Sunday December 31, 2006 vs Providence (Posted Sunday 11:55 P.M EST)

 

Bears claw Bruins, 5-2

Hershey ends 2006 with AHL's best mark

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

It's been a pretty good year for the Hershey Bears and their fans. A Calder Cup Championship this past June and now, a club that exits 2006 with a 6-game winning streak and the American Hockey League's best record. Sunday evening, the Bears, down 2-1 early in the 2nd period, rallied for four unanswered goals for the second straight contest to defeat the Providence Bruins 5-2 before 8,544 at Giant Center. Eric Fehr scored twice and added an assist to lead the way on offense for Hershey (25-4-3-4, 57 points), while goaltender Daren Machesney (2-0-0), back from a one game recall to the Washington Capitals, turned aside 34 of 36 shots to give the Bears a five-point cushion over 2nd place Wilkes-Barre in the East Division standings. Former Bear Phil Sauve (8-13-1) was chased after allowing four goals on 15 shots through two periods for the PBruins (16-15-1-2, 35 points), who were making their only 06/07 appearance in Chocolatetown.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Providence	1	1	0	2
Hershey	1	3	1	5

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, PRO, Walter 14 (power play) (Stuart, Trevelyan), 16:10. 2, HER, Giroux 26 (power play) (Johansson, Tenute), 17:16. Penalties: Arsene, HER (cross-checking), 6:23; Sigalet, PRO (hooking), 10:50; DiCasmirro, PRO (tripping), 12:11; Vandermeer, HER (tripping), 14:33; Dempsey, PRO (holding stick), 16:27.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 3, PRO, Trevelyan 10 (power play) (Walter, Karsums), 1:42. 4, HER, Fehr 17 (Bourque, Wilson), 6:40. 5, HER, Tenute 11 (game-winner) (Fleischmann, Fehr), 11:32. 6, HER, Fehr 18 (Schultz, Machesney), 18:52. Penalties: Reich, PRO (fighting major), :10; Engelland, HER (fighting major), :10; Arsene, HER (tripping), :28; Collins, PRO (goaltender interference), 3:29; Zinger, PRO (hooking), 4:31; Walter, PRO (hooking), 6:56; Sigalet, PRO (roughing), 13:28; Bourque, HER (goaltender interference), 13:28; Trevelyan, PRO (holding), 15:36; Fehr, HER (goaltender interference), 16:31.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 7, HER, Vandermeer 2 (empty net) (unassisted), 19:56. Penalties: Karsums, PRO (hooking), 4:33; Helbling, HER (interference), 8:40; Stuart, PRO (interference), 16:45.

 

Game Factoids: Face-offs won (unofficial): Hershey: 40, Providence: 32 … Hershey finished 1-9 on the power-play, while Providence ended at 2-5 … The Bruins outshot the Bears 36-27 … Joey Tenute bagged his fourth straight game-winning marker, and stretched his scoring mark to 5 games (6G, 4A). His 5 game-winners are tied with Fehr and three others for the league lead … Kyle Wilson earned an assist on Fehr's first goal of the game to extend his point streak to 8 contests (5-7-12) … Alexandre Giroux (PP) opened the Hershey scoring at 17:16 of the 1st with his team-leading 26th goal, while Peter Vandermeer capped it at 19:56 of the 3rd with an empty-netter against his former team … The Bears ended the season series with a 1-1 record against the Bruins … Hershey mustered only 4 shots in the 1st … Deryk Engelland dropped the gloves with Providence captain Jeremy Reich just 10 seconds into the 2nd period … Machesney earned his first AHL point with a helper on Fehr's second goal at 18:52 of the 2nd … Hershey is 20-0-1-0 this year when scoring 4 or more goals … The Bears have surrendered the contest's first goal in 7 of the last 8 matches … Through 18 home games this season, Hershey has lost only once in regulation … The Bears received a bolster on the blueline with the return of defensemen Timo Helbling and Jamie Hunt, who were sent down Sunday from Washington … Jeff Pietrasiak served as Machesney's backup … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Engelland and Hunt on defense, with Fehr, Wilson and Chad Wiseman at forward … Scratched from Hershey: D Marc Busenburg (healthy), G Frederic Cassivi (clavicle), G Maxime Daigneault (groin), D Lawrence Nycholat (NHL recall), D Sasha Pokulok, LW Louis Robitaille (healthy) and D Tyler Sloan (lower body injury) … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Fehr, (2) Tomas Fleischmann, (3) Machesney … Hershey is 17-9-5 all-time in New Year's Eve games, including a 3-0-0 mark at Giant Center … Referee: Nygel Pelletier.

 

Coming Up: The Bears kick off 2007 with their longest road swing of the season, a 5-game trip that starts Wednesday night at The Scope against the Norfolk Admirals. Hershey is 4-1 versus the Ads this season, including a 7-4 win in their last meeting on December 30.

 

Ryan and Joe at 7641 Sports wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year!

 

The Bears Deryk Engelland and Providence captain Jeremy Reich scrap during second period action.

 

Former Hershey MVP Phil Sauve keeps his eyes on the puck with this second period save.

 

The Bruins Jonathan Sigalet delivers a big hit during the second period.

 

Hershey's Matt Hendricks works the puck in on Bruins netminder Phil Sauve.

 

Hershey goalie Darren Machesney preserves the 3 goal lead with a stick save on the Bruins Nate DiCasmiro during third period play.

 

Saturday December 30, 2006 vs Norfolk (Posted Sunday 12:15 A.M EST)

 

Bears sink Admirals, 7-4

Hershey rallies for 5th straight win

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

"What, me worry?" The famous catchphrase of Mad Magazine's Alfred E. Neuman seems appropriate of late for the Hershey Bears. Playing with a somewhat patchwork lineup, the Bears were able to rally from a 4-3 deficit in the 3rd period and score four unanswered goals and down the Norfolk Admirals 7-4 before 8,432 Saturday night at Giant Center. Chad Wiseman, Joey Tenute and Alexandre Giroux each potted two markers, while goaltender Jeff Pietrasiak (1-0-0), summoned earlier in the day from the ECHL's Reading Royals, made a team season-high 45 saves in his AHL debut as Hershey (24-4-3-4, 55 points) reeled off their 5th consecutive victory. Brandon Bochenski would lead the charge on offense for Norfolk (23-8-4-1, 51 points) with 3 goals, while goalie Corey Crawford (19-8-1) suffered the loss with 26 saves on 32 shots.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Norfolk	1	2	1	4
Hershey	1	2	4	7

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, NOR, Bochenski 23 (St. Pierre, Brouwer), 7:55. 2, HER, Wiseman 9 (short handed) (unassisted), 15:31. Penalties: Koci, NOR (hooking), 10:04; Giroux, HER (holding), 13:38.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 3, HER, Tenute 9 (Giroux, Engelland), 5:17. 4, NOR, Nordqvist 9 (MacDonald, Domish), 8:27. 5, HER, Giroux 24 (Wilson, Fleischmann), 13:30. 6, NOR, Bochenski 24 (St. Pierre), 18:10. Penalties: St. Jacques, NOR (holding), :26; Berti, NOR (roughing), 2:41; Koci, NOR (fighting major), 2:41; Robitaille, HER (roughing), 2:41; Vandermeer, HER (fighting major), 2:41; Arsene, HER (tripping), 9:46; Vandermeer (interference), 14:31; Berti, NOR (roughing), 17:17; Koci, NOR (roughing), 17:17; Robitaille, HER (roughing), 17:17; Wiseman, HER (holding, unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:46.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 7, NOR, Bochenski 25 (power play) (St. Pierre, Nordqvist), :52. 8, HER, Fehr 16 (Bourque, Wilson), 11:36. 9, HER, Tenute 10 (game-winner) (Fleischmann), 13:30. 10, HER, Wiseman 10 (Wilson), 15:35. 11, HER, Giroux 25 (empty net) (unassisted), 18:48. Penalties: Arsene, HER (holding), 2:50; Giroux, HER (charging), 3:54; Barker, NOR (holding), 9:34; Berti, NOR (roughing), 19:49; Engelland, HER (roughing), 19:49; Germain, HER (tripping), 19:49; Hendricks, HER (cross-checking), 19:49.

