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THE WAIT IS OVER: GAME 1 IS SET FOR SATURDAY NIGHT

May 30, 2009

For the 21st time in franchise history, the HERSHEY BEARS will play in the Calder Cup Finals Saturday night. Game 1 of the best-of-seven American Hockey League championship series begins against the Western Conference Champion Manitoba Moose at 8:30 p.m. eastern Saturday at MTS Centre in downtown Winnipeg. The BEARS advanced to the 2009 Calder Cup Finals by dispatching the Providence Bruins four games to one in the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday afternoon. Manitoba later that same night rallied to defeat the Houston Aeros in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals to win the series in six games. While HERSHEY participates in an AHL record 21st Calder Cup Final, the Moose are in the championship round for the first time. Manitoba won 50 games during the regular season, to HERSHEY’S 49. The Moose edged the BEARS for the AHL’s best overall record on the final day of the regular season, which is the reason Manitoba has home ice in this best-of-seven heavyweight fight. The Moose finished with 107 points in the regular season to HERSHEY’S 106. The BEARS finished 1-2 with the Moose in another category this season: attendance. The BEARS were number one in the AHL in average attendance this season, boasting 8,987 fans per game. Manitoba was second in the league in fans in the stands this year, averaging 7,769 fans a game. The crowd for Saturday’s Game 1 is expected to be over 15,000 fans at MTS Centre. The battle for the Calder Cup figures to be HERSHEY’S offense against Manitoba’s stellar defense. The BEARS scored 290 goals during the regular season, led by MVP Alexandre Giroux’s 60. The Moose allowed just 188 goals this season with veteran goaltenders Cory Schneider and Curtis Sanford tending the crease. Giroux is second in the Calder Cup playoffs in scoring with 20 points on nine goals and 11 assists, and he also has more shots on goal than anyone this postseason. Schneider is third in goals against average in the 2009 playoffs at 2.03, tied with HERSHEY goaltender Michal Neuvirth in that department. Both goalies also have all 12 wins for their respective clubs in the Calder Cup playoffs. Saturday’s Game 1 can be heard via the BEARS Radio Network (100.1 FM, 1490 AM, Sportsjuice.com, AHLLive.com) beginning with the pregame show at 8:10 p.m. John Walton has the call of the action from MTS Centre. Tickets for Game 3 and Game 4 of the Calder Cup Finals are on sale now. Call the GIANT Center box office for more information at (717) 534-3911.


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