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

The Hershey Bears conclude the opening weekend of the 2026-27 season, presented by Penn State Health, as they rematch with the Charlotte Checkers at 3 p.m. today. 

Hershey Bears (0-1-0-0) vs. Charlotte Checkers (1-0-0-0)
Oct. 4, 2026 | 3 p.m. | GIANT Center
Referees: Chad Ingalls (39), Morgan MacPhee (43)
Linespersons: Chris Martenet (78), Davids Rozitis (62)

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Promotions:

Dark Nights Takeover – Select characters from Dark Nights™ at Hersheypark Halloween™ will leave the shadows of Hersheypark and prowl the concourse.

Dark Nights Jersey Auction – Players will be wearing Dark Nights-themed jerseys that will be auctioned off postgame.

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 in-arena emcee 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 opened the club’s 89th season last night with a 5-2 loss to the Charlotte Checkers at GIANT Center. Hershey struck just 3:08 into the game on Josh Dunne’s first goal as a Bear to make it 1-0, and the two teams entered the third period tied 2-2 before the Checkers pulled away for the win. Forward Nate Smith had a hat trick for the visitors. Hershey outshot Charlotte, 32-29, and both teams failed to convert on the power play as the Bears went 0-for-2 while Charlotte was 0-for-1. 

MacDONALD MAKES MARK:
Newcomer Jacob MacDonald scored in his Hershey debut last night, tying the game to make the score 2-2 late in the second period. It marked the 104th goal of MacDonald’s illustrious AHL career, moving him past former Checkers captain Trevor Carrick for sole possession of seventh place in league history for goals by a defenseman. He currently sits just seven goals behind former Bears legend Ralph Keller (111).

LAUDABLE LAKOVIC:
Forward Lynden Lakovic made his professional debut last night, earning an assist on Jacob MacDonald’s goal to strike for his first pro point. Lakovic also fired five shots on goal in the defeat. Lakovic, the 27th overall pick of the Capitals in the 2025 NHL Draft, won a Western Hockey League title with the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2024, and prior to season-ending surgery during the 2025-26 campaign, he was leading the WHL in goals with 18 tallies in just 21 games. 

AND THEY’RE NOT DUNNE:
Forward Josh Dunne started his Hershey career with a bang last night, scoring a goal in his third consecutive AHL season opener. Dunne previously found the back of the net on opening night for Rochester in both 2024-25 and 2025-26. He wasn’t the only Bear to keep a streak alive, either: blueliner Jacob MacDonald also scored in his season debut for the third straight year, a feat he accomplished the past two seasons with the Colorado Eagles.

MAKE IT A SUNDAY FUNDAY:
Sunday games are a staple of the Hershey schedule, and today’s afternoon contest marks the first of 17 Sunday games on the docket this season, with 10 occurring at GIANT Center. This is also the first of three straight Sundays in which Hershey plays at home. The Bears went 5-8-2-1 in 16 Sunday games last season, including a 5-5-2-0 record in Hershey.

BEARS BITES:
Josh Dunne’s goal last night was his 100th professional point (96 AHL, 4 NHL)...Hershey will wear Dark Nights jerseys today in honor of the Dark Nights Takeover promotion. The jerseys glow in the dark and will be auctioned off following the game…Goaltender Cal Petersen will temporarily wear #30 in today’s specialty jersey…With his debut last night for Hershey, Petersen became the first right-catching goaltender to appear in a regular-season game for Hershey since Nolan Schaefer during the 2010-11 season…Forward Joey Anderson’s next point is his 200th in the American Hockey League.

ON THIS DATE IN BEARS HISTORY:
Oct. 4, 1969 – On this date in 1969, the Bears hosted the Philadelphia Flyers in a preseason exhibition game in front of a crowd of 4,903 at Hershey Sports Arena, and walked away with a 4-3 victory over their NHL counterparts. Roger DeJordy scored the game-winning goal, giving Hershey its first win against NHL competition since a 3-2 win over Chicago on Sept. 28, 1963; coincidentally, DeJordy scored the game-winning marker in that game as well.