Weekly Release: Bears Wrap Up Homestand Against Senators

The Hershey Bears (4-2-0-0, first in Atlantic Division) continue the 2026-27 regular season, presented by Penn State Health, as they host the Belleville Senators this Saturday at GIANT Center in Belleville’s lone visit of the campaign.

2026-27 SEASON LEADERS:
Goals: Josh Dunne, Bogdan Trineyev (3)
Assists: Andrew Cristall (8)
Points: Andrew Cristall (8)
PIMs: Spencer Smallman (25)
Power-Play Goals: Joey Anderson, Lynden Lakovic, Bogdan Trineyev (1)
Shorthanded Goals: Bogdan Trineyev (1)
Game-Winning Goals: Josh Dunne (2)
Plus/Minus: Louie Belpedio, Andrew Cristall, Jon McDonald (+4)
Shots: Bogdan Trineyev (21)
Wins: Cal Petersen (2)
Shutouts: N/A
GAA: Cal Petersen (2.69)
SV%: Cal Petersen (.908)
Statistics reflective of active roster

PUBLIC PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Friday, Oct. 23
10:30 a.m., Practice at GIANT Center

Saturday, Oct. 24
10:15 a.m., Morning Skate at GIANT Center

The practice schedule is subject to change. Please check HersheyBears.com daily for updates or changes.

Security will open doors 15 minutes prior to practices or morning skates at GIANT Center. All fans must sit in Section 121 during practice or morning skates. 

Visiting team practices or visiting team morning skates are NOT open to the public. 

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:

• Saturday, Oct. 17 – Hershey 5 vs. Providence 3
• Sunday, Oct. 18 – Hershey 1 vs. Providence 6

UPCOMING GAME SCHEDULE:

Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. Belleville Senators, 7 p.m. – CLICK TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Christmas Candylane Pass Night – All fans in attendance will receive a 2026 Hersheypark Christmas Candylane ticket, valid for one-day admission through Jan. 3, 2027.

All times Eastern.

Video Coverage: AHLTV on FloHockey; Radio Coverage: GIANT Bears Radio Network

TEAM NEWS AND NOTES:

HOME SWEET HOME:
The Bears will face Belleville on Saturday in the conclusion of a seven-game homestand – the longest homestand to open a season in franchise history. With a 4-2-0-0 record through its first six home games, a win in Saturday’s contest will give Hershey five victories in its first seven home matches; the Bears have managed at least five wins in their first seven home games of a season 37 times in 88 previous seasons, with the most recent instance occurring in 2023-24, when Hershey began its home slate with a 5-2-0-0 record. The best start through the first seven games in franchise history took place in 1961-62, when the Bears posted a 7-0-0 record on their way to an eventual club record 10-game home winning streak from the outset of the campaign.

RING THE BEL:
Hershey and Belleville will face each other twice this season, with Saturday’s meeting marking the Senators’ lone visit to GIANT Center. Last season Hershey posted a 1-3-0-0 record against the Senators, winning a 6-3 decision at Belleville on Feb. 14. Bogdan Trineyev led the Bears against Belleville with four points (2g, 2a) in four games, while the Senators were paced by Carter Yakemchuk (now with the parent Ottawa Senators), who generated seven assists in four contests against Hershey.

POWER’S ON:
Joey Anderson’s goal in Sunday’s defeat to Providence extended Hershey’s streak of games with a power-play goal to three. Last season the Bears only managed that feat three times, topping out at four consecutive games from Oct. 24-31, going 5-for-14 (35.7%) during that particular stretch. During their current run, the Bears have gone 3-for-10 (30%) with the man advantage.

DOWN ON THE FARM:
Hershey’s ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays, opened their season with two wins this past weekend, topping Jacksonville 5-1 on Friday and defeating Greenville 4-3 in overtime on Saturday. Bears-contracted forward Tyler Kopff is tied for the team lead in goals (2) while fellow Bears-contracted forward Alex Gaffney is pacing the Stingrays in assists (3).

BEARS BITES:
Josh Dunne’s next point will be his 100th AHL point…Andrew Cristall is fifth in the league with eight assists and tied for 14th with eight points…Cam Allen’s five points (1g, 4a) are tied for seventh among defensemen and tied for first among rookie blueliners…Hershey’s 18.67 penalty minutes per game are the fifth most in the league and lead Atlantic Division clubs.