Tuesday April 25, 2006 vs Norfolk (Posted Tuesday 11:41 P.M. EST)

Game Four

 

Bears break out the brooms

Hershey completes sweep of Norfolk with 5-1 win

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

So much for the Bruce Boudreau 1st round jinx, eh? The Hershey Bears bench boss, whose Manchester Monarchs teams bowed out after the initial playoff round in each of the last four seasons, erased those memories on Tuesday as the Bears completed a 4-game sweep over the Norfolk Admirals, 5-1 at Giant Center. Faced with a 6-on-4 penalty kill situation with under two minutes remaining in regulation, Dave Steckel and Kris Beech would bag empty-net, short-handed goals to cinch victory for Hershey, who has won 6 straight contests. Boyd Gordon, Graham Mink (game-winner), and Eric Fehr (power play) would also register markers for the Bears, while goalie Frederic Cassivi saved 30 of 31 shots to claim victories in all 4 wins of the series. Former Bear Carl Corazzini would tally Norfolk's lone goal, a power play strike with 10 seconds left in the opening period. Adam Munro, who was stellar in his regular season appearances versus Hershey this season, suffered his fourth loss of series, ending with 27 saves on the night.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Norfolk	1	0	0	1
Hershey	1	2	3	5

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, HER, Gordon 3 (Laich, Kane), 2:42. 2, NOR, Corazzini 2 (power play) (Byfuglien, Barrett), 19:50. Penalties: NOR bench, served by Keith (too many men), :11; Arsene, HER (hooking), 8:42; Wisniewski, NOR (cross-checking), 12:15; Fraser, NOR (hooking), 16:23; Arsene, HER (interference), 19:03.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 3, HER, Mink 4 (game-winner) (Fleischmann, Wilde), 8:18. Penalties: Meloche, NOR (slashing, fighting major), 4:25; Robitaille, HER (roughing, fighting major), 4:25; Barinka, NOR (delay of game), 5:00; Cutta, HER (interference), 15:57.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 4, HER, Fehr 1 (power play) (Wotton), 14:20. 5, HER, Steckel 3 (empty net) (short-handed) (unassisted), 18:33. 6, HER, Beech 3 (empty net) (short-handed) (Wotton), 19:36. Penalties: Wisniewski, NOR (hooking), 5:38; Wotton, HER (holding stick), 7:47; Munn, NOR (hooking), 12:50; Cutta, HER (hooking), 18:13.

 

Game Factoids: Face-offs won (unofficial): Hershey: 23, Norfolk: 32 … Hershey finished 1-6 on the power-play, while Norfolk ended at 1-5 … The Bears outshot the Admirals 32-31 … Beech (3 goals, 3 assists) and Tomas Fleischmann (2G, 5A) scored at least one point in all four games of the series … D Mark Wotton finished with a game-high 2 points (both assists) … D/LW Louis Robitaille tacked on another 7 penalty minutes, easily besting Norfolk's Eric Meloche during a 2nd period fight in the Admirals zone. Robitaille leads the Bears with 23 PIMs this postseason … In 14 career playoff decisions for Hershey, Cassivi has posted an 11-3 record … Hershey scored and surrendered at least one power play goal in each game of the series … Not one Admirals player finished with a + rating in the series … It was Hershey's first sweep of a best-of-seven series since 1994, when Jay Leach's Southern Division-champion Bears knocked off John Van Boxmeer's Rochester Americans in 4 games … Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis attended the game, as did General Manager George McPhee … Boudreau started Mike Green and Lawrence Nycholat on defense, with Beech, Fleischmann, and Mink at forward … Scratched from Hershey: LW Chris Bourque, LW Doug Doull, D Deryk Engelland, D J.F. Fortin, LW Owen Fussey, RW Jonas Johansson, RW Jakub Klepis, D Jeff Schultz, and RW Stephen Werner … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Mink, (2) Fleischmann, (3) Cassivi … referee: Chris Ciamaga ... attendance: 4,119.

 

Coming Up: Hershey now heads for the East Division Finals, where they'll meet the winner of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins series.

 

Bears netminder Frederic Cassivi comes up big with this first period save. The Admirals had just gone on the powerplay.

 

Former Bear Carl Corazzini ties the game at 1 at 19:50 of the 1st period.

 

Hershey's Louis Robitaille connects on the Ads Eric Meloche.

 

The Hershey Brears celebrate at the conclusion of their 4 game sweep of the Norfolk Admirals.

 

Sunday April 23, 2006 (Posted Sunday 1:58 A.M. EST)

 

"Old Time Hockey" returns to Central PA

Hanson Brothers take part in charity event

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

Flashback to 1977: Jimmy Carter was President, disco and platform shoes were the rage, and a little movie titled Slapshot hit the big screen. Fast forward almost 30 years: George W. Bush is the Commander in Chief, while iPods and SUVs are the cutting edge. One thing that hasn't changed, though, is the popularity of three of the film's stars -- Jeff Carlson, Steve Carlson, and Dave Hanson -- aka the Hanson Brothers. Three decades later, the trio still takes to the ice, donning their familiar black glasses and Charlestown Chiefs jerseys. Saturday, they brought an "Old Time Hockey" feel to Twin Ponds East in Harrisburg, taking part in a charity game to benefit the Central PA Breast Cancer Coalition.

