Game Preview: Bears vs. Penguins, 5 p.m.

The Hershey Bears continue the 2026-27 season, presented by Penn State Health, as they return home to host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at GIANT Center for the club’s annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night. 

Hershey Bears (6-3-0-0) vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (4-4-1-0)
Nov. 1, 2026 | 5 p.m. | GIANT Center
Referees: Nicholas Parody (36), Jack Young (24)
Linespersons: Jud Ritter (34), Richard Jondo (55)

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Promotions:

Hockey Fights Cancer, presented by Penn State Health – Joining the efforts of the National Hockey League, Hockey Fights Cancer unites the hockey community in support of cancer patients and their families. All fans in attendance will receive a Hockey Fights Cancer Jersey Rally Towel, presented by Penn State Health.

Hockey Fights Cancer jersey auction – Players will be wearing Hockey Fights Cancer-themed jerseys that will be auctioned off postgame.

Broadcast Information:
Voice of the Bears Zack Fisch, former Bears captain Garrett Mitchell, and FOX43 sports director Todd Sadowski on the call
TELEVISION: WPMT FOX43
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 4:30 p.m.; TV coverage begins at 5 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT:
The Bears led 2-1 entering the third period, but the Toronto Marlies scored four times in the final frame to earn a 5-3 victory on Friday night at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Hershey got power-play goals from Bogdan Trineyev and Josh Dunne, but Logan Shaw’s go-ahead power-play goal at 13:24 of the third period proved to be the winning tally. Toronto went 3-for-6 on the power play to hand Hershey its first road loss of the season. The Penguins are also coming off a road defeat, falling 4-3 at Utica on Friday. Former Bear Dmitry Osipov scored the game-winning goal for the Comets at 19:29 of the third period to help Utica rally from a 3-1 deficit. 

HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER:
Tonight’s game against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton marks Hershey’s annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Joining the efforts of the National Hockey League, Hockey Fights Cancer unites the hockey community in support of cancer patients and their families. The Bears will wear jerseys tonight that are accented in lavender and purple and will be auctioned off following the game. Hershey is 3-4-0-0 all-time on Hockey Fights Cancer Night. During last year’s contest, Grant Cruikshank posted a pair of goals and Louie Belpedio also tallied in a 4-3 loss to Laval on Nov. 30, 2025. 

FLIGHT OF THE PENGUINS:
Tonight’s game against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will be the 299th overall regular-season meeting between the I-81 rivals, as well as the 150th at home. Hershey has a lifetime record of 153-104-4-26-11 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and an all-time home record of 85-38-3-16-7. Last season, the Bears were eliminated by the Penguins 3-1 in the best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals.

PENGUINS PARTICULARS:
In Hershey’s regular season series vs. the Penguins in 2025-26, the Bears went 3-5-1-1. Among returning forwards, Andrew Cristall led Hershey with nine points (3g, 6a) in 10 games, while Bogdan Trineyev recorded six points (2g, 4a) in eight games. Goaltender Mitch Gibson went 1-1-0 vs. the Baby Pens. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Avery Hayes led all players in the season series with seven goals in just seven games, while Rutger McGroarty, who has split time this season with NHL Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, was the top scorer in head-to-head play with 10 points (1g, 9a) in five games. 

SMALLMAN’S BIG PRODUCTION:
Forward Spencer Smallman has been on a tear to start the 2026-27 season. The third-year Bear leads Hershey with 10 points (3g, 7a) through just nine games. Before shoulder surgery ended his 2025-26 campaign prematurely, Smallman had 11 points (4g, 7a) in 24 games, and he’s on pace to shatter his career best of 34 points set over 62 games with Hershey during the 2024-25 campaign. He has points in three straight contests, and in six of his past seven games. In his career vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Smallman has seven points (1g, 6a) in 17 games.  

BEARS BITES:
Forward John Dunne recorded his 100th AHL point with his first-period assist in Friday’s loss at Toronto…Hershey’s power play scored twice in Friday’s loss to Toronto, marking the first time the Bears have scored multiple power-play goals in a game this season…With an assist in Friday’s loss, Andrew Cristall snapped a four-game scoreless drought; his nine assists are tied for seventh in the AHL…The Bears loaned goaltender Garin Bjorklund to South Carolina yesterday…Tonight is the first of three home games vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in November…In total, 10 of Hershey’s 12 games in November will come within the Atlantic Division. 

ON THIS DATE IN BEARS HISTORY:
Nov. 1, 1969 – Don Marcotte scored three goals and Andre Gill made 45 saves as the Bears trounced the Springfield Kings 7-1 at the Eastern States Coliseum for the 1,000th regular-season victory for Hershey in franchise history.