 

Game Factoids: Face-offs won (unofficial): Hershey: 29, Norfolk: 33 … Hershey finished 0-4 on the power-play, while Norfolk ended at 1-9 … The Admirals outshot the Bears 49-33 … Hershey leads the season series 4-1 … Pietrasiak, a rookie out of the University of New Hampshire, got the nod in goal with Maxime Daigneault ailing from a middle body injury. It marked the second consecutive game Hershey has started a netminder with no prior AHL starts … Eric Fehr also scored for Hershey, while Kyle Wilson collected 3 assists. Wilson now has a 7-game scoring streak, compiling 11 points along the way (5 goals, 6 assists) … Tenute has registered the game-winning marker in 3 straight contests, and has accumulated 8 points in the last 4 games (5G, 3A) … Martin St. Pierre earned helpers on all three Bochenski lamp-lighters … The 7 goals tied a season high, and were the most scored at Giant Center this season … The Bears last won 5 in a row in December 2005, when they ran off a 6-game win streak … It was the first hat trick allowed by Hershey since 12/22/05, when Grand Rapids' Donald MacLean tallied a trio in the Griffins' 6-4 win … Quintin Laing saw his 6-game point streak end … The Bears penalty-killing streak was snapped at 28 … D Jeff Schultz returned to the lineup after missing the last 5 contests … In addition to Pietrasiak, D Shawn Germain was brought up from Reading and made his AHL debut … Former Bear Carl Corazzini was scratched from the Admirals lineup … Norfolk sports a 16-1-2-0 record at home this season, but just a 7-7-2-1 mark away from The Scope … In light of Brent Johnson's illness, G Daren Machesney was recalled to Washington, where he backed up Olie Kolzig in the Capitals' 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers Saturday at Madison Square Garden … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Marc Busenburg and Trevor Byrne on defense, with Fleischmann, Giroux and Tenute at forward … Scratched from Hershey: G Frederic Cassivi (clavicle), D Timo Helbling (NHL recall), D Jamie Hunt (NHL recall), RW Jonas Johansson (healthy), Machesney (NHL recall), D Lawrence Nycholat (NHL recall), D Sasha Pokulok (concussion) and D Tyler Sloan (lower body injury) … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Tenute, (2) Bochenski, (3) Wiseman … Referee: Jason Nissen.

 

Coming Up: The Bears close the curtain on 2006 with a 5 PM face-off against the Providence Bruins Sunday at Giant Center. It is the second and final meeting between the clubs this season, with the PBruins handing Hershey a 4-1 loss in their last contest back on November 19.

 

Norfolk goal tender Corey Crawford watched on as David Koci and Peter Vandermeer exchange punches in their second period bout.

 

Hershey's Alexandre Giroux pockets his first goal of the night at 13:30 of the second period.

 

The admirals Brandon Bochenski completes his hat-trick beating the Bears Jeff Pietrasiak.

 

The Bears Chad Wiseman streaks in and nets 6th goal on the night at 15:35 of the third.

 

Friday December 29, 2006 at Albany (Posted Friday 10:31 P.M EST)

 

Bears make it 17 straight over Rats

Hershey traps Albany, 4-2

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

The Hershey Bears continue to look adversity in the eye and overcome obstacles en route to victory. Skating with only 5 defenseman due to an illness bug hitting several members of the Washington Capitals - resulting in three call-ups - and a just-turned 20-year-old making his first-ever AHL start, the Bears rallied from two deficits to defeat the Albany River Rats 4-2 for an unofficial record 17th consecutive time Friday night at Pepsi Arena. After former Bears Shane Willis (at 11:51 of the 1st) and Johnny Boychuk (7 seconds into the 2nd) provided the Rats with 1-0 and 2-1 leads, respectively, Joey Tenute potted successive goals in the 3rd period to wrap up the road portion of the 06/07 schedule on a high note for Hershey (23-4-3-4, 53 points). Daren Machesney (1-0-0), earning his first American League nod in net, stopped 27 of 29 shots to send the Bears to their fourth straight win. Justin Peters (6-12-0) fell to 0-3 against Hershey this season as Albany (16-14-2-0, 34 points) saw their 3-game win streak come to an end.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Hershey	0	1	3	4
Albany	1	0	1	2

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, ALB, Willis 11 (Bayda, Petruzalek), 11:51. Penalties: Bayda, ALB (holding), 2:29; Flood, ALB (hooking), 9:21; Tenute, HER (holding), 15:17; Fehr, HER (elbowing), 18:30; Arsene, HER (charging), 19:15; Bayda, ALB (slashing), 19:15.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 2, HER, Wilson 9 (power play) (Tenute, Wiseman), 15:58. Penalties: Robitaille, HER (fighting major), 3:10; Love, ALB (fighting major), 3:10; Johansson, HER (tripping), 5:38; Wiseman, HER (hooking), 7:29; Vernace, ALB (hooking), 14:39.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 3, ALB, Boychuk 6 (Carson, Guite), :07. 4, HER, Tenute 7 (Robitaille, Arsene), 8:00. 5, HER, Tenute 8 (game-winner) (Vandermeer, Robitaille), 12:42. 6, HER, Giroux 23 (empty net) (Laing), 19:53. Penalties: Carson, ALB (holding), 4:39; Giroux, HER (tripping), 17:18.

 

Game Factoids: Hershey finished 1-4 on the power-play, while Albany ended at 0-5 … The River Rats outshot the Bears 29-27 … Tenute has recorded the game-winning marker in back-to-back contests … Kyle Wilson (PPG at 15:58 of the 2nd) and Alexandre Giroux (ENG at 19:53 of the 3rd) book-ended Tenute's goals … Hershey has twice posted 4 straight wins this season … With a helper on Giroux's empty-netter, LW Quintin Laing extended his point streak to 6 games (5 goals, 5 assists) … LW Louis Robitaille, who rang up his league-leading 12th major penalty during a 1st period fight with Albany's Mitch Love, registered his first 2 assists of the season … 5 of Wilson's 9 goals this season have come on the man advantage … Hershey has killed off their opposition's last 24 power play chances … It marked the final game at the venue formally known as Pepsi Arena, as The Times Union will assume the naming rights effective January 1 … D Dean Arsene (injury), D Marc Busenburg (healthy scratch) and RW Jonas Johansson (NHL recall) returned to the Bears lineup after missing Wednesday's game against Philadelphia … Albany D Michael Vernace, a teammate of Machesney for two seasons with the OHL's Brampton Battalion, made his AHL debut … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Trevor Byrne and Deryk Engelland on defense, with Chris Bourque, Matt Hendricks and Laing at forward … Scratched from Hershey: G Frederic Cassivi (clavicle), D Timo Helbling (NHL recall), D Jamie Hunt (NHL recall), D Lawrence Nycholat (NHL recall), D Sasha Pokulok (concussion), D Jeff Schultz (illness) and C Dave Steckel (NHL recall) … Nycholat recorded 2 points, including his 1st career NHL goal, in the Capitals' 4-3 loss to New Jersey Friday… 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Tenute, (2) Willis, (3) Boychuk … Referee: David Banfield.

 

Coming Up: Hershey concludes 2006 with a pair of home games at Giant Center this weekend, facing the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday at 7 PM, and the Providence Bruins Sunday afternoon at 5 PM.

