The 2024-25 season is quickly approaching for the Hershey Bears. Training camp has started with lofty expectations for this campaign. The Bears hit the ice for their lone exhibition game on Giant Center ice and quickly renewed tensions with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Both teams traded goals and needed extra time for the second time in as many games. Bogdan Trineyev scored the winning goal in overtime to lift Hershey to a 4-3 win. Clay Stevenson made 25 saves in the win.
Rivalry Previewed
The two teams are expected to be fierce rivals this season. Wilkes-Barre took the game the previous day in a shootout. The rematch featured vastly different lineups that more resembled what might be seen in a regular season game. Hershey’s lineup featured the same trio that was on the ice last time the Bears played, including Calder Cup hero Matt Strome.
One player on the ice from that same game was Jimmy Huntington, although this time he wore a Penguins jersey. The forward cleared waivers earlier in the day and donned the uniform later in the day. Huntington registered an assist in his return to the Sweetest Place on Earth.
Wilkes-Barre jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the first period. Gabe Klassen was able to beat Stevenson over the shoulder on a turnover down low. Less than two minutes later, the Penguins doubled their lead on the rush with Atley Calvert burying a pass on the rush. The visitors had a healthy 13-6 shot edge and brought their A-game against a veteran Hershey lineup.
Bears Roar Again
The Bears got up to their old tricks in the middle stanza. Fans got a preview of the team’s new look top power play unit in the game. With newly signed veteran Brad Hunt quarterback the unit, Pierrick Dubé fired a laser past Sergei Murashov (24 saves) to cut the deficit to one. Dubé had a hat trick the last time he was on Giant Center ice, and had another big night on Friday.
Hershey’s power play unit did damage on this night. Hunt’s initial shot broke the stick of Marc Johnstone, and the Bears maintained possession. Dubé found Mike Vecchione across the crease with Johnstone unable to break up the pass to even the score at two. The Bears tallied goals on three consecutive power plays and went three-for-six on the night.
Their third goal beat the buzzer at Giant Center. After the Penguins took the lead on a goal by Sam Houde, the Bears had a power play at the end of the period. With time running out, Ethen Frank found Vecchione on the right side. Hershey’s hero in 2023 found Alex Limoges for a tap-in just before the period ended to tie the game at three.
Overtime Antics
Neither team found the net in the third, setting the stage for overtime. In the extra session, Dubé finished off a different kind of hat trick in this game. He’d end up dropping the mitts with Mac Hollowell after an extended scrum in the corner. Dubé, more known for lighting the lamp than fighting, got the better of Hollowell to the delight of the crowd. His night would end with a Gordie Howe hat trick and first star honors.
Hershey found the winner only a few minutes later. Just after a power play ended, Garrett Roe got the puck to Trineyev along the goal line. Trineyev lifted the puck over the shoulder of Murashov on the backhand to give the Bears the win on this day. He was on the ice for Strome’s winner back in June and capped off the night with the goal. Trineyev is expected to be a key contributor for the team this season.
Set for Opening Night
It was a good showing for Hershey, who iced a lineup with many regulars and familiar faces. The power play’s strong showing is an excellent preview for when the games count. The team’s top unit will likely look similar to what was on the ice today. Vecchione had three points (one goal, two assists), while Dubé and Frank each had two. There will be some different players in the lineup on opening night, but this group did well.
Some younger players had a good showing. Ryan Hofer, Ryan Leibold, and Brennan Saulnier are all battling for bigger roles and played well. Leibold, who is on a contract with Hershey’s ECHL affiliate in South Carolina, was the only player from Thursday to suit up. He scored twice in that game and played against a lot of AHL talent.
Hershey has some more decisions to make. The Washington Capitals put Mike Sgarbossa, Luke Philp (who is in Hershey recovering from injury), and Ethan Bear on waivers on Friday. Their roster sits at 29 players and must be no more than 23 by Monday. It leaves some tough decisions for the team that will result in some more critical players joining the Chocolate and White. They’ll have the week to gel before puck drop on October 12 against the Cleveland Monsters.
