When Troy Mann was hired as Hershey Bears head coach and Bryan Helmer named his assistant, there was a renewed optimism from Bears fans this past summer. After an awkwardly bad 2013-14 season, the return of Mann and Helmer to Hershey helped to give Hershey a feeling of returning to the pride that won the Bears back to back Calder Cups.
HERSHEY, PA – Hershey Bears head coach Troy Mann draws a play out through the fog at Hersheypark Arena Wednesday (Kyle Mace – Chocolate Hockey)
It is always a step back in time to watch the Bears practice at Hersheypark Arena. The arena serves as a practice site for the Bears when Giant Center isn’t available, and that was the case on Wednesday.
Just stepping into the “Old Barn” brings back lots of memories to long time Hershey Bears fans. Walk into the Arena now and you’ll see two big upgrades; a new ceiling and safety nets behind each goal that went up just a few months ago. Yet with all of the improvements, air conditioning has never been installed in the arena. With hot and humid weather outside, there was a throwback to the past as well.
Shortly after practice began, a thick layer of fog engulfed the ice, just like it used to when the building was packed on a warm evening in Chocolate Town. And on a warm day like Wednesday, practice wasn’t what Coach Troy Mann had hoped for.
Kris Newbury, seen here during a game last season, leads the AHL in scoring with five points after two games. (Kyle Mace – Chocolate Hockey, file.)
The Bears are being scheduled tested right out of the gate this season. The first five and 9 of the first 11 games are on the road, including two trips to New England starting this weekend. Then the schedule takes an opposite turn with 10 of the following 13 games at Giant Center. That means a good start on the road will be of even more importance to the Chocolate and White.
HERSHEY, PA – Tomas Kundratek celebrates with his teammates after Garrett Mitchell’s goal during Hershey’s preseason win at home against Lehigh Valley last Friday. (Kyle Mace – Chocolate Hockey)
The Bears played two eventful preseason games at Giant Center as they prepared for the 2014-15 regular season. The first, Friday night October 3rd, featured the return of former Bears star Andrew Gordon, now playing in the Flyers organization with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Allentown, Pennsylvania – Troy Mann looks on during Hershey’s 3-1 win over Lehigh Valley during the preseason (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
The Chocolate and White made their first visit to the new PPL Center to kick off the 2014 preseason. Hershey came out on top with a 3-1 win over the LH Phantoms, with goals coming from Joel Broda, Stanislav Galiev, and Braden Pimm, giving the Bears the first preseason win of 2014. Below the jump, check out photos from the game from our Kyle Mace.
The Hershey Bears team leader is coming back next season. On Friday. the Bears re-signed Captain Dane Byers for the 2014-15 season. Byers scored 15 goals, recorded 22 assists and lead the team in penalty minutes with 211. Byers played in his 500th AHL game on February 28th.
As weeks of voting comes to a close, we are happy to announce the winners of the first ever SHOEY Awards! Now without further adieu, the winners are…
After just one season in Hershey, Head Coach Mike Haviland is taking a new career path. Haviland has left Hershey to become the new Head Coach of Colorado College. “I’m excited, I really am,” said Haviland in a phone interview. “The opportunity to work with one of the top programs in all of college hockey and the chance to work with a school that’s committed to excellence in academics and in hockey. They are a school that’s committed to winning a national championship. It’s a opportunity that I couldn’t pass down.”
As the 2014 season has come to a close, us here at Sweetest Hockey on Earth came up with a new idea. As the Bears hold their awards each season, we decided to hold our own awards, but for things you might not think would normally get awards. We have come up with eight categories for you fans to vote on.
That’s right! In honor of the Harrisburg Stampede’s first game at Giant Center this afternoon, we have re-named ourselves Sweetest Football on Earth!! The Stampede will faceoff against the Columbus Lions at 3pm today in Hershey. Follow us on Twitter to keep up with the game as we will be live tweeting portions of the match.