Weekly Release #5: Bears Look to Turn Corner

November 7, 2017

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As the second month of the American Hockey League season is underway, the Hershey Bears are looking to turn the corner in November. The Bears enter a three-game week with a record of 4-6-0-2 after collecting three of a possible six points last weekend. Last Friday, the Bears fell in a wild game at Rochester, 7-6 in a shootout, and dropped a 4-1 decision to Toronto on home ice on Saturday. However, Hershey finished the weekend strong, beating its top rival, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 3-2 in a shootout on the road on Sunday afternoon.

In Wilkes-Barre, Hershey trailed 1-0 just 1:18 into the game, however the Chocolate and White got goals from Wayne Simpson and Travis Boyd to take a 2-1 lead. The Penguins tied the game late in the third period to extra time, and Hershey prevailed in a shootout. Simpson scored the lone shootout goal, and Pheonix Copley stopped all three Wilkes-Barre/Scranton attempts to earn Hershey the victory. 

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS:
-Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Springfield, 7:05 p.m.
-Saturday, Nov. 11 vs. Lehigh Valley, 7 p.m.
United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 431 American Flag Night, Hometown Heroes with Jersey Auction
-Sunday, Nov. 12 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 5 p.m.
David A. Smith Printing Team Photo Night (First 5,000), Team Autograph Night, Dietz & Watson Dollar Dog Night

WEEKLY PRACTICE SCHEDULE: 
Tuesday, Nov. 7, 4:30 PM, MassMutual Center
Wednesday, Nov. 8, 11:15 AM, Morning Skate, MassMutual Center
Thursday, Nov. 9, 12:00 PM, Hersheypark Arena
Friday, Nov. 10, 10:30 AM, Hersheypark Arena
Saturday, Nov. 11, 10:00 AM, Morning Skate, Hersheypark Arena

BEARS NEWS AND NOTES:

BOURQUE’S BIG WEEK: On Friday, forward Chris Bourque scored a goal and four assists in Hershey’s 7-6 shootout loss at Rochester. The five points and four assists both tie career-highs for the AHL legend. On Sunday, Bourque skated in his 800th professional game, notching an assist in Hershey’s 3-2 shootout win at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Bourque is off to a great start this season, leading the league in assists (13) and tying for the top spot in points (17). 

PHEONIX RISES: After missing nine games with a lower-body injury, Hershey goaltender Pheonix Copley returned to the lineup on Friday in Rochester. The goaltender earned his first win of the season on Sunday in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, stopping 25 shots and all three shootout attempts to improve to 5-0-0 all-time versus the Penguins.   

GROUNDING THE T-BIRDS: Wednesday marks Hershey’s first meeting of the season with Springfield. Last year Hershey went a perfect 6-0-0-0 versus Springfield, outscoring the Thunderbirds 24-11. Dating back to the days of the Springfield Falcons, Hershey has won six straight games in Springfield.

200 FOR LANGLOIS: Hershey forward Jeremy Langlois’ next game will be his 200th career AHL contest. The forward has three points (one goal, two assists) with the Bears this season, and has scored 81 points (29 goals, 42 assists) in his AHL career. His 200th game could come Wednesday in Springfield where he played five games with the Falcons in 2013-14. 

SHOOTOUT WOES GONE: Last Sunday’s 3-2 shootout win in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton ended a five-game skid in the shootout for the Bears. The win was Hershey’s first shootout win since Apr. 17, 2016 when the Bears defeated the Penguins, 2-1, at Giant Center in Vitek Vanecek’s AHL debut.

BEARS BULLETS: Travis Boyd and Chris Bourque are tied for second in the league with nine power play points….Bourque ranks second in the AHL with 45 shots on the season…Hershey defender Lucas Johansen is currently tied for fourth among defenders with eight points (two goals, six assists) on the season…Johansen also has assists in four straight road games….Goaltender Vitek Vanecek was re-assigned to the Bears after rehabbing with South Carolina (ECHL) last week. He went 1-1-0 with the Rays in two starts. 

Information on this weekend's games, as well as the 2018 Capital BlueCross Outdoor Classic, 22-game and 12-game plans, and flex-10 ticket plans for the 2017-2018 season is available now by calling (717) 508-BEAR or by visiting HersheyBears.com.  Flexible ticket plans start as low as $195 per seat.