10TH STRAIGHT: BEARS DEFEAT PHANTOMS 4-1

January 3, 2010

BEARS WIN S’MORE Hershey Scores Four on Phantoms Backstop Grahame to Win 10th Straight By Jess Mikula Keith Aucoin potted a pair of goals and registered an assist, fueling the BEARS to a 4-1 win over the visiting Adirondack Phantoms Sunday night. With the victory, HERSHEY extends its season-high winning streak to 10 games. The BEARS got on the board with a pair of goals in the first period. Bryan Helmer found his fourth of the season, firing a shot backdoor on Phantoms netminder John Grahame at 6:02. Francois Bouchard and Mathieu Perreault added the assists on the power play goal. Patrick Wellar dished a no-look, behind-the-back pass to Aucoin from behind the Adirondack net to set up Aucoin’s 18th goal of the year at 12:30. HERSHEY carried a two-goal advantage after 20 minutes. The Chocolate and White converted on a man advantage, finding the only goal of the second early in the period. Andrew Gordon finished a series of tic-tac-toe passing from Aucoin and Alexandre Giroux to net his 16th goal of the season at 1:52. The BEARS led the visiting Phantoms by a 3-0 margin at the conclusion of two periods. HERSHEY began the final stanza down a man, as better than a minute of a Bryan Helmer hooking minor carried over into the period. The BEARS then staved off a brief Adirondack 5-on-3 before allowing the Phantoms’ only goal of the night, a shorthanded strike from Stefan Legein at 11;48. Aucoin answered with his second of the night, as he buried the rebound of Helmer’s blueline screamer at 17:39. Steve Pinizzotto tallied the secondary assist. Semyon Varlamov earned the win in net Sunday night, allowing just one goal on 29 shots. The BEARS power play unit struck twice on six chances, while the penalty kill blanked Adirondack on all six of its opportunities. Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game: 1. Keith Aucoin (two goals and an assist) 2. Bryan Helmer (goal and an assist) 3. Semyon Varlamov (28 saves on 29 shots) Notes: Bouchard extended his points streak to eight games Sunday night, and Aucoin shows points in five straight. Varlamov drew the start in net for HERSHEY Sunday, his first game with the Chocolate and White since March 29. The BEARS will begin a four-game road trip against the Manitoba Moose with a pair of games in Winnipeg Jan. 8 and 9 before heading to Norfolk and Albany. HERSHEY will return home Saturday, Jan. 16, when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins come to call. Faceoff is slated for 7:00 p.m., with tickets available at the Giant Center box office or by calling (717) 534-3911.