Tom Gilbert is joined by teammates after scoring the eventual game winning goal for Hershey on Wednesday night against Binghamton (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
The Hershey Bears hosted the Binghamton Senators Wednesday night before a sold-out Giant Center, and behind goals from Hubert Labrie, Tom Gilbert, and Riley Barber, Hershey took a 3-1 victory tonight. Pheonix Copley backstopped the Bears to the win.
Photo courtesy: JustSports Photography
After a disappointing beginning to the 2017 calendar year, the Hershey Bears finished off the month of January strong with points in three straight. After almost a week off for the All-Star break, the picked right back up where they left off, beating the Binghamton Senators 5-3 Friday night.
The Hershey Bears scored a touchdown worth of goals tonight, while Binghamton could only manage a safety. That means the Bears are the victorious team.
Here are a bunch of photos from Saturday night’s game.
HERSHEY, PA – Bears players celebrate Connor Carrick’s GWOTG vs. Binghamton Saturday night. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
Hershey was looking to extend their East Division lead heading into the AHL All-Star break. With a one point lead on Wilkes-Barre with three games in hand, the Bears were riding a three game winning streak into Saturday night’s game against Binghamton.
HERSHEY, PA – Philippe Cornet celebrates his first period goal during the Bears win over Binghamton Saturday night (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
Seven goals, six (give or take two) fights, and 114 penalty minutes. This game was the first of eight matches between the Hershey Bears and Binghamton Senators in the 2014-15 season, and boy was it a fun one. Hershey would take the two points, but not without a lot of action in the game. Chris Brown and Philippe Cornet would give Hershey an early 2-0 lead only seven minutes into the first period.
HERSHEY, PA – Dane Byers celebrates his GWOTG against Binghamton Sunday night (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
In minor league hockey, what exactly are the factors needed to create a classic? Obviously good officiating is always appreciated at the American Hockey League level, leading to a fast paced, open, end-to-end hockey game. But in addition, how about a great atmosphere inside arena? Or even a game that may decide a team’s future postseason fate?
All those factors came into play and meshed perfectly on Sunday evening, which built-ed towards a 1-0 overtime win over the Binghamton Senators.
Nate Schmidt, seen here earlier in the season, scored his first goal since opening night with Hershey on Friday night against Binghamton during the Bears’ 5-4 loss to the Senators (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The Bears face another nearly must win situation tonight, when they face one of the best teams in the league, the Springfield Falcons. Hershey remains in control of the 8th and final playoff spot in the AHL Eastern conference, by just one point, with five games to go.
HERSHEY, PA – Michael Latta, seen here earlier in the season, will rejoin Hershey after a stint with Washington (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The Bears will get one of their top players back in the lineup for Saturday’s game against Springfield. Michael Latta will return to Hershey from the Washington Capitals. Latta had recorded seven points in just 12 games with the Bears and is coming off of injury with the Capitals.
Nicolas Deschamps, seen here during the 2012-13 season, had Hershey’s loan goal Thursday night (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Fresh off the Christmas holiday, the Hershey Bears returned to work against the Binghamton Senators on what is traditionally known as “Boxing Day” to our neighboring country to the north. The Senators entered eyeing their 20th home ice win against Hershey in team history and looked to pull into a first place East Division tie with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
David Leggio once again received the starting nod for the Chocolate and White in net. It was Leggio’s 11th start in the last 12 Bears games this season dating back to November 27.
It was a tale of two athletic goaltenders between Leggio for Hershey and Nathan Lawson for Binghamton. Lawson’s miraculous second period after a strong Hershey push lead to the tables turning towards a 4-1 Senators win.
HERSHEY, PA – Michael Latta throw a punch towards Darren Kramer during a fight Saturday night (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
We’ve seen some pretty amazing fights this year from Joel Rechlicz, but Saturday night’s fight might be the front runner for the season. Late in the first period, Michael Latta would drop the mitts with Darren Kramer.
The fight was one of the fastest ones in recent memory, but Latta’s final punch took the cake. The video was so epic that we had to remix it with a Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball.”