Zach Sanford Scores First AHL Goal

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Zach Sanford spent 19 games in the NHL with the Capitals to start the season but was still missing that first professional goal. He finally got it Sunday night with the Hershey Bears. On a feed from behind the goal line, Nathan Walker sent the puck to the tape of Sanford’s stick, who was able to put the puck past Kristers Gudlevskis of the Syracuse Crunch, giving him that first pro goal.

“It was a good feeling,” Sanford said after the game. “Walker had been working hard all night. One finally popped out to me and I was finally able to put it in the back of the net.”

Sanford was assigned to Hershey to give Jakub Vrana a shot to get a few NHL games under the belt, but also to take away some points from the Capitals AHL affiliate. “Just the little things,” Sanford said about what he would be taking away from his experience in Hershey. “Getting to the net hard, making those good wall plays. Just keep working hard and using my linemates.”

The 22-year-old forward was impressed with what Hershey has to offer, feeling welcomed by his new team very quickly. “It’s a very skilled team. They have a good balance of skill and grit that Coach Mann talks about a lot.

“In the locker room, there are a lot of great guys. I don’t see anyone not getting along. It seems like a very tight group. They’ve taken me in really quick and made me feel a part of the team which makes me feel real comfortable.”

Bears head coach Troy Mann said the Bears and Capitals would be discussing the plan for Sanford on Tuesday, saying he could spend three more games with the Chocolate and White, or return to the Nation’s Capital.

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