 

The contest, which pitted the Hanson Brothers against Team Rebellion/Team NK-Graphics, featured the use of special pink-colored pucks to mark the significance of Breast Cancer. Last month, the National Hockey League participated in a similar fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness, with numerous players using pink-colored sticks during games, which were then auctioned off online.

 

"This year, we wanted to do something different," said Rob Ziemba, Founder of Play It Again (PIA) for Charity. "We mixed Hollywood and hockey … and we reached out to the Hanson's, who are extremely popular. We're extremely happy to have them. It's something for the fans to truly enjoy, as well." Ziemba stated that Play It Again for Charity has risen over $10,000 for various charities and organizations since its inception five years ago.

 

Dave Hanson, who played Jack Hanson in both Slapshot movies, said the trio plays between 25-35 events a year. "We scaled it back. In the old days, we were up to about 110 a year (appearances), but it got a little crazy so now we just pick and choose the good ones, and this is one of the good ones." After a 15-year hiatus, the Hanson's reunited in Memphis, TN, where Steve Carlson (Steve Hanson) was coaching the Central Hockey League's Memphis Riverkings during the 1992/93 season. "Steve asked if we'd come down and do a ceremonial puck drop; hopefully fill a few more seats in the stands with proceeds going to a charitable cause. They sold out the place and that pretty much kicked it all off."

 

When asked if he ever tried to distance himself from his Hanson Brothers role, Hanson didn't think so. "What's funny is the role was written after the actual guys -- Jeff, Steve, and Jack Carlson and myself, Dave Hanson -- and after we did the movie, we were probably the only ones in the whole entire set of actors that weren't acting; we were just ourselves. It's kind of hard to distance yourself from yourself."

 

And what about their signature apparel? "When it comes to putting on the thick glasses and the foil, that's something we've always had fun with, even while we continued to play our pro career," Hanson said. "The fans in the stands would show up with glasses and big noses on, whether we were in the opponent's rink or our own rink."

 

In the game, which was won by NK-Graphics 9-5, the Hanson Brothers reenacted several of the on-ice scenes from Slapshot. Five seconds into the contest, the trio dropped their gloves, challenging the entire Team Rebellion bench ... with no takers. Later in the period, they all converged to make a hit along the corner boards, sending an opponent to the ice surface. During the 2nd stanza, the three combined for a penalty shot goal after the trio was somehow tripped up at center ice by a lone player. When their team's goaltender surrendered the game-tying goal -- the second goal allowed within a minute -- the Hanson's took out their frustration on their netminder, earning fighting majors and game misconducts late in the 2nd. Following the event, Hanson and the Carlson's signed autographs in the Twin Ponds East lobby, also taking time to chat and pose for pictures with fans of all ages.

 

Since 2001, Play It Again for Charity has hosted benefit events in Central PA, including games against the alumni associations of the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins. For further information, readers can visit their website, www.slapshot2.org

 

The Hanson Brothers have their own official website, www.hansonbrothers.net, while Steve Carlson operates a site that sells official Hanson Brothers merchandise: www.stevecarlsonhockey.com

 

Joe Shetrom also covers the Hershey Bears for 7641 Sports, www.7641.com/bears.htm

 

Pictured from left to right: Rob Ziemba Founder of "Play It Again" for Charity, Dave Hanson, Steve Carlson, Heather Hibshman Executive Director Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, Jeff Carlson, Jon Jehrio Chairman of "Play It Again" for Charity.

 

Saturday April 22, 2006 at Norfolk (Posted Saturday 11:41 P.M. EST)

Game Three

 

Laich, totally

Bears falter late, but recover in double-OT to take 3-0 series lead

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

With just over 3 minutes remaining in regulation, Brooks Laich appeared to seal a 3-0 series lead for the Hershey Bears, sinking his first postseason goal and giving the visitors a comfortable 4-2 advantage. On the ensuing faceoff, though, Laich would get whistled for a high-sticking major, and the Norfolk Admirals would convert with a vengeance, potting two goals just over 30 seconds apart, sending the contest to extra sessions. After a scoreless 1st overtime, Laich would atone for his earlier gaffe, stuffing home the game-winner only 1:52 into the game's 5th period, propelling the Bears to a 5-4 win and a commanding 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven series with the Admirals. In addition to Laich's pair of markers, Kris Beech (power play), Dave Steckel, and Boyd Gordon also lit the lamp, while goaltender Frederic Cassivi turned aside 33 shots for Hershey. Brandon Bochenski and James Wisniewski would lift the Ads to a 2-0 advantage before four straight Hershey goals would put the home team behind the eight ball late in the 3rd period. There, Nathan Barrett and Mark Cullen would pocket power play tallies to enable the additional frames. In goal, Adam Munro fell to 0-3 in the series, ending with 42 saves for Norfolk. Games 4, 5 & 6 (if necessary) now shift back to Chocolatetown.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	OT	OT2	Total
Hershey	0	2	2	0	1	5
Norfolk	1	1	2	0	0	4

