th goal of the season. Of the 11 goals, six have come at the expense of the River Rats. Peter Budaj won his eighth consecutive game on Friday night at Albany, the longest streak of his professional career. Budaj has gone nearly one month since his last defeat on December 12 to the Lowell Lock Monsters at GIANT Center. In addition to winning six straight games, HERSHEY has won eight of its last nine and ten of its last 13 games entering play this week.

Upcoming promotions:. Huggins Printing Team Photo night is Saturday, January 15 when the BEARS host the Norfolk Admirals at 7:00 p.m. A free 2004-05 team photo to the first 5,000 fans in attendance thanks to Huggins Printing. The second and final HERSHEYPARK pass night of 2004-05 comes up on Wednesday, January 26 when the St. John's Maple Leafs visit GIANT Center. All fans receive a complimentary pass to HERSHEYPARK for the 2005 Park season, good through July 4, 2005. Stoner Graphix HERSHEY BEARS Post it-Notepad night is Saturday, February 5 when the Binghamton Senators come to town at 7:00 p.m. A free BEARS post-it note pad to the first 3,000 fans. COCO THE BEAR Bobblehead night, sponsored by your hometown Dodge Dealers, is Sunday, February 27 when the BEARS play the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 5:00 p.m. A free bobblehead doll of HERSHEY BEARS mascot COCO to the first 4,500 fans through the gates.

Down on the Farm: The Reading Royals have collected points in eight of its last ten games to continue to climb in the ECHL's Northern Division. The Royals now stand at 18-10-2 after a 4-1 loss against the Johnstown Chiefs on Saturday night. Reading won Friday night over Andy Chiodo and the Wheeling Nailers 3-2 in a shootout. ECHL All-Stars Ryan Kinasewich and Jeff Miles combined for two goals and two assists to defeat the Nailers at the Sovereign Center. The UHL's Quad City Mallards defeated the Missouri River Otters Sunday night 5-4 in a shootout. Jason Deskins earned a goal and two assists to be named the game's number one star. The Mallards are 15-15-5, good for fourth place in the UHL's Western Division standings. Quad City is home Wednesday night against Kalamazoo.

Practice Schedule (Subject to Change):

Monday, January 10: Practice-GIANT Center 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, January 11: Practice-GIANT Center 10:00 a.m. Bus to Norfolk after practice

Wednesday, January 12: Road Game vs. Norfolk, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 13: Practice-GIANT Center 12:00 p.m.

Friday, January 14: Practice-GIANT Center 10:00 a.m.

Saturday, January 15: Home game vs. Norfolk, 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, January 16: Off day

The week ahead:

Wednesday, January 12: BEARS at Norfolk Admirals 7:30 PM Game #38, Road Game #19 Radio: 1460 AM/1390 AM PRE-GAME: 7:10 PM

Saturday, January 15: Norfolk Admirals at BEARS 7:00 PM Game #39, Home Game #20 Radio: 1460 AM/1390 AM PRE-GAME: 6:40 PM

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American Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2005


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