 

Wednesday December 27, 2006 vs Philadelphia (Posted Wednesday 11:49 P.M EST)

 

Bears streak past Phantoms 4-1

Hershey surpasses 50 point mark

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

The Hershey Bears continue to roll along. Beset by injuries and NHL recalls, the Bears cruised to a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phantoms before 10,685 fans Wednesday night at Giant Center. Maxime Daigneault (10-2-0), assuming the role of starting goaltender - in place of Frederic Cassivi - for the fourth straight contest, earned 1st star of the game honors with a 37 save performance while four different players tallied goals as 1st place Hershey (22-4-3-4, 51 points) improved to 4-1 against Philadelphia this season. After Chad Wiseman, Joey Tenute and Kyle Wilson put the home team up 3-0 going into the second intermission, Philadelphia native Tony Voce cut the Bears lead to 3-1 just 34 seconds into the 3rd period. Reigning AHL Player of the Week Quintin Laing would put the exclamation point on the victory, though, pocketing an empty-netter with 18 ticks left in regulation. Martin Houle (5-7-0) would suffer the loss for Philadelphia (12-18-1-0, 25 points), finishing with 25 saves.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Philadelphia	0	0	1	1
Hershey	1	2	1	4

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, HER, Wiseman 8 (unassisted), 15:17. Penalties: Jonsson, PHI (hooking), 1:54; Davis, PHI (holding), 8:14; Grenier, PHI (fighting major), 13:54; Vandermeer, HER (fighting major), 13:54.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 2, HER, Tenute 6 (game-winner) (Fleischmann), 9:36. 3, HER, Wilson 8 (power play) (Tenute, Byrne), 17:12. Penalties: Pisellini, PHI (fighting major), 3:29; Robitaille, HER (fighting major), 3:29; Fleischmann, HER (hooking), 4:29; Helbling, HER (hooking), 6:57; Byrne, HER (hooking), 11:15; Cabana, PHI (hooking), 16:10; Byrne, HER (tripping), 18:35.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 4, PHI, Voce 6 (Cullen, Dimitrakos), :34. 5, HER, Laing 8 (empty net) (unassisted), 19:42. Penalties: Tolpeko, PHI (goaltender interference), 3:19; Fleischmann, HER (boarding), 12:02.

 

Game Factoids: Face-offs won (unofficial): Hershey: 28, Philadelphia: 39 … Hershey finished 1-4 on the power-play, while Philadelphia ended at 0-5 … The Phantoms outshot the Bears 38-29 … The 37 saves were a season-high for Daigneault … Laing has registered 9 points (5G, 4A) in the last 5 games … It was Tenute's first goal since November 18 … In their four wins over Philadelphia this season, Hershey has outscored the Phantoms 15-4 … The Bears have killed off 19 straight power plays … The announced attendance of 10,685 was a season-high, and ranks 6th on the all-time list for Bears games at Giant Center … The contest featured two fights, with Peter Vandermeer dropping the gloves with Phantoms d-man Martin Grenier in the 1st period, and Louis Robitaille and Gino Pisellini squaring off in the 2nd. Both Phantoms earned wins in their bouts, however … Philadelphia has managed only 2 power play goals in 35 man advantage opportunities versus Hershey this season (5.7%)… Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Deryk Engelland and Tyler Sloan on defense, with Eric Fehr, Tomas Fleischmann and Wilson at forward … Earlier in the day, D Marc Busenburg was recalled from South Carolina (ECHL). He did not dress, though … Scratched from Hershey: D Dean Arsene, Busenburg, Cassivi, D Sasha Pokulok and D Jeff Schultz … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Daigneault, (2) Tenute, (3) Sloan … Referee: Dean Morton.

 

Coming Up: Hershey will look to make it 17 consecutive wins over the Albany River Rats on Friday, traveling to the Empire State to face-off against their East Division rivals at 7 PM.

 

Tuesday December 26, 2006 at Bridgeport (Posted Wednesday 5:49 P.M EST)

 

Hershey doubles up Bridgeport, 6-3

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Hershey	3	1	2	6
Bridgeport	1	2	0	3

 

Scoring

 

1. HER Wilson, (6) , 6:59

1. HER Giroux, (22) (Helbling, Fleischmann), 13:32 (PP)

1. BRI Nielsen, (10) (Fata, Nolan), 15:50

1. HER Robitaille, (4) (Tenute, Laing), 16:06

2. BRI Fata, (2) (Regier), 4:53

2. BRI Pitton, (2) (Nokelainen, Marjamaki), 12:51

2. HER Steckel, (11) (Byrne, Giroux), 14:10

3. HER Wilson, (7) (Fleischmann), 13:11

3. HER Laing, (7) (Bourque, Steckel), 19:08 (EN)

 

Penalties

 

1 - HER Wiseman, 4:34 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

1 - BRI Boguniecki, 10:07 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

1 - BRI Fata, 12:15 - Slashing , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Wiseman, 2:35 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

2 - BRI Ferraro, 2:58 - Hooking , 2 min

2 - HER Byrne, 3:41 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Arsene, 5:48 - Interference , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Hunt, 9:09 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

2 - BRI Rourke, 9:16 - Interference , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Arsene, 13:23 - Tripping , 2 min (PP)

2 - BRI Boguniecki, 13:35 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

2 - BRI Comeau, 19:44 - Major - Boarding , 5 min (PP)

2 - BRI Comeau, 19:44 - Game misconduct - Boarding (42.5), 10 min

3 - HER Engelland, 13:59 - High-sticking , 2 min (PP)

 

Three Stars

 

1. HER - 18 Kyle Wilson

2. HER - 12 Alexandre Giroux

3. BRI - 44 Drew Fata

 

Coming Up: Hershey looks to make it 2 in a row over the Philadelphia Phantoms. Faceoff is slated for 7pm at the Giant Center Wednesday night.

 

Saturday December 23, 2006 vs Philadelphia (Posted Sunday 2:40 A.M EST)

 

Bears zap Phantoms, 4-1

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

Facing their biggest test of adversity to date this season, the Hershey Bears made it look easy, defeating the Philadelphia Phantoms 4-1 Saturday night at Giant Center. Without reigning playoff MVP Frederic Cassivi (broken left clavicle), captain Lawrence Nycholat and leading scorer Alexandre Giroux (both on NHL recall), the Bears jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 56 ticks into the 1st period on Dave Steckel's tenth goal of the season. Eric Fehr would add two markers, including the game-winner, and goaltender Maxime Daigneault (8-2-0) would stop 27 of 28 shots to lift Hershey (20-4-3-4, 47 points) to a two-way tie with Norfolk for 2nd place in the East Division. Philadelphia (11-17-1-0, 23 points) would get on the board at 7:21 of the 3rd, with Don Morrison's even strength tally cutting Hershey's lead to 3-1. Scott Munroe (4-7-0) suffered the loss with 34 saves.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Philadelphia	0	0	1	1
Hershey	2	0	2	4

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, HER, Steckel 10 (Laing, Bourque), :56. 2, HER, Fehr 14 (game-winner) (Wilson, Helbling), 10:34. Penalties: Hendricks, HER (hooking), 5:40; Sloan, HER (hooking), 7:42; HER bench, served by Vandermeer (too many men), 11:45.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: None. Penalties: Grant, PHI (boarding), 6:12; Tolpeko, PHI (fighting major), 12:15; Vandermeer, HER (instigator, fighting major, misconduct), 12:15; Slaney, PHI (hooking), 17:20

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 3, HER, Wiseman 7 (power play) (Hunt, Laing), 2:30. 4, PHI, Morrison 3 (Cabana, Grant), 7:21. 5, HER, Fehr 15 (power play) (Helbling, Byrne), 10:41. Penalties: Cullen, PHI (high-sticking), 1:08; Engelland, HER (high-sticking), 5:12; Baumgartner, PHI (cross-checking), 8:56; Grant, PHI (tripping), 9:14; Baumgartner, PHI (holding), 13:10; Kane, PHI (unsportsmanlike conduct), 13:10; Helbling, HER (tripping), 15:37; Guenin, PHI (elbowing), 19:26.

 

Game Factoids: Face-offs won (unofficial): Hershey: 34, Philadelphia: 41 … Hershey finished 2-8 on the power-play, while Philadelphia ended at 0-6 … The Bears outshot the Phantoms 38-28 … Fehr, who returned to the lineup after missing the last four games due to injury, is tied for the league lead with 5 game-winners … Hershey had two, 5-on-3 power play opportunities (for 1:42 and 2:00) within a five minute span during the 3rd period … LW Quintin Laing and D Jamie Hunt each finished with 2 assists … In their three wins against the Phantoms this season, the Bears have surrendered a combined 3 goals … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Dean Arsene and Tyler Sloan on defense, with Fehr, Tomas Fleischmann and Kyle Wilson at forward … Scratched from Hershey: Cassivi, Giroux, Nycholat, D Jeff Schultz and C Joey Tenute … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Fehr, (2) Daigneault, (3) Laing … The Bears wore Christmas-themed jerseys, which were auctioned following the game. Fetching the highest bids were: Giroux ($2,400), Cassivi ($2,150) and Fleischmann ($2,100) … Referee: Chris Brown … Attendance: 9,561.

