Coaches have been hired

News is rolling in fast here this week.  Just a few minutes after I wrote up the posts you saw about an hour ago, I saw that item #2 on the Bears offseason to-do list was crossed off.

Coaches Mark French and Troy Mann will be returning behind the bench in Hershey for 2012-13. 

I honestly thought the organization would try to better align their coaching strategies this offseason.  Apparently that wasn't their biggest concern.  And considering how well recent Bear 'graduates' have played in the NHL, maybe it shouldn't be.

Personally I am not thrilled with this move, but I am not really upset either.  It doesn't shock me, that's for sure. 

Considering that the past two springs have seen a bunch of injuries and call-ups, I am guessing that the organization wanted to give French and Mann a chance to see what they can do with a full roster at the key time.  It has been hard to put a consistent, balanced roster together the last two springs. 

And in all honesty, considering what happens in most sports, it is nice to see an organization remain patient with a set of coaches and not dismiss them at the first sign of trouble.

Bears take game 3 and series lead

Wooooo!!!!  I was wrong!  (Well...partially wrong.)  Yesterday I said that I did not like the line combinations that Coach French was going to use last night.  I also said that if the lines managed to work out I would admit I was wrong.

They worked...for the 1st period.  So in theory I was partially wrong. 

Hershey jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the 1st period.  Then they almost lost it.  The final score was 3-2 and it was every bit of close as that during the 3rd period. 

I didn't watch the game (I can't justify spending $10 a game on AHLlive.com to see the games) but I did listen to it.  And Walton (and the Bears) had me on the edge of my seat throughout the 3rd period. 

With Kyle Greentree in the penalty box and Charlotte goalie, Mike Murphy pulled at the end of the 3rd the Checkers had a 6 on 4 power play and I was stressing.

But Braden Holtby made the saves when they mattered and Hershey started the 3 game road portion of the series stealing one.

The first goal of the game was a fluke as the puck jumped off Francois Bouchard from behind the net, bounced off Murphy, and went in.

Now both teams have a fluke goal and a shorthanded goal this series as Charlotte got both of those in game 1. 

After the 1st period, which also saw goals from Keith Aucoin (assisted by Steve Pinizzotto) and Greentree, the Bears struggled to really get anything going.  Rarely did I get the feeling, from listening to Walton, that Hershey was close to scoring.  There were a couple exceptions but I would say, based on the information, that Charlotte dominated the play throughout the 2nd and 3rd periods.

That stats mostly support that too.  The Checkers only outshot the Bears 18-12 in the last 2 periods but they outscored them 2-0.

In the end Hershey had just enough as they clung to the 3-2 lead and escaped game 3 with the series lead.

Game 4 is tonight and I am sure you will see the same line combinations as last night but I still contend that they should be changed.  Yes the Bears scored 3 in the first but they didn't come close after that. 

I know that Pinner is a very good player.  I actually think he has more offensive potential then he has shown up to this point.  BUT I think Willsie would be better served on the top line at this moment as he is the better pure scorer of the two. 

I could see Pinner dropping into Willsie's spot on the 2nd line.  That would work.  He would be paired with a playmaking center and a player that likes to shoot.  He could park himself in front of the net and wait for the pass or rebound. 

But as long as they keep winning...who cares what the line combinations are. 

LET'S GO BEARS!!!!  

  

2 DOWN...2 TO GO!!!!

Hershey enters playoffs on losing streak

Well the games were meaningless so we can't really judge the effort in the 2 games but Hershey didn't really compete with Wilkes-Barre and/or Syracuse this weekend at Giant Center.  Losing 2 straight by a combined 8-3 can't be good going into the playoffs...can it?

Well...who knows.  I guess we will find out sometime over the next 2 months.  But I can say this...last years team lost their last game.  So did the 08-09 team.

Over their last 5 games Hershey went 3-2-0-0 this year.  Same as last year.  In 08-09 they went 2-2-1-0.  In 05-06 they went 2-2-1-0 to close the season.  Those were good seasons!

Over the past 6 years the only years Hershey went into the playoffs playing really good hockey (based on record anyway) would have been 06-07 when they were 5-1-0-0 over their last 6.  And again in 07-08 when they entered on a 3 game winning streak and a 4-0-1-0 in their last 5.

Those years didn't end that well.

Maybe there is something there....or maybe not.  Who knows.

This year's Bears team enters the playoffs healthy for the first time in months.  A couple players have minor injuries (Dmitry Orlov and Matheiu Perreault to name 2) but most of the team is healthy. 

That includes defenseman Lawrence Nycholat who played his first game since January 27th last night against Syracuse. 

Basically what I am saying is that Hershey finally has the lineup that they had for much of their dominant run in November through January.  Gordon, Aucoin, Souray, Nycholat, and Holtby are in Hershey and healthy (quick knock on wood) for the most important time of the year.

Will that translate into another run at the Calder Cup and playing hockey into June?

I think so. 

There will be much more in the coming days about the matchup with Charlotte.  The Checkers and Bears split the season series 4-4 with each team going 2-2 in the other teams building.

It should be a good series.