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, NOR, Bochenski 1 (power play) (St. Pierre, Cullen), 11:00. Penalties: Barrett, NOR (holding), 1:34; Beech, HER (hooking), 3:42; Arsene, HER (boarding), 9:17; Wotton, HER (holding), 9:38; Robitaille, HER (fighting major), 12:03; Barinka, NOR (fighting major), 12:03; Rogers, NOR (interference), 12:03; Mink, HER (roughing), 13:51; Byfuglien, NOR (cross-checking, roughing), 15:31; Kane, HER (double roughing minor), 19:48.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 2, NOR, Wisniewski 1 (power play) (Vorobiev, St. Pierre), 2:10. 3, HER, Beech 2 (power play) (Wotton, Mink), 6:13. 4, HER, Steckel 2 (Gordon, Kane), 10:58. Penalties: Rogers, NOR (interference), 2:51; Robitaille, HER (roughing), 5:00; Wisniewski, NOR (roughing), 5:00; Thornton, NOR (fighting major, game misconduct), 5:00; Barinka, NOR (hooking), 13:53; NOR bench, served by Bartovic (abusive language), 13:53; Tenute, HER (holding), 16:08.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 5, HER, Gordon 2 (Steckel, Arsene), 15:00. 6, HER, Laich 1 (Fleischmann), 16:58. 7, NOR, Barrett 1 (power play) (Bochenski, Corazzini), 17:44. 8, NOR, Cullen 2 (power play) (Keith, Wisniewski), 18:17. Penalties: St. Pierre, NOR (high-sticking), 3:32; Mink, HER (hooking), 11:04; Laich, HER (high-sticking major), 17:04.

 

OVERTIME - Scoring: None. Penalties: Steckel, HER (hooking), 4:45.

 

SECOND OVERTIME - Scoring: 9, HER, Laich 2 (game-winner) (Fehr), 1:52. Penalties: None.

 

Game Factoids: Hershey finished a dismal 1-10 on the power-play, while Norfolk excelled with a 4-12 effort … The Bears outshot the Admirals 47-37 … Laich is the 20th different player to score a game-winning goal for Hershey this season … Eric Fehr recorded his first point of the playoffs, assisting on Laich's game-winner … Beech, Fleischmann, and Steckel have each scored at least one point in all 3 games of the series … Laich and Bochenski each finished with a game-high 9 shots … D Louis Robitaille, a frequent thorn in the side of opponents throughout his career, got Norfolk captain Shawn Thornton to take the bait, earning the veteran enforcer a fighting major and game misconduct five minutes into the 2nd period. The penalty lead to Hershey's 1st goal, and Robitaille subsequently earned 1st star of the game honors … It marked the first time the shot leader won a game in the series … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Jakub Cutta and Mark Wotton on defense, with Beech, Mink, and Fleischmann at forward … Scratched from Hershey: LW Chris Bourque, LW Doug Doull, D Deryk Engelland, D J.F. Fortin, LW Owen Fussey, RW Jonas Johansson, RW Jakub Klepis, and RW Stephen Werner … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Robitaille, (2) Cullen, (3) Gordon … referee: Brian Pochmara.

 

Coming Up: Hershey looks to break out the brooms Tuesday night at Giant Center, facing off against the Admirals in Game 4 at 7 PM.

 

Friday April 21, 2006 at Norfolk (Posted Friday 10:36 P.M. EST)

Game Two

 

Hats off to the Bears

Mink's hat trick lifts Bears to 5-2 win over Admirals; 2-0 series lead

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

For the second straight game, the Hershey Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead in their 1st round playoff series with the Norfolk Admirals. Unlike this past Wednesday, though, when the Admirals rallied to tie the contest, the Bears would pull away during the 2nd period, with Graham Mink leading the charge with a hat trick to propel Hershey to a 5-2 victory and a 2-0 advantage in their best-of-seven series. Mink, who finished with a game-high 4 points -- earning 1st star of the game honors -- became just the second player this season to record 3 goals in one game for Hershey. Tomas Fleischmann (1 goal, 2 assists) and Dave Steckel would also register markers for the Bears, while goaltender Frederic Cassivi improved to 2-0 this postseason with 31 saves. Adam Munro (0-2) took the loss for Norfolk, surrendering 4 goals on 21 shots in 40 minutes worth of work.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Hershey	1	3	1	5
Norfolk	0	1	1	2

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, HER, Steckel 1 (unassisted), 18:43. Penalties: Robitaille, HER (unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:48; Thornton, NOR (roughing), 6:48; Cutta, HER (roughing), 7:20; Laich, HER (roughing), 7:20; Richmond, NOR (roughing), 7:20; Robitaille, HER (roughing), 8:58; Thornton, NOR (slashing, roughing), 8:58; Meloche, NOR (roughing), 9:37; Brown, NOR (elbowing), 11:42; Green, HER (holding), 15:46; Aulin, HER (roughing), 15:46; Hendry, NOR (roughing), 15:46; Brown, NOR (spearing major, game misconduct), 18:29.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 2, HER, Mink 1 (power play) (Mink, Fleischmann), 3:17. 3, NOR, Byfuglien 1 (power play) (St. Pierre, Vorobiev), 17:16. 4, HER, Mink 2 (Fleischmann, Beech), 18:14. 5, HER, Mink 3 (Nycholat, Green), 19:23. Penalties: Cutta, HER (delay of game), :33; Mink, HER (hooking), 16:08; Barinka, NOR (roughing), 18:54.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 6, NOR, Cullen 1 (Barrett, Corazzini), :26. 7, HER, Fleischmann 2 (Beech, Mink), 3:39. Penalties: Beech, HER (holding), 6:21; Cutta, HER (high-sticking), 8:02; Nycholat, HER (tripping), 8:59; Fleischmann, HER (slashing), 12:38; Wilde, HER (tripping), 16:59.

