Tom Gilbert is joined by teammates after scoring the eventual game winning goal for Hershey on Wednesday night against Binghamton (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
The Hershey Bears hosted the Binghamton Senators Wednesday night before a sold-out Giant Center, and behind goals from Hubert Labrie, Tom Gilbert, and Riley Barber, Hershey took a 3-1 victory tonight. Pheonix Copley backstopped the Bears to the win.
The Hershey Bears visited the Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the last time this season with a lot on the line with the teams separated by only two points in the standings. For the first time in four contests in Bridgeport, Hershey took the game on a clutch power play goal from Travis Boyd and won the game with an empty net goal by a final of 3-1.
Unlike both of the games the Bears played at home this weekend, this game was a defensive showdown as many of the contests between these two clubs have been. The game was scoreless for the entire first period, and it was scoreless until Bridgeport’s Ross Johnston beat Pheonix Copley early in the second period.
Saturday night Bears netminder Pheonix Copley debuted a new Washington Capitals-themed mask during warm-ups. The recently acquired goalie joined Hershey less than a month ago from the St. Louis Blues.
Christian Djoos celebrates his game winning overtime goal against Hartford on Friday night in Hershey. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
The Hershey Bears hosted the Hartford Wolf Pack looking for 2 points and hopefully advancing into a playoff spot for the first time since January. A back and forth game ended up with an overtime winner from Christian Djoos to give the Bears a 4-3 win.
After a quiet first period, the Bears found themselves behind in the second as Hartford’s Matt Carey tipped in a point shot to give the Wolf Pack the first lead of the game.
Hershey responded under 50 seconds later, as Christian Djoos drove the slot and fed Paul Carey to tie the game at one apiece.
Three hours after the Bears got off the ice at Giant Center in their first practice after winter storm Stella dropped just over a foot of snow on Chocolate Town, the hopped back on with a very special group of kids. The American Special Hockey Association’s York Polar Bears and Hershey Heros teams joined some of the Hershey players for a skate Wednesday afternoon.
Pheonix Copley is returning to the Hershey Bears. After getting traded with Troy Brouwer to St. Louis for T.J. Oshie, the 25-year-old netminder has been traded back to Washington along with defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk in exchange for a first round pick, Zach Sanford, and Brad Malone.
Photo via @karisannexo
A rare non-Saturday gameday for Bears fans allowed them to get to enjoy the NHL debut of a former Bear, Pheonix Copley. Copley was traded along with Troy Brouwer this offseason in exchange for T.J. Oshie after a stellar season in Hershey.
For most of this season, the North Pole, Alaska native has been playing for the Chicago Wolves, posting a 12-12-2 record. With the St. Louis Blues having a few goalie injuries, Copley has earned multiple recalls to the Blues, but hasn’t seen any action until today.
Pheonix Copley hugs Chris Brown after Hershey’s 6-4 win over Hartford in game two of the Eastern Conference semi-finals. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
Hershey Bears fans almost got to see history at game two of the AHL Eastern Conference semi-finals between the Bears and Hartford. Pheonix Copley came within less than three seconds of becoming the first Bears goalie ever to score a goal. Trailing 6-4, Hartford took a shot from behind their own blue line that went right on the Bears net. Copley made the save and then attempted a shot at the empty Hartford net. The puck went in, but time just ran out.
Worcester, MA – Chris Conner enters the ice before game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals against the Worcester Sharks (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
It was a difficult way to win a game, but the Bears had a come from behind victory in game one of the Calder Cup Eastern Conference quarter-finals Friday night in Worcester. An outstanding performance from goalie Pheonix Copley, who had a 41-save night, along with a great overall team effort propelled the Chocolate and White to a 4-1 victory over the Sharks.
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.