HERSHEY, PA – David Leggio is joined by Brandon Segal at the end of Leggio’s 44 save shutout (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Sunday night, goaltender David Leggio stopped all 44 shots that came his way, giving him his first shutout in a Hershey Bears sweater, but the 29-year old was not in the Christmas spirit when it came to what was also on that sweater.
HERSHEY, PA – Ryan Potulny celebrates a goal with Casey Wellman (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth, File)
The Hershey Bears have announced that they have signed forward Ryan Potulny. The 29-year-old has played the last two season in Hershey before deciding to play in the KHL at the start of this season. He injured his shoulder before the start of the season and contract was voided by his KHL team.
The first time Joel Rechlicz saw his “bobble fist” that will be handed out to Bears fans Saturday night, he was as giddy as a 10-year-old getting the Lego version of the Millenium Falcon on Christmas Morning. Luckily, there was a camera rolling during the ceremonial presentation to Joel of the bobble fist modeled after his likeness. We’ve looked at the giveway up close, but below the jump check out video and a gif of Recker’s reaction of him getting to see the final product himself.
Real Joel Rechlicz (left) holds bobble fist Joel Rechlicz (right) after practice Thursday morning
The Hershey Bears have had many bobble head nights though the years, but Saturday night will be a first in the Chocolate and White’s history. The Bears will hold Joel Rechlicz “bobble fist” night this Saturday, December 21st. The head does not move on this giveaway, but the object that has made Joel famous on the ice, will.
Wednesday night’s Hershey Bears game was your typical Bears win, with 10,801 fans cheering on as John Mitchell would win the game in the shootout for the Chocolate and White. But high above the rink at Giant Center, one of the greatest players to ever lace up the skates watched the game.
HERSHEY, PA – Michal Neuvirth looks ahead during warm-ups during his conditioning stint in Hershey (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Wednesday morning, the Washington Capitals announced they have recalled Michal Neuvirth from Hershey. Neuvirth was on loan from DC to Hershey to help heal an ankle which was injured during warm-ups in Washington.
Jamie Johnson, 10, was released from his SPC by the Hershey Bears and will head to the KHL (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The Hershey Bears announced Monday morning that Jamie Johnson from his standard player’s contract to play in the KHL. The forward played in eight games this season for the Chocolate and White, scoring one goal and four points. Johnson, 31, played last season with Riga Dynamo and will rejoin them where he scored eight goals and 22 points.
HERSHEY, PA – Michal Neuvirth looks on during warm-ups Saturday night before his first start in Giant Center since Game 6 of the 2010 Calder Cup Finals (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
June 15th, 2010. 11,002 Bears fans packed Giant Center for the largest crowd in the building’s history. Michal Neuvirth raised his second straight Calder Cup after a 22-save shutout of the Texas Stars. 1278 days later, he stepped back out on the ice in a Hershey uniform for the first time since raising the Calder Cup.
HERSHEY, PA – Michael Latta throw a punch towards Darren Kramer during a fight Saturday night (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
We’ve seen some pretty amazing fights this year from Joel Rechlicz, but Saturday night’s fight might be the front runner for the season. Late in the first period, Michael Latta would drop the mitts with Darren Kramer.
The fight was one of the fastest ones in recent memory, but Latta’s final punch took the cake. The video was so epic that we had to remix it with a Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball.”
HERSHEY, PA – Michal Neuvirth shakes Chris Bourque’s hand after winning the 2010 Calder Cup (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth, 2010)
For the first time since winning the Calder Cup in 2010 at Giant Center, Michael Neuvirth is back in a Hershey Bears uniform. “Neuvy” will get a rehab start with Hershey on Saturday after injuring his right ankle during warm-ups at the Caps game on November 29. Since the freak fall, he’s missed six games with the Caps. Neuvirth was with the Bears during morning skate on Friday before heading to Wilkes-Barre that night for the Bears game against the Penguins.
