HERSHEY, PA – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton celebrates their game winning overtime goal against Hershey Sunday night (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The biggest rivalry in the American Hockey League renewed itself on Super Bowl Sunday when the Hershey Bears played host to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Chad Kolarik of Wilkes-Barre blasted a power play, overtime game winning goal with only seconds remaining in the extra frame to set back Hershey.
HERSHEY, PA – Barry Almeida skates past the bench after his goal during Hershey’s 2-1 win over Manchester (Tim Stough – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The Hershey Bears battled the Manchester Monarchs at home for the first game in February. With playoff races weeks away from beginning and the Bears currently on the outside looking into the top eight teams in the conference, they looked for a bounce back effort against the the Monarchs. Martin Jones made 42 saves for Manchester, but the Bears squeaked past the Monarchs, 2-1.
HERSHEY, PA – Steven Oleksy makes a pass during a game earlier in the season (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
After another frustrating home loss the night before, the Hershey Bears traveled north of their state border to battle the division leading Binghamton Senators. In Dany Sabourin’s first shootout of the season, he failed to stop a single shot, as the Senators topped the Bears in only three rounds of the skills competition.
HERSHEY, PA – Patrice Cormier celebrates his goal in the second period during Hershey’s 3-1 loss (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The Hershey Bears returned indoors for the first time since a January 18 duel against the Lake Erie Monsters. The Chocolate and White battled the St. John’s IceCaps for the fourth and final time this season. Hershey fell behind late in the second period, and fell to catch St. John’s in another 3-1 defeat.
HERSHEY, PA – Bears players look on after they lose in OT to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the 2013 Outdoor Classic (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
It was a grand setting at Hersheypark Stadium on Sunday evening. Starting with a flurry of fireworks as the sun set on Central Pennsylvania, the Bears took on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL Outdoor Classic. Despite the freezing cold, 17,311 packed the old stadium to see one of the league’s greatest rivalries get taken to another level. Frankly, I wish I had gotten my butt up there. Unfortunately for the Bears, though, it didn’t end in a victory.
HERSHEY, PA – Boyd Kane yells at the referee after Lake Erie goal after an interesting call earlier in the period (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
With the countdown to the 2013 Outdoor Classic winding down rapidly, the Hershey Bears had one final contest at Giant Center before the big matinee scheduled for Sunday. The Bears battled the Lake Erie Monsters for the first time this season. Jonathon Kalinski was given a third period five minute major penalty and an early shower, leading to a 3-2 Monsters win.
Philipp Grubauer looks on during a game earlier this season (Tim Stough – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
After an astonishing three goal performance by the Hershey Bears’ power play unit against the Connecticut Whale, they looked to continue their recent special teams success on the road in Worcester, Massachusetts. Boyd Kane opened up the scoring early and helped the Bears to a 3-2 shootout win over the Worcester Sharks.
HERSHEY, PA – Boyd Kane celebrates one of Hershey’s four first period goals during Hershey’s 5-0 win Sunday night (Tim Stough – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
After an exciting shootout win the night before over the Connecticut Whale, the Hershey Bears would have to face them once more at Giant Center. Tom Poti played in his first career AHL game, and helped the Bears to a stunning 5-0 victory win over the Whale.
HERSHEY, PA – Zach Hamill celebrates his game tying goal during Hershey’s win against the Whale Saturday night (Tim Stough – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Saturday night the Hershey Bears returned home to face the Connecticut Whale at Giant Center. As if the Bears’ offensive hasn’t been challenged enough as of late, they would have to battle the Whale with no Jeff Taffe, Ryan Potulny and Evan Barlow in the lineup. Philipp Grubauer earned his second start of the season in Hershey and gained his first ever shootout win in a 4-3 victory over the Whale.
Photo courtesy: AFCMedia Photography
Friday night, the Hershey Bears and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins met for the final time before the 2013 Outdoor Classic. The Penguins faced the challenge of beating the Bears for only the second time this season. Brian Dumoulin scored the contest’s only goal and helped the Penguins blank Hershey, 1-0. The loss snapped a seven game road winning streak for Hershey.