BEARS ANNOUNCE ROSTER MOVES

February 7, 2013

HERSHEY, Pa.– The HERSHEY BEARS announced today that the club has returned forwards Matt Pope and T.J. Syner to the ECHL’s Reading Royals.  Additionally, forward Danick Paquette has been reassigned to HERSHEY, and defenseman Brett Flemming has been reassigned to Reading.  The announcement was made by BEARS President/GM Doug Yingst.
 
Pope, 28, has appeared in 28 games with HERSHEY this season, and has posted five points (one goal, four assists).  In 73 total games since signing with the BEARS for 2011-12, he has registered eight goals and eight assists.
 
The 6-1, 193-pound native of Langley, BC is averaging a point per game with Reading, as he has one goal, two assists and a plus-three rating in three contests.
 
In 180 career AHL games with Binghamton, Manitoba, San Antonio and HERSHEY, Pope has accumulated 19 goals, 24 assists and 100 penalty minutes.
 
Syner, 24, has recorded seven points (three goals, four assists) and a plus-one rating in 32 games with the BEARS this season.  He returns to the Royals, where he began the season by scoring five points (two goals, three assists) and a plus-one rating in five contests.
 
The 5-9, 180-pound native of Springfield, MA joined the BEARS late last season following completion of his fourth year at UMass-Amherst (HE).  Syner recorded 97 points (37 goals, 60 assists) in 135 career games with the Minutemen.  In his senior season, Syner was a nominee for the Hobey Baker Award.
 
Paquette, 22, has appeared in 14 games with Reading, recording four points (one goal, three assists), 62 penalty minutes and an even rating.  The 6-0, 210-pound native of Montreal, PQ joins the BEARS for the first time this season.  He has four games of AHL experience with the Chicago Wolves in 2008-09, where he was scoreless with 12 penalty minutes and a plus-two rating.
 
Paquette has played 126 ECHL games with Gwinnett, South Carolina, Utah, Chicago and Reading, and has accumulated 52 points (27 goals, 25 assists) and 450 penalty minutes.  Prior to turning pro, he played four years of junior hockey with the QMJHL’s Lewiston MAINEiacs and Quebec Remparts, totaling 175 points (94 goals, 81 assists) and 691 penalty minutes in 250 career games.
 
Paquette was originally selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the third round (64^th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Flemming, 21, has appeared in five games with HERSHEY this season, recording one assist, two penalty minutes and a plus-one rating.  With the Royals, Flemming has registered two goals, nine assists, 64 penalty minutes and a plus-three rating in 38 games.
 
The 5-11, 184-pound native of Regina, SK earned 21 games with the Chocolate and White in his rookie year of 2011-12, posting four points (two goals, two assists). 
 
Prior to turning pro, Flemming played in 147 games in his junior career with the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (OHL), totaling 105 points (nine goals, 96 assists) and 288 penalty minutes.  His plus-60 efficiency rating in 2009-10 set a Majors franchise record and led the OHL, the same season in which he helped Mississauga to a berth in the Memorial Cup finals.
 
Flemming was originally selected by the Washington Capitals in the fifth round (145^th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
               
The BEARS return home on Saturday, February 9 to take on the Binghamton Senators at 7:00 PM.  “Chocolate-Covered February” continues, and all fans will receive candy upon exit courtesy of the HERSHEY Company.  Tickets are available at the GIANT Center box office, by calling (717) 508-BEAR or online at TicketMaster.com.