We are four days into voting for our first ever SHOEY Awards and all races are still really close, especially the social media awards. There are three categories that fall under the social media awards: Tweet of the Year, Tweeter of the Year, and Social Media Champion. Three, it’s a magic number. Will that magic wear off on some of our nominees?
Monday morning might be the final time some Bears players ever walk though Giant Center as a Bear. As the 2013-14 season comes to a close, the Bears players took some time to reflect on their season as they cleaned out their lockers. It was a surreal moment for all as Hershey missed the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons.
Nate Schmidt, seen here earlier in the season, scored his first goal since opening night with Hershey on Friday night against Binghamton during the Bears’ 5-4 loss to the Senators (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The Bears face another nearly must win situation tonight, when they face one of the best teams in the league, the Springfield Falcons. Hershey remains in control of the 8th and final playoff spot in the AHL Eastern conference, by just one point, with five games to go.
During Paul Fixter’s coaching tenure with the Hershey Bears about a decade ago, he implemented a motto, “Earned, never given.” The phrase captured the minds of his players in effort to spread the message that all positive results on the ice have to be earned, and are rarely handed over on a silver platter.
But unfortunately on Saturday night, a border-line joke of a 3-1 Norfolk Admirals win over the Hershey Bears was more on the given side.
Your highlight of the night was in the second period during a tied 1-1 hockey game. Nate Schmidt appeared to be slew footed in the Hershey offensive end and went down to the ice in a heap of pain. The Admirals’ countered down ice on a 2-on-1 rush, setting the stage for a game-winning goal by Chris Wagner at 14:18 of the period.
It was a fun game to watch on television, listen in on radio, or even follow on twitter. But most of all, it was an excellent way to end a six-game skid.
The Hershey Bears traveled to Virginia Beach and throttled the Norfolk Admirals by a 3-2 count. It was their first game played of the season at the Norfolk Scope, and it had a homecoming feel for Bears’ Head Coach Mike Haviland. Haviland was an Admirals’ assistant coach last season and the head bench boss for the 2005-06 and 2006-07 campaigns.
Dane Byers scored a third period insurance marker, which later proved to be the game-winner in a 3-2 decision. With out of town help by the Utica Comets, the Bears now stand within one point of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and three points within the division lead.
On a cold January day, three Hershey Bears walked into Hershey’s Chocolate World for an experience they will never forget. Chay Genoway, Nate Schmidt, and Patrick Wellar enjoyed a day of chocolate, chocolate, and hairnets. The three defensemen rode the world famous Great American Chocolate Tour Ride before creating their own Hershey’s chocolate bar. Luckily, there were cameras to capture the moments of hilarity.
Patrick Wellar would design Chay Genoway’s chocolate bar wrapper, Genoway designing Nate Schmidt’s wrapper, and Schmidt designing Wellar’s.
Baltimore, MD – Casey Wellman talks to Troy Brouwer during warm-ups before the Baltimore Hockey Classic (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth, 2013)
The Washington Capitals have announced that they have recalled Casey Wellman. The 26-year-old Wellman has only played one game in Washington this season, getting 9:13 of ice time against the Flyers.
The Washington Capitals have announced they have recalled Nate Schmidt from Hershey. The 22-year-old defenseman’s call-up is his second of the season. In 28 games this year, Schmidt has produced six points, with two goals and four assists.
HERSHEY, PA – Nate Schmidt stands around during warm-ups before a playoff game last season in Hershey (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The Washington Capitals announced Friday that they have recalled Nate Schmidt from Hershey and assigned Connor Carrick and Michael Latta to Chocolate Town, USA.
HERSHEY, PA – Brandon Manning scores the game winning goal for Adirondack during Hershey’s 2013 home opener (Kyle Mace / Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The spotlights shined at Giant Center for opening night between the Hershey Bears and Adirondack Phantoms to kick off the 2013-14 campaign. It began the final season the Phantoms will be sheltered in the ADK, as they are set to move into the new Lehigh Valley-based PPL Center next season.
Brandon Manning scored 3:22 into the sudden death overtime frame to down Hershey, 4-3.
