HERSHEY, PA – Bears players skate around during warm-ups of the 2013 Outdoor Classic (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Last night, the Hershey Bears and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins faced off at Hersheypark Stadium for the 2013 AHL Outdoor Classic. Like last season, we have many photos for your enjoyment today. First off, 80+ of my photos from the game.
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 – Louis Robitaille walks out on the ice for the second half of the alumni game (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The setting was perfect. The weather was flawless as well. The Outdoor Classic weekend kicked off with an Alumni game between the Bears and Penguins at Hersheypark Stadium. The competitive spirit of both teams showed, but the Penguins had a younger average age. and came up with a 9-5 victory.
Some final rink preps at Hersheypark Stadium (Photo via our Instagram account)
The Outdoor Classic between the Bears and Penguins will be seen live on abc27 Harrisburg in HD Sunday at 5pm. The Bears and abc27 made the announcement late today.
HERSHEY, PA – The Zamboni floods the ice at Hersheypark Stadium Wednesday night (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
After months of planning and over a week of physical construction, the Hersheypark Stadium rink is nearly ready for the Outdoor Classic. Before the Bears and Penguins take the ice, other teams will skate on the new surface to help “break it in” for the big game on Sunday.
HERSHEY, PA – Two of the three co-coaches, Ralph Keller (center) and Willie Marshall speak to Doug Yingst at the Hershey Bears Hall of Fame induction ceremony back in December (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Earlier this morning, the Hershey Bears and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins announced their rosters for the alumni game on January 19th. Headlined by Bears greats Tim Tookey and Mitch Lamoureux, 21 Bears (with four goalies) are scheduled to play in the game. The list also includes former Bears tough guys Louis Robitaille and Dennis Bonvie (who will be playing for Wilkes-Barre.) Bears greats Ralph Keller, Willie Marshall and Mike Nykoluk will serve as co-coaches for the game.
The rink taking shape at Hersheypark Stadium (Photo via our Instagram account)
Today kicks off our 2013 Outdoor Classic coverage here on Sweetest Hockey. We will be bringing you feature stories about the game and the events leading up to it right here. Check back with us everyday for a few new stories ranging from the assembly of the rink, to player interviews. Hope you enjoy!
In 2008, the NHL introduced a new event that has changed the game of hockey: the Winter Classic. Since then, five other NHL outdoor games have been played across the country. A few years the AHL decided take after their parent league and playing an outdoor game of their own and then officially establishing an Outdoor Classic a few years later. Since then, the Hershey Bears have taken part in two of them, and one of which will be played in less than a week.
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.
Photo courtesy Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Facebook page
Many are familiar with the popular song lyrics, “Anything you can do I can do better”. Thursday Braden Holtby was given an off day leading to Dany Sabourin’s first start in 20 days. A night after Holtby posted a 33 save shutout against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Sabourin answered with a stellar performance of his own. He stopped 26 of 27 shots en route to a 4-1 victory over the Pens.
HERSHEY, PA – Jeff Taffe and Jon DiSalvatore are joined by Ryan Potulny after Taffe’s empty netter goal in Hershey’s 2-0 win over Wilkes-Barre (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
The weather outside was frightful, but the Giant Center ice was delightful for the the Hershey Bears’ Braden Holtby. He recorded his fourth shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.