 

Coming Up: After a two-day reprieve, the Bears jump back into action Tuesday night in Bridgeport, facing off against the Sound Tigers at 7 PM. It will be the first of five games in 6 days for the Bears, who will close out the 2006 portion of their schedule this week.

 

Hershey's Maxime Daigneault models the Christmas jersey worn by the Bears Saturday night.

 

The Bears Eric Fehr stays with the puck and backhands a shot from his knees past Philadelphia netminder Scott Munroe putting Hershey up 2-0.

 

Former Phantom Peter Vandermeer exchanged punches with current Phantome Denis Tolpeko during a chippy second period.

 

Daigneault steers a wrist shot over the net from Phantom Captain John Slaney.

 

Hershey's Matt Hendricks set up the screen as Eric Fehr's shot finds the back of the net putting the Bears up 4-1 in the third period.

 

Friday December 22, 2006 at Norfolk (Posted Friday 10:40 P.M EST)

 

Friday Night at the Fights

Norfolk K.O.'s Hershey 6-3

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Hershey	1	1	1	3
Norfolk	2	2	2	6

 

Scoring

 

1. NOR St. Pierre, (11) (Brouwer, Bochenski), 6:04 (PP)

1. HER Fleischmann, (13) (Laing, Helbling), 16:28 (SH)

1. NOR Barker, (3) (Bochenski, Corazzini), 17:24 (PP)

2. NOR Bolland, (5) (Fraser, Bickell), 3:25

2. HER Vandermeer, (1) (Wilson), 9:58

2. NOR Keith, (2) , 15:07

3. NOR St. Pierre, (12) (Bochenski, Byfuglien), 12:40

3. NOR Corazzini, (14) (Keith, MacDonald), 15:04

3. HER Wilson, (5) (Johansson, Wiseman), 19:48

 

Penalties

 

1 - NOR Koci, 2:31 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Byrne, 5:46 - Interference , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Arsene, 8:15 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Robitaille, 14:05 - Boarding , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Arsene, 15:44 - Tripping , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Helbling, 16:36 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

2 - NOR Byfuglien, 0:37 - Slashing , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Byrne, 5:43 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

2 - NOR Barker, 6:42 - Tripping , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Bourque, 19:51 - Roughing , 2 min

2 - NOR St. Pierre, 19:51 - Roughing , 2 min

3 - NOR Bolland, 9:50 - Elbowing , 2 min (PP)

3 - HER Arsene, 15:17 - Fighting , 5 min

3 - HER Arsene, 15:17 - Misconduct , 10 min

3 - HER Arsene, 15:17 - Game misconduct - Secondary altercation (47.6), 10 min

3 - HER Robitaille, 15:17 - Fighting , 5 min

3 - HER Robitaille, 15:17 - Misconduct , 10 min

3 - HER Sloan, 15:17 - Fighting , 5 min

3 - HER Sloan, 15:17 - Game misconduct - Secondary altercation (47.6), 10 min

3 - HER Vandermeer, 15:17 - Game misconduct - Third man in (47.15), 10 min

3 - NOR Burish, 15:17 - Fighting , 5 min

3 - NOR Burish, 15:17 - Game misconduct - Secondary altercation (47.6), 10 min

3 - NOR Fraser, 15:17 - Fighting , 5 min

3 - NOR Fraser, 15:17 - Game misconduct - Secondary altercation (47.6), 10 min

3 - NOR Koci, 15:17 - Instigating , 2 min (PP)

3 - NOR Koci, 15:17 - Fighting , 5 min

3 - NOR Koci, 15:17 - Misconduct - Instigating (47.10), 10 min

3 - NOR Koci, 15:17 - Game misconduct - Instigator (last 5 min.) (47.11), 10 min

 

Three Stars

 

1. NOR - 9 Martin St. Pierre

2. NOR - 27 Brandon Bochenski

3. NOR - 22 Matt Keith

 

Coming Up: Hershey returns to the Giant Center Saturday night against Philadelphia. There will be a 5,000 Game celebration and a Christmas Jersey auction following the game.

 

Wednesday December 20, 2006 at Albany (Posted Wednesday 11:00 P.M EST)

 

And 5,000 games later...

...Hershey victorius over Albany 7-4

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Hershey	1	2	4	7
Albany	0	3	1	4

 

Scoring

 

1. HER Fleischmann, (11) (Johansson, Hendricks), 4:15 (PP)

2. HER Laing, (4) (Steckel, Bourque), 3:48

2. ALB Boychuk, (2) (Guite, Bayda), 5:35 (PP)

2. ALB Murley, (6) (Gove, Finger), 9:03

2. HER Fleischmann, (12) (Nycholat, Johansson), 9:50 (PP)

2. ALB Cumiskey, (4) (Guite, Petruzalek), 18:54 (PP)

3. HER Steckel, (9) (Byrne, Wiseman), 2:05

3. HER Laing, (5) (Schultz, Steckel), 9:55

3. HER Byrne, (1) (Wiseman, Tenute), 10:26

3. ALB Willis, (10) (Gove, Murley), 15:00

3. HER Laing, (6) (Bourque, Wilson), 19:20

 

Penalties

 

1 - HER Sloan, 2:44 - Fighting , 5 min

1 - ALB McCormick, 2:44 - Unsportsmanlike conduct , 2 min (PP)

1 - ALB McCormick, 2:44 - Fighting , 5 min

1 - HER Vandermeer, 7:31 - Fighting , 5 min

1 - ALB Conboy, 7:31 - Fighting , 5 min

1 - ALB Guite, 9:24 - Tripping , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Nycholat, 13:18 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Fleischmann, 15:19 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Vandermeer, 18:17 - Fighting , 5 min

1 - ALB Love, 18:17 - Fighting , 5 min

1 - HER Byrne, 20:00 - Fighting , 5 min

1 - ALB Conboy, 20:00 - Fighting , 5 min

2 - HER Johansson, 4:05 - Goaltender interference , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Hendricks, 7:38 - Cross-checking , 2 min (PP)

2 - ALB Bayda, 8:02 - Tripping , 2 min

2 - ALB Kelman, 9:23 - High-sticking , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Byrne, 18:29 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

2 - ALB Willis, 20:00 - Slashing , 2 min (PP)

3 - ALB Cumiskey, 2:21 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

3 - ALB Finger, 3:16 - Delay of game , 2 min (PP)

3 - HER Hunt, 4:57 - High-sticking , 2 min (PP)

3 - ALB Kelman, 7:52 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

3 - HER Arsene, 12:28 - Fighting , 5 min

3 - ALB Kelman, 12:28 - Fighting , 5 min

3 - ALB Murley, 12:48 - Interference , 2 min (PP)

 

Three Stars

 

1. HER - 20 Dave Steckel

2. HER - 14 Tomas Fleischmann

3. ALB - 8 Ben Guite

 

Coming Up: Hershey continues on the road this week facing Norfolk (Friday) before returning to Giant Center Saturday night against Philadelphia.

