Former Bears Captain Steve Oleksy Makes Return to Giant Center
HERSHEY, PA – Steve Oleksy looks at the play during his return to Giant Center Sunday night against Hershey (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
One year ago, Steve Oleksy scored a goal for the Hershey Bears, setting off the flight of thousands of teddy bears onto the ice at Giant Center. A year later, the 29-year-old blueliner found himself on the other side of the goal.
“Being part of [the teddy bear toss] before you kind of expect it,” Oleksy said after the game. “That shows the support Hershey gives to the Bears here. It’s a little different being on the other bench as the teddy bears rain.”
Now in his first season with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, Oleksy finds himself in Wilkes-Barre with the baby Penguins after a three year stint with Hershey and Washington. “It’s part of the game. It was a good three years here. It’s a business for us too.
“It was a little different to be on the other bench. It’s always a good atmosphere here. Obviously it was nice to still receive the support from the fans in Hershey – it’s a good feeling as a player.”
The Michigan native’s hockey career completely changed during his time with the Capitals organization. After bouncing between AHL and ECHL teams for the first few years of his professional career, Oleksy signed with Hershey prior to the 2012-13 season. In early March of that season, the NHL Lockout had been over for a month and a half and Oleksy got his first taste of the NHL. Over three seasons, he would spend 62 games in the NHL, playing more NHL games than AHL games in 2013-14.
“I always had a great relationship with Steve-O,” Bears head coach Troy Mann said. “I spent a lot of time with him as the assistant coach [in 2012-13]. It was sad to see him go, quite frankly. We named him captain for a reason last year. If it wasn’t for [Dane] Byers coming back from the year before and O[leksy] being up in Washington last year, he could have been the captain right off the hop last year. I think him and I have a special relationship and wish him nothing but the best.
“Obviously when we’re playing Wilkes-Barre, he’s on the other side. I’m glad he got a nice applause from the fans because he was a popular player here, heart and soul kind of guy. We know Hershey fans loves those types of players. Very respectful of his game, but he’s on our arch rival and I want to beat those guys every time.”
That team Oleksy is on right now is currently the best in the AHL with a record of 16-5-0-0, but dropping all three games in a 3-in-3 series this past weekend. “It’s fun. Every game we go out there, we have a chance to win. That’s why this weekend is a little bit more disappointing then for some other people because of the success we had early – we expect to be in every game and to win every game – so it’s a little tough. We’ve got some young guys; it’s an important lesson and we’re going to learn from this weekend.”
Wilkes-Barre returns to Giant Center the day after Christmas to take on the Bears in the fourth match-up of the season.