Big Back-to-Back for Hershey, Dany Heatley Assigned to Norfolk

Philipp Grubauer reaches for a puck during Bears practice Monday at Giant Center (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

The Hershey Bears continue an important stretch of games against division rivals tonight at Giant Center. The Bears play a rare back to back set of Tuesday and Wednesday games, starting with the Norfolk Admirals, followed by a game in Wilkes-Barre less than 24 hours later.

“This a big week for us,” said Bears coach Troy Mann after practice on Monday. “We want to come out with good energy against Norfolk and not worry about the back to back games against Wilkes-Barre. We are four points behind, two games in hand. We could go into January 1st looking right down at first place.”

The Bears have just one win in their last six games but have picked up points in overtime losses. “You have to take it game by game,” said Bears forward Chris Brown. “We’ve got two tough opponents in Wilkes-Barre and Norfolk. As long as we are moving north anything can happen.”

As the Bears prepare to take on Norfolk tonight, the Admirals learned of NHL veteran Dany Heatley’s assignment to their team earlier today. Heatley was waved by the Anaheim Ducks earlier this week, but cleared, allowing the Ducks to assign him to their AHL team. The 33-year-old forward has been plagued by groin injuries the last few seasons and spent two games with the Ads on conditioning earlier this year.

He is expected to join the Admirals, but no word on whether or not he will be in Hershey tonight to face the Bears for 7 pm puck drop.