 

Game Factoids: Hershey finished 2-7 on the power-play, while Norfolk ended at 1-8 … The Admirals outshot the Bears 33-25 … Corey Crawford, in relief of Munro for the 3rd period, ended with 3 saves on 4 shots … Through two games in the series, Hershey has mustered a combined 7 shots in the 3rd period … Counting the regular season, Bears D Mike Green has registered points in 5 straight … The Admirals were benefactors of 5 consecutive power plays during the 3rd period, but did not convert, even with a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:03 … Fleischmann leads all scorers in the series with 5 points … J.F. Fortin recorded Hershey's only other hat trick this season, netting all 3 goals in the Bears' 4-3 shootout loss to Wilkes-Barre on Oct 9 … The Bears have killed off 15 of 17 short-handed situations in the series (88.2%) … Norfolk enforcer Mike Brown, a healthy scratch in Game 1, was assessed a spearing major and game misconduct during the 1st period … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Jakub Cutta and Mark Wotton on defense, with Eric Fehr, Colin Forbes, and Brooks Laich at forward … Hershey C Jared Aulin and Norfolk RW Brandon Bochenski, scratched by their respective teams in Wednesday's Game 1, made their 2006 postseason debuts … Scratched from Hershey: LW Chris Bourque, LW Doug Doull, D Deryk Engelland, Fortin, LW Owen Fussey, RW Jonas Johansson, RW Jakub Klepis, and RW Stephen Werner … Earlier in the day, Hershey signed former 1st round pick Jeff Schultz to an ATO. Schultz, a 6-6, 212 lb defenseman, recently finished his 4th season in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with his hometown Calgary Hitmen. The 27th overall pick in the 2004 draft by Washington joined his new Bears teammates in Norfolk, but did not dress … Schultz was a teammate of Fussey's during the 02/03 campaign in Calgary, and was taken two picks ahead of Green (29th overall) in the 2004 NHL Draft … G Maxime Daigneault, who played 3 games for Hershey in February and March, was assigned to the club on Friday by the Capitals. Daigneault, who spent the majority of the 2005/06 season with the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays, backed up Olaf Kolzig in the Capitals' 4-1 win over the Lightning Tuesday night in Tampa Bay … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Mink, (2) Fleischmann, (3) Steckel … referee: Brian Pochmara … attendance: 3,111.

 

Coming Up: Before returning to Giant Center for Tuesday's Game 4, the Bears take on the Ads in Game 3 of their series Saturday night at the Scope. Faceoff is set for 7:15 PM.

 

Wednesday April 15, 2006 vs Norfolk (Posted Wednesday 11:31 P.M. EST)

Game One

 

"Ad"vantage: Hershey

Bears capture Game 1 win over Norfolk, 3-2

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

Making their first appearance in the postseason since 2003, the Hershey Bears got out to a 2-0 lead, only to see the visiting Norfolk Admirals rally for 2 goals within 6 minutes of the 2nd and 3rd periods. Boyd Gordon would regain the Bears advantage at 6:11 of the 3rd, taking a 2-on-1 with captain Boyd Kane and beating Norfolk goalie Adam Munro to earn the game-winner in Game One, 3-2 before 3,530 Wednesday night at Giant Center. Kris Beech (power play) and Tomas Fleischmann added a goal and an assist each, while Mike Green dished out two helpers and Frederic Cassivi stopped 30 shots for Hershey. Pavel Vorobiev and former Bear Carl Corazzini (power play) picked up markers for Norfolk, while Munro ended with 23 saves.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Norfolk	0	1	1	2
Hershey	1	1	1	3

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, HER, Beech 1 (power play) (Green, Fleischmann), 9:10. Penalties: Nycholat, HER (hooking), :51; Bartovic, NOR (tripping), 4:45; Bartovic, NOR (slashing), 8:57; Mink, HER (boarding), 15:39; Mink, HER (hooking), 18:19.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 2, HER, Fleischmann 1 (Green, Beech), 11:35. 3, NOR, Vorobiev 1 (Wisniewski, Richmond), 15:36. Penalties: Beech, HER (tripping), 4:06; Thornton, NOR (roughing), 5:13; Cutta, HER (roughing), 5:13; Barrett, NOR (unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:01; Arsene, HER (unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:01; Meloche, NOR (slashing), 6:59; Fehr, HER (high-sticking), 7:17; Cutta, HER (hooking), 9:06; Fraser, NOR (fighting major), 11:57; Robitaille, HER (fighting major), 11:57; Bartovic, HER (charging), 12:46; Steckel, HER (goaltender interference), 19:51; Thornton, NOR (roughing), 20:00; Nycholat, HER (cross-checking, roughing), 20:00.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 4, NOR, Corazzini 1 (power play) (Cullen, Byfuglien), :41. 5, HER, Gordon 1 (game-winner) (Steckel), 6:11. Penalties: Cassivi, HER (delay of game), 4:03; Bartovic, NOR (charging), 8:51.

