In a stunning April 1st announcement, inside sources say the Hershey Bears are going to announce a major change for their 75th anniversary season. The team will change their name from the Hershey Bears to the Hershey Kats in honor of the Hershey Kit-Kat Bar.
We are just under 24 hours away until our first ever Hershey Bears viewing party! That means we have an update for you.
The Hershey Bears will be playing an outdoor game for a second straight year, but this time they will be hosting the party.
UPDATE: We are less then 24 hours away from the party. Please read our update!!
After months of planing, Sweetest Hockey on Earth is proud to announce the first ever “Hershey Bears Viewing Party” on Wednesday March 28, 2012!!! In conjunction with the Hershey Bears Wives, Hershey Bears Booster Club, abc27, and The Old Barn Hockey Show, we will be holding a viewing party benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Pennsylvania at Fire Alley starting a 6:30pm that night.
Yesterday’s AHL Clear Day deadline has come and gone. From now til the end of the season, these will be the players in the Bears lineup. Exceptions of course for call-ups and injuries. Take a look at who made the list after the jump.
Photo by Kyle Mace
Today is the day we find out who will be on the roster for the remainder of the season. For those of you unfamiliar with AHL Clear Day, here is the explanation directly from the AHL.
Only those players listed on a team’s Clear Day roster are eligible to compete in the remainder of the AHL regular season and in the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs, unless emergency conditions arise as a result of recall, injury or suspension.
Teams may also add signed junior players or players on amateur tryout contracts after Clear Day, but only once their respective junior or college seasons are complete.
Those listed in the 22 available spots are the ones that will be able to play. If there is an injury or one of the players on the roster is called up to Washington, that spot will be filled in by a non-roster player. Those players are traditionally called the “Black Aces”. They stay in Hershey and practice with the team.
So who makes the cut?
Photo by Kyle Mace
Around 6:30 pm on Thursday night, Ryan Potulny tweeted Keith Aucoin “good luck buddy” and “you deserve it.” There was a bit of speculation on what was going on. Was Aucoin being called up? Or was Potulny just messing with the AHL leading scorer? If you guessed with that Aucoin was getting his first call-up to the big show this season, you guessed correctly.
Bon Voyage, Matt and Danny. Photos by Kyle Mace. It was announced this afternoon that the Caps made a set of trades. Matt Ford was sent to Philadelphia in exchange for 22-year-old defenseman Kevin Marshall of the Adirondack Phantoms. Marshall recorded…
Maybe Santa has granted Joel’s wish? Photo by Kyle Mace.
From the Bears:
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed forward Joel Rechlicz to an entry-level contract and recalled him and forward Cody Eakin from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.
You can read the full press release here. I’m sure no one is surprised by the recall of Cody Eakin, but Joel Rechlicz was a little of a surprise to this blogger. I’m sure it is leaving many in Washington wondering who he is. Assuming that you read the official press releases from Hershey and/or Washington, you can look up all we have to offer by clicking here. I can sum it up for you. He’s a great guy off the ice. On the ice, he is a tremendous worker. I’m sure you have drawn your own conclusion, but yes he will drop the gloves in a heartbeat.
As I started writing, “Joel Rechlicz” was trending #5 in Washington on Twitter. Go get ’em, Joel!!
Less than 24 hours after their game against the Norfolk Admirals, three Bears headed to Atlantic City to take part in the 2012 AHL All-Star Skills Competition. Though none of the Bears won an event, the guys certainly gave it a good try.
Chris Bourque impressed during the Caesars Accuracy Shooting event, only needing six shots to smash all four targets. Of course, it probably came easy to him with his linemate, Keith Aucoin, passing to him. Boyd Kane didn’t do quite as well but still hit two targets on eight shots. CSN Washington has videos of the two shooters.