 

Saturday December 16, 2006 vs Toronto (Posted Sunday 12:30 A.M EST)

 

Bears' Achilles heel exposed again

Hershey falls to Marlies in shootout, 4-3

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

Somehow, someway, the Hershey Bears just can't seem shake the shootout bug in 06/07. For the fourth time in as many games this season, the Bears fell at the hands of the breakaway exhibition, losing to the Toronto Marlies 4-3 before 7,505 Saturday night at Giant Center. Hershey and Toronto would exchange leads in both regulation and the shootout, but Erik Westrum's goal - and Chad Wiseman's subsequent miss - in the sixth round sealed a win for the visiting Marlies (12-14-2-2, 28 points). Chris Bourque would pot two goals and an assist in defeat for Hershey (18-3-3-4, 43 points), who saw their four game win streak come to an end. Rookie Justin Pogge (5-9-0) backstopped Toronto to the come-from-behind victory, turning aside 33 shots in regulation and overtime before stonewalling another four attempts in the shootout. Frederic Cassivi (12-5-4), who has been in goal for all four shootout losses for Hershey this season, finished with 27 saves in 65 minutes, as well as three more in the one-on-one competition.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	OT	SO	Total
Toronto	0	2	1	0	1	4
Hershey	0	3	0	0	0	3

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: None. Penalties: Wiseman, HER (hooking), 7:07; Harrison, TOR (hooking), 8:43; D'Amour (tripping), 10:03; Johansson, HER (slashing), 11:05; Murphy, TOR (slashing), 13:48; Robitaille, HER (unsportsmanlike conduct - diving), 13:48.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 1, TOR, Mitchell 5 (Engelhardt), :56. 2, HER, Bourque 9 (Helbling, Tenute), 6:44. 3, HER, Steckel 8 (Bourque, Hendricks), 12:50. 4, TOR, Sifers 3 (Newbury, Nash), 13:15. 5, HER, Bourque 10 (Hendricks, Steckel), 17:42. Penalties: D'Amour, TOR (holding), 4:32; Nash, TOR (unsportsmanlike conduct), 4:32; Vandermeer, HER (unsportsmanlike conduct), 4:32; Engelland, HER (holding), 7:39.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 6, TOR, Westrum 10 (power play) (Mitchell, Murphy), 10:12. Penalties: Giroux, HER (tripping), 9:17; Moro, TOR (interference), 11:46; Moro, TOR (high-sticking), 16:53.

 

OVERTIME -- Scoring: None. Penalties: None.

 

 

SHOOTOUT

 

Shooter Name	Team	Result
Erik Westrum	TOR	No Goal
Chad Wiseman	HER	Goal
Kris Newbury	TOR	Goal
Chris Bourque	HER	No Goal
Colin Murphy	TOR	Goal
Tomas Fleischmann	HER	No Goal
Jeff Corey	TOR	No Goal
Alexandre Giroux	HER	No Goal
John Mitchell	TOR	No Goal
Matt Hendricks	HER	Goal
Erik Westrum	TOR	Goal
Chad Wiseman	HER	No Goal

 

Game Factoids: Face-offs won (unofficial): Hershey: 37, Toronto: 36 … Hershey finished 0-5 on the power-play, while Toronto ended at 1-4 … The Bears outshot the Marlies 36-30 … Hershey and Worcester are tied with a league-high 4 shootout losses this season … Bourque has 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists) in his last 3 contests … Giroux is 0-4 in shootout attempts this season … Dave Steckel (1G, 1A) and Matt Hendricks (2A) also finished with multiple points … Hershey has earned points in each of its four all-time meetings with Toronto (2-0-0-2) … Owen Fussey, a member of last season's Calder Cup Championship team, played for the first time against his former club … In their two get-togethers this season, Hershey and Toronto combined for 16 goals … Former NHL All-Star Doug Gilmour attended the game … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Timo Helbling and Lawrence Nycholat on defense, with Bourque, Hendricks and Steckel at forward … Scratched from Hershey: D Trevor Byrne, D Tyler Sloan, RW Eric Fehr, D Sasha Pokulok and LW Quintin Laing … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Bourque, (2) Hendricks, (3) Pogge … Referee: Jeff Smith.

 

Coming Up: Hershey hits the road this week with matches in Albany (Wednesday) and Norfolk (Friday) before returning to Giant Center Saturday night against Philadelphia. Wednesday's contest will be the 5,000th regular season game in Bears history.

 

Toronto's Brett Engelhardt makes an unbelievable shot on goal. Engelhardt went airborn and 360 degrees with his failed attempt.

 

The Bears Chris Bourque streaks in and prepares to net his first goal on the night at 6:44 of the 2nd period.

 

Same play, same result - Borque nets his second at 17:42 of the 2nd period.

 

The Marlies appeared to tie the game however, the goal was disallowed as the net was off.

 

Hershey's Chad Wiseman has the Marlies netminder Justin Pogge beat but the puck finds iron rather than net.

 

Hershey's Matt Hendricks rips one past Pogge in a must score shootout situation.

 

The Marlies Erik Westrum slips the puck stick-side past Frederic Cassivi during the shootout.

 

Friday December 15, 2006 at Philadelphia (Posted Friday 10:49 P.M EST)

 

Bears continue winning ways

Hershey defeats Phantoms 3-1

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

In a meeting between teams currently bookending the East Division standings, the first-place Hershey Bears dropped the cellar-dwelling Philadelphia Phantoms 3-1 Friday night at the Wachovia Spectrum. After Tony Voce gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead 1:54 into the 1st period, Hershey would reel off three straight goals, with Dave Steckel (at 4:34 of the 2nd), Alexandre Giroux (PPG at 1:22 of the 3rd) and Tomas Fleischmann (empty-net score at 19:30 of the 3rd) potting markers for the victorious Bears (18-3-3-3, 42 points). Goalie Maxime Daigneault (6-0-1), making his first start since Nov. 29, stopped 37 of 38 shots while earning an assist on Fleischmann's empty netter. Martin Houle (5-5-0) would suffer the loss for the Phantoms (9-15-1-0, 19 points) with 27 saves.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Hershey	0	1	2	3
Philadelphia	1	0	0	1

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, PHI, Voce 5 (Cullen, Grant), 1:54. Penalties: Wilson, HER (holding), 4:31; Morrison, PHI (interference), 9:02; Robitaille, HER (roughing), 19:26; Kane, PHI (roughing), 19:26; Fleischmann, HER (slashing, roughing), 20:00; Sloan, HER (roughing), 20:00; Voce, PHI (roughing), 20:00.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 2, HER, Steckel 7 (Laing, Bourque), 4:34. Penalties: Byrne, HER (high-sticking major), 6:29; Grant, PHI (hooking), 8:26; Cullen, PHI (tripping), 10:13; Hendricks, HER (tripping), 13:30; Steckel, HER (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:53; Schultz, HER (hooking), 16:52; Kane, PHI (hooking), 18:14.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 3, HER, Giroux 21 (game-winner) (power play) (Tenute, Johansson), 1:22. 4, HER, Fleischmann 10 (empty net) (short-handed) (Daigneault), 19:30. Penalties: Jonsson, PHI (hooking), :28; Zingoni, PHI (tripping), 9:22; Helbling, HER (boarding), 11:07; Baumgartner, PHI (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:07; Grenier, PHI (roughing), 11:07; Bourque, HER (hooking), 18:44.

 

Game Factoids: Hershey finished 1-7 on the power-play, while Philadelphia ended at 0-8 … The Phantoms outshot the Bears 38-30 … Hershey has won four straight while Philadelphia has lost four in a row… The Bears have killed off 22 of 24 Phantoms power play chances this season (91.6%) … Fleischmann's late tally was Hershey's 13th short-handed goal of the season, tops in the AHL … D Trevor Byrne returned to the lineup after missing the last 15 games with a knee injury … C Joey Tenute also returned following a 6-game absence due to a shoulder injury … Former Bears captain Boyd Kane faced his former teammates for the first time this season. He had an apparent tip-in goal waved off in the 3rd period due to a high stick … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Timo Helbling and Lawrence Nycholat on defense, with Giroux, Quintin Laing and former Phantom Peter Vandermeer at forward … Scratched from Hershey: D Deryk Engelland, RW Eric Fehr, D Jamie Hunt and LW Chad Wiseman … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Giroux, (2) Daigneault, (3) Houle … Referee: Terry Koharski … Attendance: 7,176

 

Coming Up: The Bears close out their short week Saturday when the Toronto Marlies make their only Giant Center appearance of the 2006/07 season at 7 PM. Hershey went 1-0-0-1 against Toronto last season, including a 4-1 win in Chocolatetown this past March 1.