Taking a look around at other matchups sees that Norfolk won their last game of the season to move into 4th in the East Division.

Congratulations Norfolk...you earn a trip to the #1 overall seed in the AHL!! 

While Binghamton, who finished 5th in the East Division, makes the jump to the Atlantic Division to face 2nd seed Manchester Monarchs. 

If I had to choose...I would rather be in Binghamton's spot. 

And that is a team that I think could make some noise.  They are expecting plenty of talent back from Ottawa and now they get the equivalent of the #4 seed in the Eastern Conference in the first round instead of the #1 overall team. 

Not saying that Manchester isn't a good team but based on the statistics available (and general opinion) the Baby Pens were the class of the league this season. 

And yes...it sucks to say that!


As I mentioned before I will have plenty more on the Charlotte/Hershey series as we lead up to Game 1 on Thursday night in Hershey.  The entire series schedule is viewable on the right side of this page.  You can view schedules for all the first round matchups here.

HISTORICAL SEASON

What a season! From the first drop of the puck back in October until the Cup was raised on Monday night the Bears completed what is arguably the greatest season ever for an AHL team!

I didn't get down to Giant Center last night for the celebration but I found the below picture to be quite amusing. The goalie just looks out of place! (I borrowed this picture from Pennlive.com and Patriot News photographer Chris Knight)

It was definitely a championship season to celebrate! Hershey was picked to win before the season started and managed to follow through on all the hype and all the potential.

All season long they broke records and separated themselves from the other teams in the league.

Overall the Bears broke 11 club records and 6 AHL records.

Here are the records that were set this season (records with * are also AHL Records):

• 60 Wins*
• 123 Points
• 34 Home Wins*
• 26 Road Wins
• 12 Consecutive Wins
• 24 Consecutive Home Wins*
• 2 100+ point scorers (Alexandre Giroux and Keith Aucoin)
• 8 Overtime Wins in the Playoffs*
• 3 Overtime games in one playoff series (Albany and Manchester)
• 8 Consecutive playoff series won*
• 380,791 Regular Season Attendance

And...

the 11th Calder Cup in Franchise History...still more than any other franchise in AHL History!!

They also became the first team in AHL history to lose their first 2 games of the Calder Cup finals at home and still win the Cup!

AND they are the first team to repeat as Calder Cup Champs under the current playoff format which requires a team to win 4 series and 16 games.

Can Hershey become the first team since the 59-62 Springfield Indians to win 3 straight Calder Cups???

Who knows but one thing is certain...we will all be around to see them try next season!!

LET'S GO BEARS!!!

**Check back later this week as I promise to get all (or some) of the pictures I took on Monday night up on the site.

**And definitely keep checking in as our focus turns to the 2010-2011 season and what that team might look like. Lots will be happening in the coming weeks so stay tuned.

A few facts to consider

If you don't subscribe to the Patriot News or didn't get the chance to read it yesterday Tim Leone had some nice statistics to look at and consider. I will share them with you here....

• For the fifth time in Bears history they have won 20 games in the first 30. The other 4 teams made it to the Calder Cup finals with 3 of them winning including last years team and the 96-97 team.
• The Bears lead the league in goals. They did this last year too.
• But this year (unlike last year) they are also really good at defense allowing the 2nd fewest goals in the league.

It gets even more impressive:

• Alexander Giroux is second in the league in scoring with 33 points. And he has only played in 21 of Hershey's 31 games....not too bad.
• Oh and Andrew Gordon and Keith Aucoin, each with 32 points, are tied for 3rd overall. Yes that means 3 of the leagues top 4 players reside in Hershey.
• Gordon is tied for the league lead with 15 goals and is tied for second in power play goals with 8. Aucoin is tied for second in goals with 14.
• John Carlson leads all defensemen in scoring (24 points), is 3rd in rookie scoring, and is 4th among all players in assists with 23. He is also tied for the league lead with a +17 rating.
• Steve Pinizzotto is tied for the AHL lead with 3 short handed goals.
• Michal Neuvirth is 4th in save percentage and 5th in goals against average.

And the following stats are even better (in my opinion)...especially if you consider last seasons struggles (albeit minor in the end):

• Hershey's TOP RANKED penalty kill has given up only 11 goals....and they have scored 7 shorties! Only 11 goals in 31 games...very impressive.
  
• The power play is #6 overall and since Chris Bourque has been back they have been converting 31.3% of their chances which would be #1 in the league.
• The Bears are 3rd in the AHL in road points percentage and is tied for 3rd in home points percentage.

And to the fans:

• Hershey AGAIN leads the league in attendance, averaging 8,718 per game. And if you are wondering how close the 2nd place team is....Manitoba is averaging almost 1,500 less. That is quite the difference.
  

Just wanted to mention again that I am not responsible for these stats...I borrowed them from Tim Leone. Thanks Tim for doing the research.

Bears Score 4 in Third to Beat Bruins!

By a show of hands how many of you stopped listening after the Bruins went up 3-0? Well I paid $8 to see the game so I wasn't going to stop and I am glad I didn't.