 

Game Factoids: Face-offs won (unofficial): Hershey: 54, Norfolk: 28 … Hershey finished 1-5 on the power-play, while Norfolk ended at 1-9 … The Admirals outshot the Bears 32-26 … Norfolk limited Hershey to just 3 shots in the 3rd period … Over the last 4 games, Green has accumulated 9 points (2G, 7A) … 22 seconds after Fleischmann lifted Hershey to a 2-0 lead, Louis Robitaille and Norfolk's Colin Fraser dropped the gloves in the Bears zone. While Fraser threw the punches, Robitaille tried his best to tie up Fraser, who was sporting a Mohawk. Robitaille earned the takedown in a mostly uneventful scrap … Bears D Martin Wilde lost sight of a puck chipped high into the Hershey zone, leading to Vorobiev picking up the loose puck and firing a shot past Cassivi … 33 seconds after Norfolk made it 2-1, Fleischmann had a chance to regain a 2-goal lead for the Bears, taking a breakaway in on Munro. Fleischmann was manhandled en route to the net, and was awarded a penalty shot by referee Jamie Koharski at 16:09 of the 2nd. Fleischmann's weak attempt at a backhand was stopped by a pad save from Munro, though … Corazzini's goal came on a 5-3 on man advantage just 41 seconds into the 3rd frame … RW Eric Fehr and C Brooks Laich, who both played in the Washington Capitals' 4-1 win over the Lightning on Tuesday, made their way back to Hershey via Tampa Bay. It was Laich's first game with Hershey since Dec 11 … D Michal Barinka, RW Milan Bartovic, D Dustin Byfuglien, C Mark Cullen, RW Matt Keith, and D Danny Richmond all returned to the Admirals lineup after playing Tuesday night in the Chicago Blackhawks' 3-2 win over St. Louis … Bartovic was whistled for four penalties, leading to four Hershey power play opportunities … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Jakub Cutta and Mark Wotton on defense, with Gordon, Kane, and Dave Steckel at forward … Scratched from Hershey: C Jared Aulin, LW Chris Bourque, LW Doug Doull, D Deryk Engelland, D J.F. Fortin, LW Owen Fussey, RW Jonas Johansson, and RW Stephen Werner … Johansson made his NHL debut on Tuesday, skating 5 shifts in the Caps' 4-1 win over Tampa Bay … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Gordon, (2) Beech, (3) Cassivi.

 

Coming Up: The Bears look to take a 2-0 lead in their best of seven series with Norfolk on Friday, traveling to the Scope for a 7:15 face-off.

 

Kris Beech get the Bears on the scoreboard first with this power-play goal at 9:10 of the first period.

 

Louis Robitaille (left) and Colin Fraser during their second period "dance".

 

Adam Munro of the Admirals prepares to deny Bears LW Tomas Fleishmann during his second period penalty shot attempt.

 

Munro can't catch up to this Boyd Gordon game winner late in the third period.

 

Monday April 17, 2006 (Posted Monday 8:42 P.M. EST)

 

Final 2005/06 Bears Statistical Leaders

 

 

Saturday April 15, 2006 vs Binghamton (Posted Sunday 12:31A.M. EST)

 

Bears overthrow Senators, 8-3

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

Tax payers got a reprieve from the IRS this April 15th, receiving two extra days to file their stated income. The Binghamton Senators, however, were not as fortunate, as the Hershey Bears closed the curtains on the 2005/06 regular season by scorching the visitors for a season-high eight goals en route to an 8-3 victory before 8.097 Saturday night at Giant Center. Joey Tenute (2 goals), Tomas Fleischmann, Graham Mink, Kris Beech, Chris Bourque, Mike Green, and Jared Aulin each tallied markers for Hershey (44-21-5-10, 103 points), while Frederic Cassivi (34-19-6) turned aside 23 shots to become the first Bears goalie to register 34 wins since J.F. Labbe in 96/97. Bobby Robins, Charlie Stephens, and Denis Hamel would pocket scores for Binghamton (35-36-4-4, 78 points), while Billy Thompson (9-18-3) -- pressed into action to replace starter Kelly Guard at the start of the 2nd period -- took the loss with 23 saves.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Binghamton	2	1	0	3
Hershey	1	4	3	8

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, BIN, Robins 4 (Cullen, Johnson), 3:58. 2, HER, Tenute 19 (Green, Werner), 7:25. 3, BIN, Stephens 22 (Heerema, Evans), 16:25. Penalties: Potulny, BIN (interference), 4:57; Bois, BIN (cross-checking), 10:52; Cullen, BIN (slashing), 17:12.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 4, HER, Fleischmann 30 (Bourque, Gordon), 2:15. 5, HER, Mink 21 (power play) (Beech), 8:08. 6, HER, Beech 26 (game-winner) (Wotton, Forbes), 13:08. 7, HER, Bourque 8 (Fleischmann, Gordon), 13:59. 8, BIN, Hamel 55 (Malec, Johnson), 17:59. Penalties: Bourque, HER (hooking), 2:40; Johnson, BIN (slashing), 4:19; Robins, BIN (charging), 7:00; Aulin, HER (hooking), 9:34; Nycholat, HER (holding), 19:41.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 9, HER, Tenute 20 (Aulin, Wotton), 8:34. 10, HER, Green 9 (unassisted), 9:01. 11, HER, Aulin 11 (power play) (Green, Nycholat), 16:17. Penalties: Heerema, BIN (cross-checking match, double roughing minor), 11:24; Evans, BIN (roughing, game misconduct), 11:24; Forbes, HER (double roughing minor), 11:24; Nycholat, HER (roughing), 11:24; Malec, BIN (slashing), 15:18; Engelland, HER (slashing), 17:35.

