Weekly Release: Bears Take on Wolf Pack, T-Birds

The Hershey Bears (6-4-0-0, third in Atlantic Division) continue the 2026-27 regular season, presented by Penn State Health, as they host the Hartford Wolf Pack on Wednesday at GIANT Center before visiting the Bay State for a pair of games this weekend against the Springfield Thunderbirds.

2026-27 SEASON LEADERS:
Goals: Josh Dunne, Bogdan Trineyev (4)
Assists: Andrew Cristall (9)
Points: Spencer Smallman (10)
PIMs: Josh Dunne, Spencer Smallman (25)
Power-Play Goals: Bogdan Trineyev (2)
Shorthanded Goals: Bogdan Trineyev (1)
Game-Winning Goals: Josh Dunne (2)
Plus/Minus: Louie Belpedio (+6)
Shots: Bogdan Trineyev (32)
Wins: Cal Petersen (4)
Shutouts: N/A
GAA: Cal Petersen (2.70)
SV%: Cal Petersen (.892)
Statistics reflective of active roster

LOCAL PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, Nov. 4:
10:30 a.m., Practice at GIANT Center

Wednesday, Nov. 4:
10:15 a.m., Morning Skate at GIANT Center

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

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:

• Wednesday, Oct. 28 – Hershey 3 at Rochester 2
• Friday, Oct. 30 – Hershey 3 at Toronto 5
• Saturday, Nov. 1 – Hershey 0 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 5

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, Nov. 4 vs. Hartford Wolf Pack, 7 p.m. – CLICK TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Milton Hershey School Takeover Night – Fans are encouraged to show their Spartan pride. Our core purpose is to provide value to Milton Hershey School and continue to fulfil the dream of our founder, Milton S. Hershey. Join us as we welcome students from MHS to celebrate our sweet partnership! The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a wrapped chocolate bar, courtesy of Milton Hershey School.

Canned Food Drive – Help the Bears and Scouting America take a bite out of hunger! Milton Hershey School Scout Troop 75 will be collecting non-perishable items for the Hershey Food Bank before the game between the Bears and Wolf Pack. Suggested donation items include: canned vegetables and fruit, canned meats and seafood, canned soups and meals, canned sauces and gravy, boxed items (cereal, pasta, breakfast bars, mac & cheese, etc.), bagged items (cereal, rice, noodles, beans, sugar, flour, etc.), spices and condiments; spreadables (peanut butter, jelly, jam, etc.), household paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, etc.), toiletries (toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, etc.), household cleaners (dish soap, laundry detergent, etc.), baby supplies (baby food, baby wipes, diapers, etc.).

Friday, Nov. 6 at Springfield Thunderbirds, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 7 at Springfield Thunderbirds, 6:05 p.m.

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:

RETURN OF THE MAC:
The Washington Capitals loaned Dylan McIlrath to the Bears on Monday after the defenseman appeared in four games this season with Hershey’s NHL affiliate. McIlrath previously skated for the Bears from 2021-24, captaining the club to back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 2023 and 2024. The bruising blueliner has 32 points (7g, 25a) and 301 penalty minutes in 192 career games with the Bears. McIlrath previously played for both of this week’s opponents for Hershey, with the former 2010 Rangers draft pick skating for the Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whale franchise between 2010-15 and 2016-17, and later appeared in 18 games with Springfield during the 2016-17 campaign after a trade to the Florida Panthers organization.

WOLF PACK:
After playing Hartford four times last season (going 1-1-2-0), Hershey’s season series with the Wolf Pack has been expanded to six games for the 2026-27 campaign. Andrew Cristall tied with Ilya Protas for the team lead in scoring against Hartford with eight points (5g, 3a) including the first hat trick of his career in an 8-1 romp on April 4. The Bears will host Hartford for the first time this season on Wednesday, and will likely see some familiar faces: defenseman Vincent Iorio could take the ice against the Bears for the first time since lifting the Calder Cup in 2024, and associate coach Bob Woods could coach against Hershey for the first time since serving as the club’s head coach during the 2009 Calder Cup championship. Forward Justin Nachbaur also skated with the Bears for two seasons between 2024-26. The Bears have a lifetime record of 24-19-0-3-2 at home against the Wolf Pack.

TAKING ON THE T-BIRDS:
Hershey went 2-2-0-0 against the Thunderbirds last season, with each team earning a win at home and on the road. The Bears were paced in scoring against Springfield by Bogdan Trineyev and Henrik Rybinski, who each had generated four points in four games. Hershey has a lifetime record of 33-9-3-1 against the Thunderbirds at MassMutual Center.

DOWN ON THE FARM:
Hershey’s ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays, saw their 5-0-0-0 start to the season snapped this weekend after splitting their two games this past weekend. The Stingrays earned a 7-3 win over Savannah on Friday, with Bears-contracted forward Alex Gaffney netting his first professional goal, before suffering a 5-2 loss to Atlanta on Sunday. Bears-contracted forward Cam Morrison was also named Stingrays captain last week.

BEARS BITES:
Bogdan Trineyev’s next game will be his 100th in the AHL, all with the Bears…Matt Strome is one game away from his 200th as a Bear…Lynden Lakovic is tied for eighth in league rookie scoring with eight points (3g, 5a)...Jacob MacDonald is tied for fourth in shots on goal among league defensemen with 29.