The Hershey Bears announced on Wednesday that the team has signed forward Matt Strome to a two-year AHL contract. Strome was responsible for scoring the Calder Cup winning goal in Game Six versus Coachella Valley. His return further bolsters a deep Hershey roster at forward and retains a key piece of the team’s identity. The signing was made official one month after Strome’s goal in a key moment in team history. Hershey’s Vice President of Hockey Operations, Bryan Helmer, announced the signing.
No Place Like Strome in Hershey
Strome had a breakout season with a bigger role in Hershey in 2023-24. He set new career-bests in goals (seven), assists (13), and points (20) as well as a plus-13 mark in 50 games. Primarily a defensive forward, Strome played a big role on Hershey’s penalty kill as head coach Todd Nelson’s go-to player. His contributions on the penalty kill helped the Bears finish atop the league with an 87.7% efficiency.
2024-25 will mark Strome’s third season in Hershey. During his first year, he skated in 34 games and tallied five points (one goal, four assists). He served as a black ace for the duration of the team’s run to the Calder Cup in 2023. Strome skated in his first Calder Cup Playoff game on May 1, tallying five points (two goals, three assists) in 15 postseason games.
Strome’s biggest moment happened one month ago from signing his new contract. He scored the game-winning goal in Game Six of the Calder Cup Finals in overtime to lift the Bears to their 13th championship. The title gives the Bears their third set of back-to-back championships in team history.
Depth Tested
Hershey figures to have another deep squad to defend their championship title. Strome’s return gives the team its full forward compliment alongside Riley Sutter, Bogdan Trineyev, and Henrik Rybinski. It’ll be a battle for ice time amongst returning players and newcomers alike as the Bears welcome in some new faces, too.
Strome will be counted upon to help establish head coach Todd Nelson’s standard of excellence. With a breakout season offensively under his belt, Strome has proven he is capable of playing more situations. He scored twice with the Bears shorthanded and chipped in as a shootout option. The Bears have a solid lineup going into the season, and Strome’s days of waiting on the sidelines should be over.
Hershey lost the services of some key forwards over the summer. Hendrix Lapierre looks to become a full time NHL player this season, while Joe Snively and Jimmy Huntington also moved on. The Bears have added players to fill the void, but there’s more room to step up offensively. Strome figures to top his point production in the new campaign with a Calder Cup winner under his belt.
Strome was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers. Prior to joining the Bears, he skated in parts of four seasons for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