 

Game Factoids: Face-offs won (unofficial): Hershey: 30, Binghamton: 31 … Hershey finished 2-7 on the power-play, while Binghamton ended at 0-4 … The Bears outshot the Senators 43-26 … Nycholat ended the regular season with a 10-game point streak (3 goals, 12 assists) … Green, recently named to the AHL's All-Rookie Team, collected his second straight 3-point game … Fleischmann became the first Bear to collect 30 goals since Christian Matte (43) and Serge Aubin (42) did it in 99/00 … After the announcement of the game's 3 Stars, every Bears player -- scratches included -- took to the ice with souvenir hockey sticks, which were then handed out to fans over the Giant Center dasher boards … 8 different Bears finished with multiple points in the contest … Hershey's 44 regular season wins are the most since the 87/88 Bears registered 50 en route to the franchise's 7th Calder Cup Championship … The 05/06 Bears finished with 103 points, tied with the 80/81 Bears for 2nd-most in team history … Hershey's 27 regular season home victories are the most since the 85/86 and 87/88 Bears rang up 32 at Hershey Park Arena … In what could be a team record, Beech became the 19th different player to register a game-winning goal this season for Hershey … The Bears ended the regular season with a franchise-high 111 power play goals … Bourque's marker was his first since Jan 21 … In what came down to the final contest of the regular season, Mark Wotton (+16) bested Fleischmann (+14) to capture the Bears' Plus/Minus Award ... Binghamton's Steve Martins finished a dismal -5 on the night … Hershey won the season series with Binghamton 6-1-0-1 … In the annual season awards ceremony, Cassivi took home the Team MVP and Player of the Game honors; Dave Steckel captured the Unsung Hero Award; Eric Fehr received the Rookie of the Year hardware; and Wotton collected Best Defenseman Award honors … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Deryk Engelland and Martin Wilde on defense, with Aulin, Owen Fussey, and Tenute at forward … Scratched from Hershey: D Jakub Cutta, D J.F. Fortin, RW Jonas Johansson, LW Boyd Kane, RW Jakub Klepis, and D/LW Louis Robitaille … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Fleischmann, (2) Green, (3) Tenute … referee: Jamie Koharski.

 

Coming Up: The Bears begin the quest for their 9th Calder Cup championship on Wednesday at Giant Center, hosting the Norfolk Admirals in Game 1 of their division playoff series at 7 PM.

 

Bears goalie Frederic Cassivi snags this shot by Binghamton's Denis Hamel during 1st period action.

 

Senators netminder Kelly Guard, who left after the first 20 minutes with an unspecified injury, stops this Hershey 1st period shot.

 

Hershey's Dean Arsene (right) upends Binghamton's Bobby Robins during 1st period play.

 

All eyes are on a loose puck, as Binghamton's Tomas Kudelka (front) and Billy Thompson look up to the volcanized rubber.

 

Joey Tenute (right) celebrates as his second goal of the game gives the Bears a 6-3 lead at 8:34 of the 3rd period.

 

Mike Green (left) completes a breakaway attempt by backhanding this shot past Senators goaltender Billy Thompson, giving Hershey a 7-3 advantage at 9:01 of the 3rd. Green, who has registered back-to-back 3-point games, led all skaters with 9 shots.

 

Friday April 14, 2006 at Philadelphia (Posted Friday 9:51 P.M. EST)

 

Hershey reaches 100 Points

Bears down Phantoms 4-1

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Hershey	0	2	2	4
Philadelphia	0	1	0	1

 

Scoring

 

2. PHI Voce, (28) (Slaney, Cavosie), 4:23 (PP)

2. HER Nycholat, (13) (Fleischmann, Green), 9:06 (PP)

2. HER Fleischmann, (29) (Werner, Green), 12:50 (PP)

3. HER Beech, (25) (Forbes, Werner), 9:50

3. HER Mink, (20) (Nycholat, Green), 14:51 (PP)

 

Penalties

 

1 - PHI Kavanagh, 12:38 - Slashing , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Gordon, 18:16 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

2 - PHI Printz, 0:30 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Kane, 3:27 - High-sticking , 2 min (PP)

2 - PHI Campbell, 7:31 - Interference , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Mink, 8:44 - Fighting , 5 min

2 - PHI Printz, 8:44 - Roughing , 2 min (PP)

2 - PHI Printz, 8:44 - Fighting , 5 min

2 - HER Kane, 9:39 - Misconduct (41), 10 min

2 - PHI Cote, 9:39 - Roughing , 2 min (PP)

2 - PHI Cote, 9:39 - Roughing , 2 min (PP)

2 - PHI Cote, 9:39 - Misconduct (41), 10 min

2 - PHI Grant, 12:50 - Roughing , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Nycholat, 16:49 - Interference , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Robitaille, 19:46 - Fighting , 5 min

2 - PHI Eager, 19:46 - Fighting , 5 min

2 - PHI Eager, 19:46 - Elbowing , 5 min (PP)

2 - PHI Eager, 19:46 - Game misconduct - Elbowing (53(b)), 10 min

3 - HER Cutta, 5:46 - Roughing , 2 min (PP)

3 - HER Robitaille, 12:52 - Misconduct (41), 10 min

3 - PHI Cote, 12:52 - Roughing , 2 min (PP)

3 - PHI Grant, 12:52 - Cross-checking , 2 min

3 - PHI Voce, 12:52 - Misconduct (41), 10 min

3 - HER Cutta, 16:00 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

 

Coming Up: Hershey wraps up the 2005-06 regular season Saturday against the Binghamton Senators. It will be Player awards night and a 7:00 PM faceoff is slated.

