Liam O'Brien Recalled to Washington

January 6, 2017

(Hershey, PA- January 6, 2017)- The Washington Capitals announced today the recall of forward Liam O’Brien from the Hershey Bears. In an additional move, the Bears announced that the club has released defenseman Colton Saucerman from his professional tryout agreement. 

O’Brien, 22, is enjoying a career-best season with Hershey this year, striking for 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in 28 contests this season. O’Brien has posted 48 penalty minutes this season, and the forward tallied a career-high three points (two goals, one assist) in Hershey’s 6-2 win over Bridgeport on Dec. 30. O’Brien has notched four multi-point games this season. 

The third-year Bear collected 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 49 games last season. He also helped Hershey to the 2016 Calder Cup Finals, scoring six points in 20 playoff contests. O’Brien has 42 points (16 goals, 26 assists) and 185 penalty minutes in 132 career contests with the Bears. 

O’Brien returns to the Capitals for the first time since early in the 2014-15 season. The undrafted forward earned a contact, and a spot on Washington’s roster, out of training camp. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 9, 2014 versus Montreal and scored his first NHL goal on Oct. 26, 2014 at Vancouver. In total, O’Brien appeared in 13 games with the Capitals, scoring two points (one goal, one assists) and registering 23 penalty minutes. 

Saucerman, 24, joined the Bears last week from the club’s ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays. He made his AHL debut last Saturday in a 4-1 loss to Providence. He will return to South Carolina following his release. 

Hershey visits Wilkes-Barre/Scranton tonight at 7:05 p.m. The game may be heard on the Bears Radio Network. The Bears return to the GIANT Center for a pair of home games this weekend featuring rivalry games and big giveaways. On Saturday, January 7, the club hosts the Utica Comets at 7 p.m. It’s PSECU Knit Cap Night for the first 4,000 fans. It’s also Washington Capitals Night. On Sunday, January 8, the rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins come to town for a 5 p.m. game at GIANT Center. The evening features a Jakub Vrana Labatt Blue Pint Glass giveaway to the first 3,000 fans and it’s also Girl Scout Night.