 

Sunday December 10, 2006 vs Norfolk (Posted Sunday 10:17 P.M EST)

 

Bears sink Admirals, 4-1

Hershey moves into East Division penthouse

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

The locomotive that is the Hershey Bears keeps chugging along. Sunday night, the Bears made it 3-3 this week against the Norfolk Admirals, notching four special teams goals en route to a 4-1 win before 6,785 at Giant Center. Chris Bourque (two power play goals) and Alexandre Giroux (one PPG, one SHG) provided the offense for Hershey, while goaltender Frederic Cassivi (12-5-3) turned aside a season-high 41 shots to give the Bears sole possession of first place in the East Division (17-3-3-3, 40 points). David Bolland would tally Norfolk's only score at 19:28 of the 2nd period, cutting the Hershey lead in half at 2-1. That's as close as the Admirals would get, though, as the Bears, who jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the 2nd, rang up two more lamp-lighters in the 3rd to cinch the victory. Corey Crawford (13-7-1) would suffer the loss in net for Norfolk (16-6-4-1, 37 points), stopping a respectable 38 of 42 shots faced.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Norfolk	0	1	0	1
Hershey	0	2	2	4

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: None. Penalties: Richmond, NOR (hooking), 4:13; Barker, NOR (holding), 8:21; Giroux, HER (high-sticking), 9:29; Hendry, NOR (hooking, roughing), 10:26; Bourque, HER (unsportsmanlike conduct - diving), 10:26; Sloan, HER (interference), 18:39.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 1, HER, Giroux 19 (short-handed) (Steckel), 12:01. 2, HER, Bourque 7 (game-winner) (power play) (Wiseman, Wilson), 14:49. 3, NOR, Bolland 4 (power play) (MacDonald, Brouwer), 19:28. Penalties: HER bench, served by Bourque (too many men), 2:54; Richmond, NOR (hooking), 4:53; Koci, NOR (roughing), 7:35; Robitaille, HER (tripping), 9:34; Wiseman, HER (slashing), 11:30; Barker, NOR (hooking), 12:29; Brouwer, NOR (hooking), 14:25; Hendricks, HER (holding), 18:26; NOR bench, served by Keith (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:28.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 4, HER, Giroux 20 (power play) (Nycholat, Fleischmann), :46. 5, HER, Bourque 8 (power play) (Fleischmann, Johansson), 13:20. Penalties: Wiseman, HER (hooking), 1:03; Richmond, NOR (roughing), 3:21; Blunden, NOR (fighting major), 3:21; Sloan, HER (cross-checking), 3:21; Fehr, HER (roughing), 3:21; Arsene, HER (fighting major), 3:21; Domish, NOR (holding), 12:00; Robitaille, HER (holding), 13:37; Low, NOR (fighting major), 15:38; Sloan, HER (slashing), 15:38; Arsene, HER (fighting major), 15:38; Bolland, NOR (tripping), 17:17.

 

Game Factoids: Face-offs won (unofficial): Hershey: 34, Norfolk: 37 … Hershey finished 3-10 on the power-play, while Norfolk ended at 1-10 … The Bears and Admirals finished tied with 42 shots on goal apiece … Giroux currently leads the AHL with 4 short-handed scores … Cassivi tied former Bear J.F. Labbe for 10th place on the AHL's all-time wins list (202). With one more victory, he'll tie another former Bear, Neil Little, who finished his AHL career in 2005 with 203 wins … Bourque is now the eleventh different player to register a game-winning goal this season for Hershey … Ten of the Bears' last eleven goals have come via special teams, including the last 7 … D Dean Arsene dropped the gloves twice in the 3rd period, fighting Norfolk's Michael Blunden (at 3:21) and Reed Low (at 15:38) … The 42 shots allowed were a season high, as were the 84 combined shots … During their three head-to-head match-ups this past week against the AHL's top-rated power play unit, Hershey killed off 20 of 23 Norfolk power play chances (87%) … In the annual "Teddy Bear Toss Night," a few thousand stuffed animals found their way to the Giant Center playing surface after Giroux's short-handed marker at 12:01 of the 2nd stanza. The plush toys will be given to local charities … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau went with the exact lineup as Saturday, starting Arsene and Tyler Sloan on defense, with Quintin Laing, Dave Steckel and Chad Wiseman at forward … Scratched from Hershey: D Marc Busenburg, D Trevor Byrne, C Matt Koalska, D Sasha Pokulok, C Joey Tenute and LW Peter Vandermeer … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Bourque, (2) Giroux, (3) Cassivi … Referee: David Banfield.

 

Coming Up: The Bears have only two games on the slate this week, stopping in Philadelphia for a 7:05 face-off against the Phantoms on Friday before returning home Saturday night at 7 PM to play the Toronto Marlies at Giant Center.

 

The Bears Alexandre Giroux Draws first blood with his shorthanded wrister past the Admirals Corey Crawford during 2nd period play.

 

This was the result of Hershey's 1st goal on the night.

 

Fans and players alike were treated to a special visit by none other than Santa Claus.

 

Santa could not be reached for comment on whether the Bears Dean Arsene will be on the naughty or nice list.

 

Hershey's Alexandre Giroux pockets his 2nd goal of the night putting Hershey up 3-1.

 

Later during 3rd period action, the Bears Chris Bourque picks up his second of the night.

 

Saturday December 9, 2006 vs Norfolk (Posted Saturday 11:49 P.M EST)

 

It's déjà vu all over again

Bears down Admirals in OT, 3-2

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

Different day, same result. For the second time in as many games this week, the Hershey Bears rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to defeat the Norfolk Admirals in overtime 3-2 Saturday evening at Giant Center. Eric Fehr's left circle blast on the power play 1:07 into sudden death gave Hershey (16-3-3-3, 38 points) their second straight win over Norfolk (16-5-4-1, 37 points) this season while keeping pace with the East Division front-running Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (39 points). After enforcer Reed Low gave the visitors a 1-0 advantage 2:50 into the 1st period, Kyle Wilson's power play marker at 15:28 knotted the score at 1-1 heading into the first intermission. Troy Brouwer would provide Norfolk with their second lead of the contest on the man advantage at 12:14 of the 3rd, depositing a loose puck that came out front on an odd bounce off the Hershey endboards. Just over five minutes later at 17:26, though, Chad Wiseman would collect the Bears' third power play strike of the night, sending the game into extra sessions, where Fehr would notch his team-leading fourth game-winner of the 06/07 campaign. Frederic Cassivi (11-5-3) earned the victory with 22 saves for Hershey while Corey Crawford (13-6-1) suffered the loss for Norfolk with 42 saves.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	OT	Total
Norfolk	1	0	1	0	2
Hershey	1	0	1	1	3

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, NOR, Low 1 (MacDonald), 2:50. 2, HER, Wilson 4 (power play) (Nycholat, Giroux), 15:28. Penalties: Bickell, NOR (high-sticking), 5:07; Fehr, HER (roughing), 8:56; Fraser, NOR (hooking), 12:48; Burish, NOR (high-sticking), 15:02; Munn, NOR (holding), 15:57.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: None. Penalties: Schultz, HER (hooking), 1:20; Hendricks, HER (hooking), 3:08; Bourque, HER (high-sticking), 10:02; Nycholat, HER (interference), 14:55; Fehr, HER (hooking), 17:31; Bickell, NOR (goaltender interference), 18:56; Barker, NOR (fighting major), 18:56; Hendricks, HER (fighting major), 18:56; Fraser, HER (roughing), 20:00; Fehr, HER (roughing), 20:00.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 3, NOR, Brouwer 14 (power play) (Barker), 12:14. 4, HER, Wiseman 6 (power play) (Hendricks, Wilson), 17:26. Penalties: MacDonald, NOR (slashing), 2:28; Low, NOR (slashing), 3:52; Richmond, NOR (roughing), 8:35; Robitaille, HER (roughing), 11:58; Koci, NOR (cross-checking), 14:35; Hendry, NOR (hooking), 16:02; MacDonald, NOR (hooking), 17:55; Fraser, NOR (hooking), 19:47.

 

OVERTIME -- Scoring: 5, HER, Fehr 13 (game-winner) (power play) (Fleischmann, Nycholat), 1:07. Penalty: Richmond, NOR (gross misconduct), 1:07.