 

Sunday April 9, 2006 (Posted Sunday 11:11 P.M. EST)

 

Current Bears Statistical Leaders (through 4-9-06)

 

 

Saturday April 8, 2006 at Norfolk (Posted Saturday 10:17 P.M. EST)

 

Admirals scuttle Hershey

Bears lose 3rd game in as many tries

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Hershey	0	1	0	1
Norfolk	0	0	2	2

 

Scoring

 

2. HER Green, (8) (Fleischmann), 4:39

3. NOR St. Pierre, (21) , 2:34

3. NOR Keith, (25) (St. Pierre), 18:13

 

Penalties

 

1 - NOR Rogers, 2:36 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

1 - NOR Thornton, 8:34 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

1 - NOR Haggett, 14:37 - Roughing , 2 min

1 - HER Robitaille, 14:37 - Roughing , 2 min

1 - NOR Richmond, 15:09 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Robitaille, 17:29 - Interference , 2 min (PP)

1 - NOR Kuiper, 19:54 - Charging , 2 min (PP)

1 - NOR Kuiper, 19:54 - Fighting , 5 min

1 - HER Robitaille, 19:54 - Fighting , 5 min

2 - HER Fleischmann, 6:57 - Tripping , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Tenute, 10:54 - High-sticking , 2 min (PP)

2 - HER Forbes, 18:45 - Tripping , 2 min (PP)

3 - HER Wilde, 5:16 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

3 - HER Kane, 13:39 - Tripping , 2 min (PP)

3 - NOR Vorobiev, 13:39 - Cross-checking , 2 min

3 - HER Wotton, 13:39 - Roughing , 2 min

 

Coming Up: Hershey looks to end its 3 game skid on Friday April 14 at Philadelphia. It marks the final meeting of the year for the two teams. Philadelphia, the last place team in the Eastern Conference (East Division), is out of the playoff picture for only the second time in team history.

 

Friday April 7, 2006 at Philadelphia (Posted Friday 10:37 P.M. EST)

 

Bears drop Cat and Mouse game

Phantoms score game winner 28 seconds into OT

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	OT	Total
Hershey	0	2	2	0	2
Philadelphia	2	0	2	1	5

 

Scoring

 

1. PHI Campbell, (23) (Cavosie, Printz), 14:56

1. PHI Jones, (2) (Kavanagh, Picard), 18:25

2. HER Cutta, (1) (Doull, Tenute), 9:09

2. HER Fleischmann, (28) (Klepis, Cutta), 15:01

3. PHI Campbell, (24) (Voce, Cavosie), 7:59 (PP)

3. HER Kane, (20) (Gordon, Aulin), 10:34 (PP)

3. PHI Kavanagh, (19) (Kelly, Printz), 17:08 (SH)

3. HER Tenute, (18) (Nycholat, Forbes), 19:01

OT. PHI Printz, (6) , 0:28

 

Penalties

 

1 - HER Arsene, 0:30 - Fighting , 5 min

1 - PHI Eager, 0:30 - Fighting , 5 min

1 - PHI Cote, 1:08 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Klepis, 2:28 - Tripping , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Engelland, 5:21 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Engelland, 9:42 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

1 - PHI Campbell, 12:34 - Cross-checking , 2 min (PP)

1 - HER Arsene, 15:29 - Cross-checking , 2 min

1 - HER Arsene, 15:29 - Fighting , 5 min

1 - PHI Eager, 15:29 - Roughing , 2 min

1 - PHI Eager, 15:29 - Fighting , 5 min

1 - PHI Eager, 15:29 - Game misconduct - Jersey (56(a)), 10 min

1 - PHI Cote, 17:55 - Fighting , 5 min

1 - HER Doull, 17:55 - Fighting , 5 min

1 - PHI Voce, 19:39 - Interference , 2 min (PP)

2 - PHI Slaney, 17:28 - Tripping , 2 min (PP)

2 - PHI Slaney, 17:28 - Unsportsmanlike conduct , 2 min (PP)

3 - HER Doull, 6:12 - Roughing , 2 min (PP)

3 - PHI Ready, 9:22 - Hooking , 2 min (PP)

3 - HER Nycholat, 11:34 - High-sticking , 2 min (PP)

3 - PHI Ruzicka, 16:47 - Head-butting (attempt) , 4 min (PP)

 

Coming Up: Hershey heads south for a 7:15 faceoff against possible playoff foe Norfolk.

 

Sunday April 2, 2006 (Posted Sunday 11:49 P.M. EST)

 

Current Bears Statistical Leaders (through 4-2-06)

 

 

Saturday April 1, 2006 vs Philadelphia (Posted Saturday 1:24 A.M. EST)

 

Phantoms take April Fools Day laugher over Bears, 6-2

 

By Joe Shetrom, 7641 Sports

joe@7641.com

 

They may not make the playoffs, but by golly, the Philadelphia Phantoms will play the role of spoilers. With the Hershey Bears attempting to reach the 100-point plateau for the first time in nine years, the Phantoms would have none of it, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the 1st period before eventually running away with their first regulation win over Hershey this season, 6-2. Six different players would find the back of the net for Philadelphia (32-33-1-7, 72 points), while goaltender Martin Houle (17-16-1) turned aside 31 shots to lead the Phantoms to their fifth straight victory. Kris Beech and Boyd Gordon would pot goals to even the score at 2-2, but that's as close as Hershey would get, dropping just their ninth regulation loss at Giant Center this season. Frederic Cassivi (32-18-6) would suffer the defeat for Hershey (42-20-4-10, 98 points), finishing with just 15 saves on 21 shots.

