March 31, 2010
HERSHEY begins a stretch of four games in five nights Wednesday, taking on the Syracuse Crunch at the Onondaga County War Memorial. Face-off is at 7:00 p.m.
The BEARS have seven games remaining in the 2009-10 season, and sits just one win short of tying an American Hockey League record for the most wins in a single season. For 17 years, the Binghamton Rangers have set the standard, winning 57 games during the 1992-93 campaign. HERSHEY is just one win away from the summit, as the team begins a two-game road swing through New York. The Chocolate and White also head into play Friday with 115 points, the most in team history and nine points short of tying the 1992-93 Rangers for most points in a single season in league history.
For all of the historical context this season has provided, the BEARS still have one goal in mind in the next seven games: clinch the AHL’s best record and home ice throughout the 2010 Calder Cup playoffs. The Hamilton Bulldogs, who in any other season would be the storyline, has 107 points with six games to go. Hamilton is off on Wednesday, but plays the Toronto Marlies on Thursday. A win by HERSHEY in Syracuse Wednesday, and a Hamilton loss Thursday in regulation against the Marlies would wrap up the AHL’s best record in 2009-10, assuring the BEARS of home ice in every playoff series this spring.
Syracuse, already eliminated from the 2010 Calder Cup playoff picture, is also playing out the string as far as its affiliation agreement. The Columbus Blue Jackets, who have called the Crunch their AHL affiliate since the Jackets came into the NHL in 1999-2000, are moving their players to Springfield next season. Anaheim will be placing its players at the War Memorial next season.
Wednesday’s game can be heard via the BEARS Radio Network (100.1 FM and www.Sportsjuice.com) beginning at 6:40 p.m. John Walton has all the action from central New York.
vs