 

Game Factoids: Face-offs won (unofficial): Hershey: 32, Norfolk: 29 … Hershey finished 3-12 on the power-play, while Norfolk ended at 1-7 … The Bears outshot the Admirals 44-24 … The 44 shots tied a season high … Hershey outshot Norfolk 21-1 in the 3rd period … The Bears enjoyed three different 5-on-3 power play opportunities in the 3rd period (:36, :33 and :07) … D Lawrence Nycholat collected two assists for the second straight contest … Hershey has earned points in 22 of 25 matches this season … Bucknell men's head basketball coach Pat Flannery attended the game … Faces in the crowd included longtime NHL center Ron Sutter … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Dean Arsene and Tyler Sloan on defense, with Quintin Laing, Dave Steckel and Wiseman at forward … Scratched from Hershey: D Marc Busenburg, D Trevor Byrne, C Matt Koalska, D Sasha Pokulok, C Joey Tenute and LW Peter Vandermeer … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Fehr, (2) Wilson, (3) Crawford … Referee: Jamie Koharski … Attendance: 8,018.

 

Coming Up: The Bears conclude their weekend with a 5 PM face-off against the Admirals Sunday at Giant Center.

 

Better known for his fists, Norfolk's Reed Low puts the Ads up 1-0 at 2:50 of the 1st period.

 

Hershey's Kyle Wilson knots the match at 1 picking up a rebound and lifting it over Norfolk's goaltender Corey Crawford.

 

The Bears Matt Hendricks and Cam Barker exchanged punches during a heated 2nd period.

 

Hershey's Alexandre Giroux provides the screen as Eric Fehr's Overtime game winner finds the back of the net.

 

Wednesday December 6, 2006 at Norfolk (Posted Wednesday 10:59 P.M EST)

 

Bears top Admirals in OT, 3-2

Cassivi wins 200th career AHL game

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

Bucking their trend of recent failures in extra sessions, the Hershey Bears, down 2-1 with less than three minutes left in regulation, rallied to tie the contest at 17:15 before Jonas Johansson capitalized on a turnover to lead the Bears to a 3-2 overtime win over the Norfolk Admirals before 3,501 Wednesday night at the Scope. Johansson and Tomas Fleischmann, who knotted the score at 2-2 late in the 3rd, each finished with a goal and an assist while goaltender Frederic Cassivi (10-5-3) turned aside 21 of 23 shots to earn his 200th career American Hockey League victory. With the win, Hershey (15-3-3-3, 36 points) is now tied with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 1st place in the East Division. Jonas Nordqvist and Troy Brouwer pocketed markers for the Admirals (15-5-3-1, 34 points), with goalie Corey Crawford (13-5-1) stopping 33 of 36 shots.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	OT	Total
Hershey	0	1	1	1	3
Norfolk	1	0	1	0	2

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, NOR, Nordqvist 5 (Richmond, Keith), 18:04. Penalties: Low, NOR (tripping), 5:59; Fehr, HER (hooking), 11:53; Schultz, HER (hooking), 13:35.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 2, HER, Giroux 18 (power play) (Fleischmann, Nycholat), 12:25. Penalties: Munn, NOR (slashing), 2:10; Rogers, NOR (holding), 4:39; Hendry, NOR (roughing), 10:40; Fehr, HER (roughing), 11:18; Fraser, NOR (double roughing minor), 11:18; Steckel, HER (slashing), 13:42; Fehr, HER (hooking), 17:50.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 3, NOR, Brouwer 12 (MacDonald, Corazzini), 9:10. 4, HER, Fleischmann 9 (power play) (Johansson, Nycholat), 17:15. Penalties: Johansson, HER (slashing), 8:26; Munn, NOR (hooking), 12:31; Nycholat, HER (tripping), 13:21; Maunu, NOR (hooking), 16:34.

 

OVERTIME -- Scoring: 5, HER, Johansson 5 (game-winner) (unassisted), 2:43. Penalties: None.

 

Game Factoids: Hershey finished 2-7 on the power-play, while Norfolk ended at 1-6 … The Bears outshot the Admirals 36-23 … C Alexandre Giroux scored his team-leading 18th goal of the season - a power play tally - at 12:25 of the 2nd … Hershey captain Lawrence Nycholat added 2 assists to increase his point total to 23; tops among AHL defensemen … Johansson is the tenth different player to record a game-winning goal this season for Hershey. With five markers in 21 contests in 06/07, he's already matched his 2005/06 goal output … Norfolk entered the day with an AHL-best 12 home wins this season … C Matt Hendricks returned to the Bears lineup after missing the last 8 games due to injury … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Marc Busenburg and Jamie Hunt on defense, with Dave Steckel, Chad Wiseman and former Admiral Quintin Laing at forward … Scratched from Hershey: D Trevor Byrne, D Timo Helbling, D Sasha Pokulok, LW Louis Robitaille, C Joey Tenute and C Kyle Wilson … RWs Matt Stefanishion and Stephen Werner were reassigned to South Carolina (ECHL) on Tuesday … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Johansson, (2) Nordqvist, (3) Fleischmann … Referee: Nygel Pelletier.

 

Coming Up: The Bears return to Chocolatetown this weekend for a pair of games against the Admirals, beginning Saturday with a 7 PM face-off at Giant Center.

 

Sunday December 3, 2006 vs Worcester (Posted Sunday 10:47 P.M EST)

 

Sharks bite Bears in OT, 2-1

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

The good news is that the Hershey Bears earned a point in the standings on Sunday; something they've done in 20 of 23 games this season. The bad news is that Hershey dropped their fourth contest in five matches, falling to the Worcester Sharks 2-1 in overtime before 6,001 at Giant Center. Thanks in part to a 5-on-3 power play advantage for a full two minutes - courtesy of a Timo Helbling holding call and a Hershey bench minor for disputing the penalty - Worcester's Grant Stevenson potted the game-winner at 2:09 of OT, sending a left circle attempt top-shelf over Bears netminder Frederic Cassivi. Sharks goalie Nolan Schaefer (5-4-0) would allow only one puck past the goal line, with Eric Fehr collecting his 12th of the season from a center point shot at 19:35 of the 1st. Former Bear Graham Mink - with an assist from one-time Hershey winger Mathieu Darche - tied the contest at 1-1 with a rebound tally at 4:44 of the 2nd. Cassivi (9-5-3) ended with 29 saves for Hershey (14-3-3-3, 34 points) while his counterpart, Schaefer - the game's number one star - finished with a stellar 36 stops for Worcester (11-8-1-3, 26 points).

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	OT	Total
Worcester	0	1	0	1	2
Hershey	1	0	0	0	1

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, HER, Fehr 12 (unassisted), 19:35. Penalties: WOR bench, served by Armstrong (too many men), 4:10; Armstrong, WOR (charging), 6:51; Prudden, WOR (hooking), 8:02; Fehr, HER (hooking), 8:24; Robitaille, HER (holding), 15:07; Biron, WOR (hooking), 16:18.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 2, HER, Mink 2 (power play) (Darche, Ferguson), 4:44. Penalties: Schultz, HER (interference), 3:57; Darche, WOR (hooking), 10:40; Wilson, HER (hooking), 17:42; Stevenson, WOR (interference), 17:59; Giroux, HER (unsportsmanlike conduct - diving), 17:59.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: None. Penalties: Rome, WOR (high-sticking), 4:29; Spang, WOR (hooking), 9:03; Cavanagh, WOR (hooking), 10:27; Helbling, HER (roughing), 15:12.

 

OVERTIME -- Scoring: 3, WOR, Stevenson 5 (game-winner) (power play) (Stafford), 2:09. Penalties: Helbling, HER (holding), 1:18; HER bench, served by Fehr (unsportsmanlike conduct), 1:18.

 

Game Factoids: Face-offs won (unofficial): Hershey: 37, Worcester: 28 … Hershey finished 0-8 on the power-play, while Worcester ended at 2-7 … The Bears outshot the Sharks 37-31 … Hershey fell to 5-0-3-3 this season in one-goal games … The Bears have lost six of seven contests this season that ended in overtime or a shootout … LW Tomas Fleischmann returned to the Bears lineup after missing the last five games due to injury … Earlier in the day, D Jeff Schultz was returned from the Washington Capitals … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Helbling and Schultz on defense, with Kyle Wilson, Chad Wiseman and Fehr at forward … Scratched from Hershey: D Trevor Byrne, C Matt Hendricks, D Jamie Hunt, RW Jonas Johansson, D Sasha Pokulok, C Joey Tenute, LW Peter Vandermeer and RW Stephen Werner … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Schaefer, (2) Stevenson, (3) Chris Bourque … Referee: Brian Pochmara.

