Game Preview: Bears at Checkers, 7 p.m.

December 21, 2017

Hershey Bears (13-14-0-3)  at Charlotte Checkers (19-10-0-1)
Thursday, December 21, 2017, 7:00 p.m
Bojangles Coliseum

REFEREES: Corey Syvret (42), Beaudry Halkidis (32)
LINESMEN: Tim Lyons (#33), Max Nicastro (#28)

Broadcast Information (Pre-game 6:30 PM)
RADIO: WQIC-100.1 FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM, WOYK 1350-AM, Hershey Bears App--Zack Fisch, the Voice of the Bears, on the call
LISTEN LIVE: Fox Sports AM-1460 Stream, Caps Radio 24/7
WATCH LIVE: AHLLive.com

AHL STANDINGS
AHL MEDIA KIT FOR TONIGHT'S GAME

LAST NIGHT: The Hershey Bears earned a 5-4 victory over the Checkers last night at the Bojangles Coliseum. Hershey used a five-goal first period to score the victory, and the Chocolate and White held on to snap a three-game losing streak despite the Checkers scoring the game’s final four goals. Hershey’s five goals in the first period was a season high. Colby Williams, Anthony Peluso, Wayne Simpson, Travis Boyd, and Riley Barber scored for Hershey, while Aaron Ness, Tyler Graovac, and John Albert each had two assists. Vitek Vanecek stopped 35 shots to earn the win in goal, as Hershey was outshot 39-18 in the game. The Checkers outshot Hershey 30-7 in the final 40 minutes, and got three assists from Nicolas Roy. The contest was Hershey’s first in Charlotte since Nov. 14, 2013.

HOBBS HERE TO HELP: Rookie defender Connor Hobbs is expected to return to Hershey’s lineup this evening. The former WHL star suffered a fractured wrist on Nov. 4 versus Toronto and has missed the last 19 games. Hobbs has appeared in 10 games with Hershey this season, scoring two points (one goal, one assist). The defender brings an impressive pedigree to Chocolate Town after coming off a record-breaking season with the WHL’s Regina Pats. Hobbs posted 85 points last season on the blue line for Regina, scoring 31 goals and adding 54 assists.

RILEY’S ROLLING: Hershey forward Riley Barber notched the game-winning goal in last night’s 5-4 win over the Checkers. Barber now has goal in two straight contests, after scoring shorthanded last Saturday, and notching a first period marker last night. The Pittsburgh native has points in four of his past five games (two goals, three assists). Barber enters tonight’s game with 98 career AHL points (46 goals, 52 assists).

PELUSO PERFORMS: Forward Anthony Peluso scored his second goal of the season last night, striking in the first period in the win over Charlotte. Know more as an enforcer, Peluso is on pace to rival his best offensive season. The forward has four points (two goals, two assists) in 18 games. The two goals is the most in a season for Peluso since 2013-14 when he struck for a pair as a member of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets. Peluso’s best AHL season came in 2012-13 with Peoria when he tallied 11 points (five goals, six assists) and picked up 58 penalty minutes.

CHARLOTTE TIES: Hershey’s coaching staff has many ties to the Charlotte Checkers organization. Charlotte, formerly an ECHL club until 2010, was the home of Hershey’s associate goaltending coach, Alex Westlund, for two seasons. Westlund played between the pipes for the Checkers from 2005-07, posting his best numbers during the 2005-06 season, a year in which he went 27-15-5 with a 2.72 goals against average in 51 games. Hershey assistant coach Ryan Murphy was a forward for Charlotte for two seasons from 2007-09, playing in 56 games with the Checkers in his second year, scoring 26 points. Troy Mann also worked with the Checkers in the 2008-09 season, serving as associate head coach with the club.

BEARS-CHECKERS FAST FACTS: The Washington Capitals reclaimed forward Nathan Walker off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers yesterday. Walker has reported to the Capitals, and due to the NHL’s holiday roster freeze, he could not be assigned to Hershey until Dec. 28…Hershey’s Colby Williams scored his first career shorthanded goal last night, and notched his first goal since Oct. 15 versus Lehigh Valley, a span of 26 games…Hershey defender Aaron Ness has notched two straight multi-assist games…Hershey held Valentin Zykov goalless last night, ending a streak of five straight games with a tally...Hershey’s Travis Boyd scored his first goal since Nov. 5 last night.