Weekly Release: Bears Host Hammers, Penguins, and Checkers

The Hershey Bears (8-5-0-0, second in Atlantic Division) continue the 2026-27 regular season, presented by Penn State Health, as they host three games this week at GIANT Center, welcoming the Hamilton Hammers to town on Wednesday, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday, and the Charlotte Checkers on Sunday.

2026-27 SEASON LEADERS:
Goals: Jonny Brodzinski, Josh Dunne, Petr Sikora (5)
Assists: Andrew Cristall (10)
Points: Jonny Brodzinski, Andrew Cristall (11)
PIMs: Sam Bitten (33)
Power-Play Goals: Bogdan Trineyev (2)
Shorthanded Goals: Petr Sikora, Bogdan Trineyev (1)
Game-Winning Goals: Louie Belpedio, Josh Dunne (2)
Plus/Minus: Louie Belpedio (+6)
Shots: Lynden Lakovic (40)
Wins: Cal Petersen (4)
Shutouts: N/A
GAA: Cal Petersen (2.76)
SV%: Cal Petersen (.891)
Statistics reflective of active roster

LOCAL PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, Nov. 11
10:15 a.m., Morning Skate at GIANT Center

Thursday, Nov. 12
10:30 a.m., Practice at Hersheypark Arena

Saturday, Nov. 14
10:30 a.m., Practice at Hersheypark Arena

Practice schedule is subject to change. Please check HersheyBears.com daily for updates.

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:

• Wednesday, Nov. 4 – Hershey 4 vs. Hartford 1
• Friday, Nov. 6 – Hershey 2 at Springfield 4
• Saturday, Nov. 7 – Hershey 6 at Springfield 1

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, Nov. 11 vs. Hamilton Hammers, 7 p.m. – CLICK TO PURCHASE TICKETS

• Hometown Heroes – Join us for Seats For Soldiers and Veterans Night, as we welcome members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Retired Four-Star General Timothy D. Haugh for activations throughout the night featuring a ceremonial puck drop, an on-ice swearing in ceremony, and Army vs. Air Force tug-of-war.
• Berks Dollar Dog Night – Berks hot dogs can be purchased for $1 on the concourse at select locations.

Friday, Nov. 13 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 7 p.m. – CLICK TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Sunday, Nov. 15 vs. Charlotte Checkers, 3 p.m. – CLICK TO PURCHASE TICKETS

• Belco Kids Night – Join us for a family-friendly night, featuring activities just for the kiddos!
• Belco Knit Hat Night – The first 3,000 children 15-and-under will receive a Coco knit hat, courtesy of Belco
• Mascot Mania – Lions, tigers, and Bears…Oh my! Your favorite mascots from Central PA and beyond are joining Coco to take over GIANT Center!
• Bears Brunch – Hope you’re hungry! Specialty brunch offerings will be available at select locations on the concourse.

All times Eastern.

Television Coverage: WPMT FOX43.2 Antenna TV (Wednesday); Video Coverage: AHLTV on FloHockey; Radio Coverage: GIANT Bears Radio Network

TEAM NEWS AND NOTES:

HAMILTON HOMECOMING:
The Bears will get their first look at the Hamilton Hammers this season on Wednesday after the American Hockey League welcomed the return of the city of Hamilton, Ontario to the league following the relocation of the Bridgeport Islanders franchise after 25 seasons in Connecticut; Hershey had a lifetime record of 78-37-3-5-11 against Bridgeport and knocked the club out of the playoffs with a two-game sweep in the 2026 Atlantic Division First Round. The Canadian market was previously served by the Canucks (1992-94) and Bulldogs (1996-2015), and the club is now manned behind the bench by head coach Jay McKee. Hammers defenseman Ethan Bear made the AHL Second All-Star Team with Hershey during the 2024-25 campaign, while netminder Vítek Vaněček will be making his return to Hershey, where he patrolled the crease for the Chocolate and White from 2015-20 and 2021-22. Hershey has posted a 2-1-0-0 record against North Division clubs this season.

BEARS AND PENGUINS TO MEET FOR 300TH TIME:
Hershey will face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday in the 300th regular-season meeting between the clubs. The Penguins took the opening match of a 12-game season series on Nov. 1 by a 5-0 score. Through 299 games, the Bears own a lifetime record of 153-105-4-26-11 (.580); Hershey owns a lifetime 85-39-3-16-7 record at home against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and is looking for its first win against its I-81 rivals on GIANT Center ice since Nov. 29, 2025 (6-2 W). Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Bill Zonnon (27.8%) and Hershey’s Petr Sikora (26.3%) are first and second respectively in shooting percentage among AHL rookies with at least 18 shots on goal.

CHOPPING THE CHECKERS:
Hershey hosts Charlotte on Sunday after the two teams split a pair of games in the opening weekend of the season. The Bears dropped their first meeting with the Checkers on Oct. 3 by a 5-2 decision, before rebounding the following afternoon with a 3-2 victory. Andrew Cristall leads Hershey in scoring with three points (3a), while Nate Smith is pacing Charlotte with three points (3g). The Bears make their first visit of the season to Charlotte later this month for a pair of games on Nov. 27-28.

MAC TRUCK:
Dylan McIlrath played his first games for Hershey since the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs last week, logging one assist and a team-leading +4 over three games. The veteran blueliner needs one more helper to reach 100 professional assists; McIlrath has 33 points (7g, 26a) in 195 career games as a Bear.

JONNY B. GOOD:
Jonny Brodzinski paced the Bears in scoring last week with four points (3g, 1a) in three contests. The forward is Hershey’s only player to record multiple multi-goal outings this season and is tied for the team lead with three multi-point games.

DOWN ON THE FARM:
Hershey’s ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays, improved to a 7-1-0-0 record after winning both of last week’s contests against Orlando. South Carolina topped the Solar Bears 4-1 on Friday, with Bears-contracted goaltender Ben Kraws stopping 25 of 26 shots, and on Saturday, Garin Bjorklund made 29 saves to lead the Stingrays past the Solar Bears 3-0. Through eight games, the Stingrays have the top power play in the ECHL at 10-for-31 (32.3%).

BEARS BITES:
The Bears are one of only two teams (along with Grand Rapids) that are in the league’s top 11 clubs in both power play and penalty kill…The Washington Capitals recalled defenseman Justin Holl from Hershey earlier this afternoon…Louie Belpedio is tied for the league lead for game-winning goals among defensemen (2)...Jacob MacDonald is second in shots on goal among defensemen (39)...Matt Strome is one game away from his 200th as a Bear…Lynden Lakovic is tied for ninth in league rookie scoring with 10 points (3g, 7a), while his 40 shots on goal rank second among rookies and is tied for 13th among all skaters.