Bears Announce Pair of Goaltending Transactions

The Washington Capitals, the NHL parent club of the Hershey Bears, have announced that goaltender Mitch Gibson has been recalled from Hershey. The announcement was made by Washington senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick. Additionally, the Bears have recalled goaltender Garin Bjorklund from the club’s ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays.

Gibson, 27, is 1-1-0 in two games with Hershey this season, posting a 3.50 goals-against average and an .881 save percentage.

In 2025-26, Gibson went 9-9-3 with the Bears over 23 games, collecting a 2.94 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. After entering last season with a 3-0-0 lifetime AHL record, Gibson won his first three starts with Hershey in 2025-26, becoming the first goaltender in team history to begin their Bears tenure with six consecutive wins. He recorded his first AHL shutout on Dec. 13, 2025 in a 36-save effort versus Charlotte. Gibson began the campaign on an AHL contract with the Bears before signing a two-year NHL contract with Washington.

Additionally, the Phoenixville, Pennsylvania native went 8-5-0 in 13 games with the Stingrays last season, posting a 2.32 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage to go along with one shutout. He was the ECHL Goaltender of the Week for the period of Nov. 3-9, 2025.

Bjorklund, 24, won his lone appearance of the season for Hershey, stopping 27 shots in a 3-2 win over Charlotte on Oct. 4. He also won his only game with the Stingrays this season, recording 21 saves on 22 shots in South Carolina's season opener at Jacksonville on Oct. 16.

The Grande Prairie, Alberta native went 5-9-3 in 17 appearances for the Bears in 2025-26, posting a 3.72 goals-against average, an .876 save percentage, and one shutout. Bjorklund also appeared in eight contests with the Stingrays, going 5-2-0 with a 2.05 goals-against average, a .935 save percentage, and one shutout. He also played in nine games for South Carolina in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. 

He was a sixth-round selection (179th overall) by the Washington Capitals in the 2020 NHL Draft.

The Bears conclude their seven-game homestand to open the 2026-27 season, presented by Penn State Health, when they host the Belleville Senators on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at GIANT Center for Christmas Candylane Pass Night. All fans in attendance will receive a 2026 Hersheypark Christmas Candylane ticket, valid for one-day admission through Jan. 3, 2027. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets for this game via Ticketmaster.