Weekly Release #6: Bears Prepare to Host Monsters

November 13, 2018

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE HERSHEY BEARS WEEKLY RELEASE #6

The Hershey Bears split a pair of games last weekend and now sit at 7-8-0-1 on the 2018-19 campaign. The Chocolate and White opened the weekend with a win at the Giant Center over the Springfield Thunderbirds on Saturday evening, before falling on the road at Syracuse Sunday night. Hershey is 6-3-0-1 over the past 10 games, and the club scored a total of five power play goals this past weekend. 

After enjoying a rare Friday night off last week, the Bears earned a 3-2 win over Springfield on home ice to open the weekend. The club jumped out to a 2-0 lead, scoring a pair of power play goals. Jayson Megna started the scoring at 6:46, and Nathan Walker deflected a Garrett Pilon shot on the man-advantage at 12:13 to put the Bears ahead. With Hershey ahead 2-1, Riley Barber scored on a two-man advantage at 24 seconds of the third period, giving the Bears the eventual game-winner. Hershey was out shot 18-4 in the third period, but Ilya Samsonov stood tall in goal for Hershey, earning the win with 31 saves. 

On Sunday, the Bears fell 7-2 at Syracuse as the Crunch swept the two-game season series. Mike Sgarbossa and Riley Barber had power play goals for Hershey, but Syracuse went 4-for-5 on the power play to earn the win. 

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS: 
Ticket information: http://www.hersheybears.com/tickets/single-game.php 
Friday, Nov. 16 vs. Cleveland, 7 p.m. 
Promotion: Hershey Pharmacy & Gift Stress Puck Night (First 3,000 fans), Faith & Family Night, Dietz & Watson Dollar Dog Night
Saturday, Nov. 17 vs. Cleveland, 7 p.m. 
Promotion: Sara Lee & Canteen Vending Turkey Shoot, College Night delivered by Papa Johns

#BEARSCARES:
The Bears are committed to giving back to the local community. On Tuesday, the team received an Introduction to the Milton Hershey School. On Wednesday, several players will assist at the Hershey Community Garden. On Thursday, select players will visit children at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

WEEKLY PRACTICE SCHEDULE: 
Wednesday, Nov. 14: 10:30 a.m., Giant Center
Thursday, Nov. 15: 10:30 a.m., Giant Center
Friday, Nov. 16: 10 a.m., Morning Skate, Giant Center
Saturday, Nov. 17: 10 a.m., Morning Skate, Giant Center
*Practice schedule subject to change. Follow @TheHersheyBears on Twitter for updates.

MONSTER MASH: This week the Bears welcome the Cleveland Monsters to town for a pair of games. This marks the first time the Monsters have visited Giant Center since the two teams battled in the 2016 Calder Cup Finals. The then Lake Erie Monsters swept Hershey en route to a championship. The last time Hershey played the Monsters at Giant Center in a regular season game was Jan. 18, 2013. Current Bears center Mike Sgarbossa had the winning goal for Cleveland in a 3-2 decision that evening. 

RILEY ROLLS ALONG: After failing to score a goal in his first six games, forward Riley Barber has caught fire of late. The sniper has scored five goals in his past seven games. Entering this weekend, Barber has posted a pair of back-to-back multi-point games, scoring a goal and an assist in each contest. The native of Pittsburgh has taken the team lead with 11 points. 

HOME POWER PLAY BREAKS OUT: Entering last Saturday’s game, Hershey was 0-for-23 on the power play at the Giant Center, making them the only team in the AHL without a home power play goal. That all changed in the win over Springfield, as Hershey scored three power play goals in a single game for only the second time this season. Jayson Megna, Nathan Walker, and Riley Barber all scored their first power play goal of the season in the win.  

PENALTY KILL RECORD: The Bears established a new club record with 37 consecutive penalties killed. The streak started mid-way through the Oct. 19 game at Charlotte and was intact through a perfect Nov. 10 game versus Springfield.   

BEARS BITES: On Tuesday it was announced that forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby had left the Bears to return home. He was officially loaned by the Washington Capitals to Djurgardens IF of the SHL…After 102 games with Hershey, defender Jonas Siegenthaler made his NHL debut last Friday in Washington’s loss to Columbus…After a brief recall to Washington, veteran defender Aaron Ness has been re-assigned to the Bears…Hershey blue liner Tyler Lewington is now at 454 career penalty minutes, passing the great Don Cherry who had 424 in his tenure with Hershey. Lewington has penalties in six straight road games, and overall leads the league in minor penalties with 12…Defender Logan Pyett is two games away from 500 in his professional career…All five of Hershey’s goals last weekend came on the power play.