Catching Up With Bears' Captain Matt Moulson

HERSHEY, Pa. - Having your likeness on a bobblehead is kind of a big deal, and certainly a feat that most players can't say they've crossed off of their bucket lists once, let alone twice.

It’s also not one that has gone as planned recently in Hershey. The team’s last Liam O’Brien bobblehead giveaway was scheduled for late in the season, one that unfortunately ended abruptly as the world was in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those bobbleheads were stored and eventually dusted off and distributed to season ticket holders.

This year’s bobblehead is a likeness of Matt Moulson, but just like with the O’Brien bobbleheads, things have not quite gone as planned for the team's captain. Moulson, who stated that he also was blessed with a bobblehead when playing with the Islanders, signed with the Hershey Bears in 2019-2020 in a quest for one more championship in his illustrious career that has spanned five leagues including four NHL teams (Kings, Islanders, Sabres, and Wild).

"They did an unbelievable job of designing that," Moulson said of the Hershey bobblehead. "I think it's probably the best one that I've had. I had one with the Islanders and this one. I gotta go back and look at that one, but this one is pretty unbelievable. It looks pretty similar to me. I definitely didn't have the mouth guard coming out of my mouth that time."

Unfortunately, the celebratory spirit of bobblehead night, despite the friends and family who arrived in commemorative t-shirts for this night, was dimmed due to Moulson not being able to suit up and play. Since joining the Bears, he made no secret that signing with Hershey was a strategic move to have a shot at one more championship. If only things were that simple.

An outbreak of a novel virus in China in 2019 would lead to a pandemic that stopped everything, including the AHL, which halted play March 12 and ultimately canceled the remainder of the 2019-2020 season on May 11. Not to be deterred, Moulson returned to Hershey for the 2020-2021 season.

"I looked at my wife (and) I said I can't, I can't go out like this," Moulson said in a Zoom interview after the 2020 season abruptly ended, opening the door for another year back in Hershey. "It was a privilege to play on that team and I'm very lucky to be around that group and the Hershey organization and the Capitals organization. It's been an unbelievable experience and an awesome ride. We'll see if we can do it one more time," he added that summer.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 once again had other plans as teams played in “pods” knowing that the Calder Cup would not be awarded for a second straight season. Hershey won the “Teddy” Oke Trophy for winning the Atlantic Division and the Kilpatrick Trophy as regular season champions, but still, without being able to play for or win a Calder Cup, Moulson returned once again for the 2021-2022 season.

"It's tough," said Mike Sgarbossa. "The way the last two seasons ended, we never got beat. We never got a chance to see. That really ate at us and talking to [Moulson] that kept bringing him back."

And return he did, appearing in 24 games with the Bears, recording 5 goals and 12 assists until December 27, 2021. After a three-point game (1G, 2A), the unspeakable happened. Moulson, everyone was told, was day-to-day with an injury. A handful of days later, a press release stated that Moulson had undergone back surgery and was out indefinitely.

Bryan Helmer, VP of Hockey Operations said, "Obviously I've talked to him quite a bit just after he got his surgery. It was pretty tough on him to come to realize that maybe this will be his last year. He might have to hang it up. He came here to Hershey for a reason - he wanted to win. Unfortunately, with COVID and his back injury it's been tough."

It hasn't just been tough on Moulson though.

"You feel for his family; it's been a lot of sacrifice for him and for his family too," Sgarbossa said. "To keep competing and keep doing what he's doing at his age, because this isn't an easy league, it isn't an easy sport especially, and when you start getting up in years, it's tough on your body. He's done a great job of being able to put himself in a position to keep doing it. It's a lot of motivation for us. If we can get him back in the playoffs."

Moulson did not totally shut the door on a comeback in the playoffs, but it seems like a longshot at this point.

"It seems the Bears are destined to win this thing with me watching from the stands," said Moulson Wednesday night. "I know how passionate the Hershey fans are, but I'm definitely the biggest fan. What happened with the back surgery - (that was not) within my control."

Still, a glimmer of hope still exists for Moulson to return if the Bears push far enough into the postseason, something that is well-known and understood in the locker room.

"Still got a long way to go," Moulson said Wednesday night, who said he feels great, but noted it is hard to watch from the stands. "It’s kind of a little bit open-ended, but definitely a couple more months. Hopefully, they take this thing a long way."

That hope; that chance to not only make a deep run into the postseason, but also bring home a Calder Cup, especially for their captain, might not be at the forefront of their minds, but ultimately, it is the end goal for every player on this team.