Game Preview: Bears vs Bruins, 3 p.m.

The Hershey Bears host the Providence Bruins for the second of two games this weekend as they continue the 2026-27 season, presented by Penn State Health. The Bears enter today’s contest having won four straight games. 

Hershey Bears (4-1-0-0) vs. Providence Bruins (1-5-0-0)
Oct. 18, 2026 | 3 p.m. | GIANT Center
Referees: Bobby Jo Love (51), Damian Figueira (32)
Linespersons: Onni Hautamäki (7), Dominic Moore (59)

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Promotions:

Reese’s Trick-or-Treat Night (Fans 15 & under) – All fans 15 & under will receive a Trick-or-Treat bag upon entry and have the opportunity to trick-or-treat around the concourse during pre-game and the first intermission.

Bears Brunch – Hope you’re hungry! Specialty brunch offerings will be available at select locations on the concourse.

Broadcast Information:
Voice of the Bears Zack Fisch, AHL Hall-of-Famer Mitch Lamoureux, and radio ice-side reporter Jim Jones on the call
RADIO: WFVY 100.1-FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM, In-arena on 88.9-FM
WATCH LIVE: AHLTV on FloHockey
LISTEN LIVE: Fox Sports 1460-AM Stream

Radio pre-game coverage begins at 2:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT:
The Bears and Bruins opened their season series last night with a 5-3 Hershey victory. Lynden Lakovic netted his first career goal with the Bears on the power play at 5:12 of the first period to give the hosts a 1-0 lead, and Eriks Mateiko made it 2-0 at 19:47. After the Bruins scored two goals in a 17-second span, Cam Allen put Hershey back in front for good with his first of the season at 7:59. Josh Dunne provided some valuable insurance at 17:44 with what would be the eventual game-winner, and Grant Cruikshank tacked on his first of the season at 8:54 of the third period, and Cal Petersen finished with 31 saves.

CALL ON CAM:
Defenseman Cam Allen enjoyed the best offensive game of his professional tenure last night, earning First Star honors with his first career three-point outing (1g, 2a). Allen assisted on Eriks Mateiko’s late first-period goal, struck for his first goal of the season at 7:59 of the second period, and added an additional helper on Josh Dunne’s tally just under 10 minutes later. His four points (1g, 3a) this season are the most among Hershey’s defenders. Allen is still considered an AHL rookie after only logging 22 games last season due to shoulder surgery that cut his first pro campaign short. 

HOW YOU DOIN’?:
Forward Joey Anderson was elevated to the top line last night after the recall of Jonny Brodzinski to the NHL’s Washington Capitals. The veteran winger responded by recording his first point as a Bear, assisting on Grant Cruikshank’s goal in the third period. The helper was also the 200th point of Anderson’s AHL career. He has scored 105 goals and 95 assists in his career during his time with Binghamton, Toronto, Rockford, and Hershey. Anderson is currently signed to a professional tryout agreement with the Bears. 

BREAK IN BACK-TO-BACKS:
Tonight marks the third straight weekend to start the season that Hershey has played home games on consecutive days with contests on a Saturday and Sunday at GIANT Center. Following tonight, that trend will change for the Chocolate and White, as the Bears will not play back-to-back home games on consecutive days at GIANT Center until Jan. 2-3 vs. Cleveland. Next weekend the Bears will play just one game at GIANT Center as they end the seven-game homestand to start the season on Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. Belleville. 

FIRST PERIOD FUN:
Hershey has been a dominant team off the hop so far this season, and after last night’s pair of goals in the opening stanza, the Bears have now outscored opponents in the first period 8-1. The Chocolate and White have scored first in four of the five contests this season, and Eriks Mateiko’s goal last night was the second time Hershey has scored in the closing minute of the opening frame. The Bruins have now been outscored 7-2 in the first period and have failed to score the game’s first goal in all six contests this season.

BEARS BITES:
Hershey’s 4-1-0-0 start this season marks the 18th time in franchise history that the Bears have opened the season with at least four wins in their first five games…With his second goal of the season last night, forward Eriks Mateiko doubled his goal output from his 27 games played in the 2025-26 campaign…Andrew Cristall’s four-game assist and point streak (8a) ended last night…Each of Josh Dunne’s last two goals have been game-winners. He has a shooting percentage of 27.3% and his next point will be his 100th in the AHL…Forward Bogdan Trineyev has points in three straight games (3g, 1a)...Providence’s Henri Jokiharju’s goals last night were his first AHL markers since he scored with Rockford vs. Grand Rapids on Mar. 30, 2019. Derek King was coach of the IceHogs at the time…Providence’s Mikey Eyssimont has four goals over the past two games.

ON THIS DATE IN BEARS HISTORY:
Oct. 18, 1995 – Jim Montgomery led the way for the Bears with a five-point night, as Hershey exploded for five goals in the third period and rallied from a 3-1 deficit to top the Portland Pirates by a 6-5 score at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Montgomery scored three goals, including the game-winner on a 5-on-3 man advantage with 1:18 remaining in regulation as Hershey earned its first road win over the Pirates and extended its winning streak to four games. The Bears torched Pirates backup goaltender Mike Torchia, who came on in relief of starter Ron Tugnutt after the latter was ejected for incurring a five-minute slashing major against Scott Morrow in a brawl at the end of the second period. Montgomery went on to finish the season with 105 points and tie for the league lead with 71 assists to earn AHL Second All-Star Team honors.