There is a side to hockey where statistics are not a strong representation of a player’s contribution. The stay-at-home defenseman and avid penalty killer would certainly agree. Ask 27-year-old blueliner Erik Burgdoerfer. Affectionately known at “Burgy” to his teammates, he completed the 2015-16 campaign with six goals and 14 assists. In 21 postseason games, Burgdoerfer added an additional four helpers.
Philipp Grubauer returned to the Hershey Bears for his third season and posted career highs in games played with 49, and 27 wins. Grubauer received top goaltender honors in the 2015 AHL Skills Competition while representing the Eastern Conference All-Stars.
Garrett Mitchell returned to the Hershey Bears lineup in 2014-15 after an injury-restricted season held him to 17 games the year prior. Mitchell has now played with the Bears for parts of six seasons. He notched four goals and as many assists in 64 games with Hershey in the 14-15 season.
The Regina, Saskatchewan native was a key part of Hershey’s tough fourth line in the postseason, scoring a goal and two assist during the Bears playoff run. Mitchell will be a restricted free agent this summer.
Cameron Schilling played his fourth season with the Hershey Bears in 2014-15, netting three goals and 18 points in 63 games during the regular season. He matched his season goal total in ten Calder Cup Playoffs game, where he posted eight points (3-5-8). This season he played a career-high four games in the NHL with the Washington Capitals. Schilling will be a restricted free agent this off season.
Photo courtesy: Walt Disney Pictures
How does a star from NBC’s Saturday Night Live get excited hearing about a Hershey Bears player? It happened at an appearance last week at Shippensburg University by Kenan Thompson. In an interview with ChocolateHockey.com’s Matt Trust, the SNL comedian had an enthusiastic response upon hearing the story of Bears’ forward Nathan Walker.
Photo: Kyle Mace
Dmitry Orlov finished his three game rehab stint with the Hershey Bears on Wednesday night. These were his first professional hockey games played in since May 2014 at the IIHF World Championships. Orlov broke his wrist after a collision into the boards during the series.
Wilkes-Barre, PA – Philipp Grubauer is scored on in the third period of Hershey’s 5-3 loss to the Penguins on Wednesday night (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
We hate to bring up bad memories, especially since the correct mentality in hockey is to continuously move forward. However it’s worth it to briefly reflect back on how our playoff hopes and dreams, as well as the Mike Haviland era ended a year ago. Back-to-back road games in Norfolk, in mid-April; Both must win games, and both dropped by the Bears in regulation.
Now currently, we’re thankfully nowhere near as dire and concerning of a situation. Even after dropping a 5-3 decision to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the first of two meetings this week.
HERSHEY, PA – Pheonix Copley fights Kevin Poulin of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Saturday night during the Hershey Bears game against Bridgeport (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
All heck broke lose Saturday night at Giant Center with 4:20 remaining in the second period against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. It all started with goaltender interference on Pheonix Copley that went uncalled, knocking the stick out of his hands. He made a glove save to put play to a halt, where a scrum quickly escalated.
All great things must come to an end. It’s an old, cliche saying, but it is also 100 percent true and fitting of the occasion. In a 3-1 loss to the Norfolk Admirals, the Bears’ eight season playoff streak has come to a crashing end. The Providence Bruins and Norfolk Admirals will grab the seventh and eighth seeds in the Eastern Conference.
The last time the Chocolate and White missed the postseason, it was the final year of the Colorado Avalanche affiliation.
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.