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

The Hershey Bears host the Texas Stars for the second straight night as they continue the 2026-27 season, presented by Penn State Health. 

Hershey Bears (2-1-0-0) vs. Texas Stars (1-1-0-1)
Oct. 11, 2026 | 5 p.m. | GIANT Center
Referees: Luke Stork (54), Brendan Schreider (20)
Linespersons: Richard Jondo (55), Ryan Knapp (73)

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Promotions:

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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 4:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT:
The Bears earned a 2-1 victory in the franchise’s first-ever regular season meeting vs. the Texas Stars last night at GIANT Center. After a scoreless first period, the two teams traded goals from defenders as Ben Gleason scored for the visitors at 2:48 of the middle frame, while Hershey’s Leon Muggli responded with a goal at 4:12. Forward Bogdan Trineyev broke the tie with his first goal of the season at 13:20 of the third period, and goaltender Cal Petersen earned the win in net with 24 saves. The meeting was the first matchup between the teams since the 2010 Calder Cup Finals, a series won by Hershey in six games to give the club its 11th title. 

STRONG STARTERS:
Forwards Jonny Brodzinski and Andrew Cristall have both opened the season on three-game assist streaks. Brodzinski has posted three primary helpers, and the veteran forward has now scored 10 points (3g, 10a) in 10 career games versus Texas. Cristall, who had 40 assists in his rookie season, has picked up right where he left off, and his five assists are second in the AHL to Coachella Valley’s Tyson Jugnauth (7a). Cristall recorded a multi-assist game last night, something he did seven times during the 2025-26 campaign.  

GO-TIME FOR GIBBY:
Goaltender Mitch Gibson could make his season debut tonight for Hershey after missing the opening weekend of the season with a lower-body injury. Gibson was injured in Hershey’s preseason opener at Lehigh Valley on Sept. 26. The 27-year-old netminder appeared in 23 games for the Bears last season, recording a 9-9-3 record with a 2.94 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage, and earning a two-year NHL contract with the Capitals. 

THREE IS A MAGIC NUMBER:
A victory tonight would give Hershey a third straight home win, something they accomplished just once during the 2025-26 campaign. Hershey last claimed three straight wins at GIANT Center between Jan. 3-10, beating Rockford 5-4 on Jan. 3 and 5-2 on Jan. 4, before defeating Cleveland 3-2 on Jan. 10. Last year, Hershey didn’t win its third home game of the season until Nov. 9 vs. Rochester in the club’s seventh home game of the season. Tonight marks the fourth game of a seven-game homestand, the longest stretch of home games to start a campaign in club history.

POWER PLAY TIME:
Hershey didn’t have much of a chance on the power play last night, going just 0-for-1. Hershey has been held scoreless (0-for-9) through the first three games of the season, but the club is hoping to break out tonight. Last year it took Hershey until the fifth game of the season to score its first power-play goal, as Matt Strome struck on Oct. 24 at Lehigh Valley after Hershey had started the season at 0-for-10 through its first four games. Hershey will look to veteran defenseman Jacob MacDonald for a boost on the power play as 48 of the 104 goals in his AHL career have come on the man advantage.

BEARS BITES:
Leon Muggli’s goal last night was just the second of his AHL career. His previous strike came last season on Mar. 22 vs. Bridgeport…Cal Petersen played in his 250th career AHL game last night and earned his first victory with the Bears. He is now 5-0-0 in his career vs. Texas…Forward Terik Parascak made his season debut last night in the victory…Forward Joey Anderson could make his Hershey season debut today. He is just one point from 200 in his AHL career…Former Bear Mike Sgarbossa had an assist last night to give him points in all three games this season (2g, 2a).

ON THIS DATE IN BEARS HISTORY:
Oct. 11, 1987 – The Bears opened their 50th anniversary campaign at Hersheypark Arena with a dominant 9-3 victory over the Baltimore Skipjacks before a crowd of 7,075. Kevin Maxwell and Don Nachbaur led the offense with four points (2g, 2a) apiece, while two other skaters also scored twice in the rout. The contest served as the final curtain call for long-time organist Mitch Grand. Hershey went on to a 50-win season in the 1987-88 campaign, then capped off the year with a perfect 12-0 record in the playoffs to claim the 1988 Calder Cup.