Graduating to the NHL is the ultimate reward for players in the AHL. Top prospects start their careers and make their mark in the professional hockey world before going on to the top level. There’s a mix of young players, veterans, and some in between looking to the NHL. One of those players is forward Ethen Frank, who made a splash in his first three games with the Washington Capitals. Frank led the Hershey Bears in goals over the last three seasons and finally got his chance this past week.
Fantastic Frank
Frank made his AHL debut towards the end of the 2021-22 season. Following five seasons with Western Michigan University, Frank signed an AHL contract with the Bears for the following season. He’d suit up for five games before injury ended his season early. Frank tallied his first AHL goal in just his second game, the first of many to follow. His first tally came from a spot he’d be familiar with on the power play.
Frank would become nothing less than synonymous with the two seasons that followed. He went on a tear right away in the 2022-23 season and never looked back with an early five-game goal streak. Frank capped off a 30-goal rookie campaign with a hat trick in Hershey’s final game of the regular season. It was the first time since the 2018-19 season that a Bears player netted such a count. Nine of those goals came on the power play as a lethal weapon for head coach Todd Nelson’s top unit.
Frank struggled during his first postseason in the pros. He had no goals and was even benched for a short span between the Eastern Conference Finals and the start of the Calder Cup Finals. With Hershey trailing 2-0 and back on home ice, Frank got the Bears back on track with his first playoff goal, which was also the team’s first of the series. A goal in Game Four helped get the Bears back in the series on their way to a Calder Cup win in seven games. Perhaps most fitting, the goal was on the power play from a familiar spot.
Frank capped off the run with a little bit of Hershey history. Henrik Borgstrom’s centering pass bounced off of Mike Vecchione’s stick. Frank quickly stabbed at the puck, pushing it back to Borgstrom. He’d find a way to get the puck to Vecchione back on the other side with a wide-open net. The goal is the first sudden death overtime goal to determine a winner in Game Seven.
Let Me Be Frank With You
In a season for the ages that somehow topped the year before, Frank was a key part of Hershey’s success. He netted 29 goals (his 30th hit teammate Alex Limoges) along with 13 power play markers. The count includes two different hat tricks and nine game-winning goals as Frank, now on an NHL contract, pushed for even more.
Simply put, Frank was dynamite for the Bears in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. He had a streak of seven consecutive games with a goal to breeze through to the Eastern Conference Finals. His scoring streak helped the Bears net three wins, but injury held him out of the seventh and decisive game. Trailing in the Calder Cup Finals, the Bears once again looked to Frank for a big moment. He tallied a goal and two assists in a 3-2 win in Game Four.
Much like the year before it, Frank’s big game was so important towards lifting the Calder Cup. The win guaranteed at least one more game in Hershey would be necessary. A total team effort in Game Five pulled the Bears to within a single win on home ice. Although Frank didn’t have a point in Game Six, he’d factor in towards the winner.
At the end of his shift, Frank emptied the tank to beat out an icing call, not touching the puck. The play continued with the fourth line taking the reins. Hershey kept the pressure on, resulting in a turnover that led to Matt Strome’s iconic overtime winner on home ice. Frank played an integral part in bringing back-to-back Calder Cups to Hershey for the first time since 2009 and 2010. It’s a feat that was seemingly impossible to replicate.
Frank’s Fastest
In the midst of those two unforgettable seasons, Frank was named to the AHL All-Star Classic in 2023 and 2024. In those two events, Frank earned another title as the fastest man in hockey. He skated the lap in 12.915 seconds in 2023 and in 13.032 seconds in 2024. Both times were faster than the numbers put up in the NHL’s edition of the event.
Frank earned a third nomination to the AHL All-Star Classic in 2025 mere days before his call to the NHL. He was a lock to go to the event after lighting up the league in 2024-25, hitting 20 goals in his fastest pace yet. After a tough preseason saw Frank fall off of Washington’s radar a bit, his solid start had him as the talk of the town. He received his first NHL call-up only days after his All-Star nomination.
“It was a lot of fun,” Bears Vice President of Hockey Operations Bryan Helmer said. “I was part of the group to give him the news and see the smile on his face. He didn’t have a great training camp but knew it. Instead, he came here and scores 20 goals, gets named to the All-Star Game, and takes advantage of the opportunity.”
“It’s great for these guys here on the ice to see that type of player and that attitude and where it’s got him. Hopefully, he keeps on going. It makes us very proud to see him doing so well.”
Frankly Speaking
Ethen Frank received his call to the Washington Capitals on January 10, with his first game the same day against the Montreal Canadiens. He made his mark on the game by registering his first NHL point in short order. In his typical style seen so often in Hershey, Frank won the race to negate an icing call. He’d finesse the puck through a defenseman and set up Lars Eller for a goal that helped Washington earn a point in an overtime loss.
A day later in NHL game number two, Frank would net goal number one much like he did in Hershey. Frank took a pass while staying onsides, once again using his speed to beat a defender to gain some space. He ripped a shot past the goaltender, a goal which stood up as the eventual game-winner. Frank’s big smile told the story as he’s happy and thriving in the big leagues. He’d go on to score another goal in game number three off the rush. Among his teammates, Chase Priskie called the goal ahead of time.
“Neutral zone regroups,” Frank said of the goal. “We do drills in Hershey and do stuff like that in the American League, I was fortunate for good timing and a great pass by Matt Roy.”
“It didn’t feel real. I didn’t think it went in until I went behind the net and saw it was in. The only thing I could do was start screaming. It was pretty cool.”
Frank’s Future
Frank has made a case to stay with Washington for the foreseeable future. While his absence is a blow to Hershey’s scoring prowess, it’s always worthwhile to see a player live out their dreams. He’s accomplished about everything there is at the AHL level and carved out his slice of Hershey Bears history in the process. It’s hard to do in today’s league with such parity and in one of hockey’s most decorated franchises.
He’s off to a great start in Washington. With each point, it seems more likely that he won’t be dressing for that All-Star event in Coachella Valley. If he stays, he’s got all of the Sweetest Place on Earth in his corner.