 

TEAM	1ST	2ND	3RD	Total
Philadelphia	2	2	2	6
Hershey	1	1	0	2

 

FIRST PERIOD - Scoring: 1, PHI, Campbell 21 (Cavosie, Voce), 13:46. 2, PHI, Jones 1 (Ruzicka, Ready), 15:35. 3, HER, Beech 24 (power play) (Klepis, Nycholat), 19:45. Penalties: Cook, PHI (hooking), 10:54; Eager, PHI (fighting major), 16:14; Robitaille, HER (fighting major), 16:14; Kavanagh, PHI (cross-checking), 19:28.

 

SECOND PERIOD - Scoring: 4, HER, Gordon 16 (Bourque, Mink), 10:33. 5, PHI, Ellison 11 (game-winner) (power play) (Voce, Slaney), 15:30. Penalties: Steckel, HER (high-sticking), :49; McLeod, PHI (hooking), 11:07; Engelland, HER (interference), 14:53; Ready, PHI (hooking), 16:13; Eager, PHI (roughing), 19:34; Arsene, HER (roughing), 19:34; Cavosie, PHI (hooking), 19:48; Beech, HER (high-sticking), 19:51; Eager, PHI (misconduct), 20:00; Arsene, HER (misconduct), 20:00.

 

THIRD PERIOD - Scoring: 6, PHI, Cote 3 (Kelly), 3:42. 7, PHI, Picard 6 (Voce, Cavosie), 11:56. 8, PHI, Ruzicka 16 (power play) (Ready, Kavanagh), 18:01. Penalties: Kelly, PHI (holding stick), 10:41; Beech, HER (hooking), 10:41; Cote, PHI (roughing), 13:39; Doull, HER (unsportsmanlike conduct, misconduct), 13:39; Robitaille, HER (roughing, misconduct), 13:39; Eager, PHI (cross-checking, fighting major), 16:32; Arsene, HER (instigator, fighting major, misconduct), 16:32; Fehr, HER (slashing), 16:32; Kelly, PHI (tripping), 18:36; McLeod, PHI (fighting major), 18:36; Klepis, HER (slashing), 18:36; Engelland, HER (fighting major), 18:36.

 

Game Factoids: Hershey finished 1-5 on the power-play, while Philadelphia ended at 2-5 … The Bears outshot the Phantoms 33-21 … The contest featured 120 combined penalty minutes, including 6 fighting majors. In the 1st period, Louis Robitaille tangled with Philadelphia's Ben Eager in what was nothing more than a glorified wrestling match. Eager then briefly mixed it up with Hershey's Dean Arsene in the 3rd, with each firing a few shots before the officials intervened, incensing both combatants. Deryk Engelland and Kiel McLeod would round out the fisticuffs, squaring off at 18:36 of the 3rd. McLeod started out with a couple rights before Engelland landed the best punch of the fight -- a right haymaker to the kisser -- stunning McLeod, momentarily … Phantoms LW Tony Voce led all scorers with 3 assists, and has now earned points in a team season-high 9 consecutive games … D Lawrence Nycholat has collected 11 points over the last 7 contests (2G, 9A) … Beech has registered points in 6 of 8 games with Hershey (6G, 3A) … LW Tomas Fleischmann saw his 7-game point streak come to an end … With 17 penalty minutes on the night, Robitaille eclipsed the 300 mark for the season, and now sits 3rd in the AHL with 310 PIMs … Arsene finished with a game-high 29 penalty minutes … The Bears are now 2 goals away from tying their single-season franchise high of 106 power play markers, set during the 1987/88 season and matched in the 97/98 campaign … Hershey Head Coach Bruce Boudreau started Jakub Cutta and Martin Wilde on defense, with Eric Fehr, Boyd Kane, and Dave Steckel at forward … Scratched from Hershey: C Colin Forbes, D J.F. Fortin, LW Owen Fussey, D Mike Green, RW Jonas Johansson, C Joey Tenute, RW Stephen Werner, and D Mark Wotton … 3 Stars of the Game: (1) Voce, (2) Stefan Ruzicka, (3) Marc Cavosie … referee: Jeff Smith ... attendance: 9,050.

 

Coming Up: The Bears are off until Friday, when they visit the City of Brotherly Love for a 7 PM face-off against the Phantoms at the Wachovia Spectrum. With the regulation loss on Saturday, the Bears fell to 6-1-2-1 against Philadelphia this season.

 

Doug Doull and Tony Voce (#13) watch as Jim Campbell's shot hits paydirt, giving the Phantoms a 1-0 lead at 13:46 of the 1st period. Voce finished with a game-high 3 assists.

 

Seventeen seconds into a Pat Kavanagh cross-checking penalty, Kris Beech (in white) pumps a shot past Phantoms goalie Martin Houle, cutting the Philadelphia lead to 2-1 with 15 seconds left in the 1st period.

 

Deryk Engelland (left) and Kiel McLeod grapple during their 3rd period fight.