I am still not sure that I actually saw what I saw. I would describe it as disbelief to a point...a kind of stunned feeling.

Down 3-0 three minutes into the second period and down 4-2 less then a minute into the third and the Bears did not give in. They put 4 pucks past Tuukka Rask in the THIRD PERIOD alone to win 6-4 in Providence.

I will be honest here...I was looking towards game 4 once the Bruins went up 3-0. Then Alexander Giroux scored his first of 2 goals and the Bears started playing again. 6 minutes later and it was 3-2 with over half the game to go.

Then another penalty call and yet another power play goal less then a minute into the game put the Bears down 4-2 and things looked bleak again. Little did anyone know at the time that Rask was going to lay an egg in the third period.

Give the Bears credit though...they never stopped playing and for the 3rd game in a row they dominated the Bruins late in the game. Not necessarily in shots as they only outshot the Bruins 12-8 in the third but more in effort and energy. You can see it in the way the teams are skating late in the game. The Bruins look tired while the Bears look like they just came out of the locker room to start the game.

Tonight the goalie looked tired too. To Rask's credit the defense definitely let him down and I would say 2 of the goals were just great plays and lucky bounces. But the other two, Giroux's second and Bryan Helmers goal with less then a minute to go, should have been stopped. Giroux deked Rask right out of the goal and Helmer just let one go from the point that just straight beat Rask.

I am thoroughly impressed in the way that Hershey stayed in this game. Going down 3-0 right after an intermission would destroy some teams energy but not this team. They kept going and were rewarded with a huge 6-4 victory and have at the very least guaranteed a return trip to Hershey if necessary.

Great game Bears....AWESOME effort!!


My Three Stars of the Game:

1. Alexander Giroux - 2 goals, the first Hershey goal and the tying goal
2. Jeff Penner - also 2 goals but it wasn't quite enough
3. Bryan Helmer - 1 goal and an assist on the game winning goal by Mink

Grading the Performance:

• Offense - A - I had no problem with their performance tonight. Good passing, good shots, and solid puck movement. Possession in the offensive zone has been solid this entire series to date and tonight was no different. All 4 lines were solid and all 4 had their chances.
• Defense - B - Okay performance. John Carlson was scratched which kind of confused me a bit but unsure if there is an injury or something. I still think some guys need to learn how to watch the players in front of the goalie. Even late in the third 2 Bruins were standing wide open right in front and beside Michal Neuvirth.
• Goaltending - C - I honestly was not impressed by Neuvy's performance tonight. He made 24 saves but I think he should have had more. I am sure he is unhappy with his performance as well though.
• Power Play - B - Okay job tonight. They went 1 for 4 with that 1 being the last goal of the game. Good chances...good movement. Just didn't get the bounces.
• Penalty Kill - F - The Bears gave the Bruins 4 power plays and allowed goals on 3 of them. A terrible job from this unit. I am not going to say it was any one players fault but Joudrey was on the ice for all 3 and Pinner was out there for 2. Again...NOT saying it was their fault but something doesn't seem to be clicking for this unit in this series.
• Overall - B - A GREAT job tonight to pick up the pieces by the offense. On a night when the defense and goaltending wasn't excellent the offense took the team on their shoulders and won this game. 2 wins away from a finals appearance with 4 games to go in the series.

LET'S GO BEARS!!!

Giroux Scores 50....Chasing 54

Alexander Giroux scored his 50th goal of the season on Sunday evening and is now chasing the Hershey Bears single season record of 53 set in 1982-1983 by Tony Cassoloto.

Giroux is only the 5th Bear to score 50 in a season. Tim Tookey was the last to do it in 1986-1987, Cassoloto's 82-83 season, Ross Fitzpatrick did it in 1985-1986, and Roger DeJordy accomplished the feat in 1966-1967.

Think about that. The Bears have been playing since 1939 and there are only 5 players who have scored 50+ goals in a season. Impressive.

In case you were wondering....cause I know I was....the AHL single season record is 70 goals in a season. Stephan Lebeau set the record in 1988-1989 while playing for the Sherbrooke Canadiens. I don't think Giroux will quite get to that point but if he did that would be special.

The feat really is something special. There have only been 45 (including Giroux) players to ever get to the 50 goal mark. That isn't too many considering how many teams and players have been part of this league. Of those 45 only 4 players have ever done it twice.

There is a bleak side to him getting to 50 goals though.....out of the 45 players to accomplish the feat (a total of 49 seasons thanks to the two timers) only 4 were also Calder Cup champions that year. The most recent was Dan Currie in 1992-1993 (he also scored 50 in 91-92) while playing for the Cape Breton Oilers. Joining Currie as Calder Cup Champs with 50+ goals are Michel Picard for the 1990-1991 Springfield Indians, Camille Henry for the 1955-1956 Providence Reds, and Carl Liscombe for the 1942-1943 Providence Reds.

So Giroux will be looking to accomplish another hard to obtain goal when he looks to become only the 5th AHL player to ever win a Calder Cup and score 50+ in a season.

I think he can do it.


read more here.

LET'S GO BEARS!!!