 

Coming Up: The Bears have three games on their slate this week… all against the Norfolk Admirals. Hershey makes its first appearance in the Hampton Roads area on Wednesday at the Scope, then returns to host the Ads back-to-back nights on Saturday and Sunday at Giant Center.

 

Sharks Netminder Nolan Schaefer makes a sweeping save on this 1st period break away attempt by the Bears Chris Bourque.

 

Former Bear Graham Mink delivers a big hit on current Bear Timo Helbling.

 

Hersheys lone goal of the night came on this 1st period shot by Eric Fehr.

 

Sharks goalie Nolan Schaefer dives to close a seemingly open net during the 2nd period.

 

The save of the night came during the 2nd period as Schaefer snares a Dave Steckel point blank shot.

 

Saturday December 2, 2006 vs Manitoba (Posted Sunday 1:47 A.M EST)

 

Newcomer leads Bears over Moose, 5-2

Wilson bags two goals in Hershey debut

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

Talk about making a good first impression. Playing his first game in a Hershey Bears jersey - after a recall from the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays - Kyle Wilson collected two goals, including the game-winner, as Hershey (14-3-2-3, 33 points) defeated the Manitoba Moose, 5-2 before 7,517 Saturday night at Giant Center. Quintin Laing (short-handed), Eric Fehr (power play) and Alexandre Giroux (empty net) also scored as the Bears ended the season series with a 3-0-1-0 record against Manitoba (10-9-3-2, 25 points). Frederic Cassivi (9-4-3) stopped 33 of 35 shots for Hershey, while Wade Flaherty (6-5-0) ended with 20 saves on 24 shots faced for Manitoba.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Manitoba	1	0	1	2
Hershey	2	1	2	5

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, MTB, Moran 11 (Goren), :24. 2, HER, Wilson 2 (power play) (Hunt, Laing), 2:29. 3, HER, Laing 3 (short-handed) (Giroux), 4:45. Penalties: Fortunus, MTB (hooking), :40; Koalska, HER (holding), 4:13; Bernier, MTB (hooking), 10:54; McIver, MTB (fighting major), 16:17; Robitaille, HER (fighting major), 16:17; Rullier, MTB (tripping), 16:35; Koalska, HER (hooking), 17:03; Helbling, HER (holding), 18:16.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 4, HER, Wilson 3 (game-winner) (Johansson, Nycholat), 6:03. Penalties: Helbling, HER (holding), :55; Giroux, HER (cross-checking, unsportsmanlike conduct), 4:48; Moran, MTB (hooking), 5:09; Ryan, MTB (slashing), 8:56; Hunt, HER (boarding), 11:48; Keefe, MTB (roughing, fighting major), 15:21; Sloan, HER (fighting major), 15:21.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 5, HER, Fehr 11 (power play) (Giroux, Helbling), 6:53. 6, MTB, Rullier 2 (Wood, Reid), 11:11. 7, HER, Giroux 17 (empty net) (unassisted), 19:21. Penalties: Nycholat, HER (holding), :42; Johansson, HER (hooking), 4:58; Goren, MTB (holding), 5:54; Rullier, MTB (roughing), 6:26; Keane, MTB (cross-checking), 7:19; Steckel, HER (tripping), 10:20; Ryan, MTB (fighting major), 19:21; Robitaille, HER (fighting major), 19:21.

 

Game Factoids: Face-offs won (unofficial): Hershey: 31, Manitoba: 32 … Hershey finished 2-8 on the power-play, while Manitoba ended at 1-10 … The Moose outshot the Bears 35-25 … Giroux, who also added two assists for a three point effort, scored on a backhand from the Manitoba blueline while being hooked at the waistline … Both of Wilson's markers came courtesy of rebounds in front of the Moose net … The short-handed goal was Hershey's 11th of the season. It was also the fifth straight contest they've registered a man-down tally … Louis Robitaille rang up fighting majors against Nathan McIver (at 16:17 of the 1st) and Prestin Ryan (at 19:21 of the 3rd). Ryan, who accused the Hershey forward of eye-gouging in Wednesday's game, threw additional punches while Robitaille was on the ice … D Tyler Sloan and Manitoba's Adam Keefe dropped the gloves at 15:21 of the 2nd, exchanging several shots in a closely-scored bout … Earlier in the day, the Washington Capitals recalled D Jeff Schultz from Hershey. The first-year pro out of Calgary, Alberta did not dress, however, as the Caps defeated the Buffalo Sabres 7-4 at home Saturday night … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Dean Arsene and Lawrence Nycholat on defense, with Fehr, Giroux and Matt Koalska at forward … Scratched from Hershey: D Trevor Byrne, LW Tomas Fleischmann, C Matt Hendricks, D Sasha Pokulok, C Joey Tenute, RW Stephen Werner and LW Chad Wiseman … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Giroux, (2) Laing, (3) Wilson … Referee: Brian Pochmara.

 

Coming Up: The Bears close out their weekend with a 5 PM Sunday matinee against the Worcester Sharks at Giant Center. It will be the first-ever appearance - and only visit of the 2006/07 season - for the San Jose Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate.

 

Manitoba's Brad Moran puts the Moose ahead 1-0 just 24 seconds into the 1st period.

 

The newest Bear, Kyle Wilson, ties the contest at 1 with his backhanded power-play goal during 1st period action.

 

Hershey's Louis Robitaille and Manitoba's Prestin Ryan duke it out late in the 3rd.

 

The Bears Frederic Cassivi stonewalls Manitoba's Jason Jaffray.

 

Friday December 1, 2006 at Wilkes-Barre (Posted Friday 9:57 P.M EST)

 

Bears beaten in regulation

Fall to the Penguins, 4-1

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Hershey	0	0	1	1
Wilkes-Barre	2	2	0	4

 

Scoring

 

1. WBS Carcillo, (8) (Gilbert, DuPont), 5:30 (PP)

1. WBS Bonvie, (1) (Lannon, Brodziak), 19:08

2. WBS Filewich, (11) (Carkner, Mikhnov), 1:47

2. WBS McLean, (2) (Lannon, Kennedy), 10:04

3. HER Steckel, (6) (Arsene), 12:48 (SH)

 

Penalties

 

1 - WBS Mikhnov, 0:43 - Interference , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Fehr, 4:30 - Elbowing , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Schultz, 8:32 - Tripping , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Arsene, 12:47 - Cross-checking , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Vandermeer, 8:10 - Charging , 2 min

2 - HER Vandermeer, 8:10 - Fighting , 5 min

2 - WBS Carkner, 8:10 - Instigating , 2 min

2 - WBS Carkner, 8:10 - Fighting , 5 min

2 - WBS Carkner, 8:10 - Misconduct - Instigating (47.10), 10 min

2 - HER Robitaille, 11:26 - Fighting , 5 min

2 - WBS Skolney, 11:26 - Fighting , 5 min

2 - WBS Skolney, 11:26 - Misconduct - Instigating (47.10), 10 min

3 - WBS DuPont, 7:41 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

3 - HER Giroux, 9:11 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

3 - HER Vandermeer, 11:56 - Fighting , 5 min

3 - WBS Bonvie, 11:56 - Fighting , 5 min

3 - HER Nycholat, 12:41 - Cross-checking , 2 min (PP)

3 - HER Robitaille, 12:41 - Misconduct , 10 min

3 - HER Helbling, 13:07 - Fighting , 5 min

3 - WBS Carcillo, 13:07 - Fighting , 5 min

3 - WBS Carcillo, 13:07 - Misconduct , 10 min

3 - HER Arsene, 14:28 - Roughing , 2 min

3 - HER Arsene, 14:28 - Fighting , 5 min

3 - WBS Skolney, 14:28 - Unsportsmanlike conduct , 2 min

3 - WBS Skolney, 14:28 - Fighting , 5 min

3 - HER Vandermeer, 20:00 - Elbowing , 2 min

 

Three Stars

 

1. WBS - 2 Ryan Lannon

2. WBS - 40 Jeff Deslauriers

3. WBS - 27 Dennis Bonvie

 

Coming Up: The Bears look to avenge their Wednesday OT loss to Manitoba. The Bears and Moose will face-off at 7:00 PM at the Giant Center Saturday night.