BEARS WELCOME SYRACUSE TO GIANT CENTER SATURDAY

April 2, 2010

HERSHEY returns home Saturday to face the Syracuse Crunch in the second-to-last regular season home game of 2009-10. The BEARS also look to set a new AHL record for the most wins in a single season. The BEARS had a chance at a bit of AHL history Friday night, but fell in Rochester to the Americans 3-1 at Blue Cross Arena. Former BEARS right wing Graham Mink scored two goals and was named the game’s number one star. Francois Bouchard scored his 20th goal of the year late in the third period to provide HERSHEY’S only offense of the night. Bouchard became the seventh BEARS player this season to reach the 20-goal mark. HERSHEY center Keith Aucoin picked up his 100th point of the season Wednesday in Syracuse. The landmark point came on an assist of an Alexandre Giroux goal in the second period at the Onondaga County War Memorial Wednesday night. 100 points also establishes a new career high for Aucoin. Alexandre Giroux sits at 97 points heading into Saturday’s game with the Crunch. The BEARS have never had two different players finish with 100 points in the same season. Aucoin also became the first HERSHEY skater since Christian Matte (104 points in 1999-2000) to reach the century mark. Syracuse, already eliminated from 2010 Calder Cup playoff contention, is in sixth place in the East Division heading into Saturday’s game. Former BEARS center Jared Aulin is out due to injury for the final four games of the season for the Crunch. Syracuse skaters know that their collective time in central New York is coming to an end next weekend. With four games remaining in the regular season, the Crunch will welcome a new NHL affiliate in the Anaheim Ducks to the War Memorial next season. The Columbus Blue Jackets will shift players and staff to western Massachusetts next season, partnering with the Springfield Falcons. Only eight days remain in the 2009-10 regular season, with some spots for the Calder Cup playoffs still up for grabs. The Toronto Marlies, on the verge of mathematical elimination Saturday, host the Manitoba Moose at Ricoh Coliseum. Adirondack, already out of contention for the postseason, play in Albany Saturday against the River Rats. Portland is at Bridgeport Saturday, while Lowell hosts the first place Worcester Sharks at the Tsongas Center. Both the Sound Tigers and Devils are tied for fourth place in the Atlantic with 82 points. Providence is at Manchester, after the Monarchs wrapped up a playoff spot Friday night. Hartford is at Springfield Saturday to face the Falcons, while the East Division showdown between Norfolk and Binghamton takes place at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. The Admirals can eliminate the Senators from postseason contention with a regulation win Saturday. Norfolk is three points back of third place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, who are off Saturday. Out west, Lake Erie is at Peoria, Chicago is at San Antonio, Houston plays the Texas Stars in Austin, Milwaukee travels to Rockford to play the IceHogs, and the Abbotsford Heat host the Grand Rapids Griffins out in British Columbia. Saturday’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, Ed Coffey and Jim Jones have the call from Giant Center.