Helmer, Carbery Address Sentiments On Cancelled 2019-20 Season

HERSHEY, PA - In one sentence, Hershey Bears VP of Hockey Operations Bryan Helmer summed up the collective feelings of the organization and its fans, both in Hershey and in all other AHL cities as well.

“It was a very tough call that I made on Friday - right up until that point I still had my fingers crossed and hoping that we’d get some type of hockey back in for 19-20 season, but after that call, it was almost like I lost my best friend.”

And while San Antonio fans never got their goodbyes and other teams are switching up affiliations, Helmer and Carbery took questions regarding Hershey’s affiliation agreement, the future of AHL hockey, and their personal feelings of loss on the sudden end of the 2019-2020 season Tuesday afternoon.

“It was really tough and the type of team that we had was pretty special and starting with Spencer and his coaching staff and what they were doing with the team and how close the team became, not just on the ice, but off the ice, that’s usually a good recipe for success, so it was tough,” Helmer continued. “I believe just thinking of our fans and our community, what we could have done and on a long run and maybe win a championship, it made it that much tougher thinking about them and everyone else that was involved.”

Perhaps the most difficult part is not knowing where this team would end up. After a slow start to the regular season, the team came together both on and off the ice, and hit what would be the final weekend of their season with a tough three-game road trip to Hartford and Providence, going toe-to-toe with the other teams vying for the Atlantic Division lead and a playoff berth (note - Hershey finished one point behind Providence with the second best record in both the Division and Conference).

“It was such a great group to be around, to coach, to watch from the bench, how they competed, how they treated one another, how badly they wanted to win for one another,” said Carbery, knowing that this group will never hit the ice together again as some will graduate to the NHL and others will sign outside the organization. “You could just feel (after that Hartford/Providence road trip) what this group was capable of doing,” he concluded.

While the group came together, individual players made huge strides this season as well in Hershey. Carbery stated how proud he was for guys like Beck Malenstyn to get that first NHL game under his belt, the tremendous rookie defensive seasons by Martin Fehervary, Alex Alexeyev, and Bobby Nardella, the growth of Brian Pinho, Garrett Pilon, and Axel Johnsson-Fjallby, and the rookie forwards Cody Clark and Riley Sutter who battled through preseason injuries to make contributions to the Bears.

Some of those players and others who are on two-way contracts with Washington could potentially be Black Aces when the NHL resumes play. Carbery is unsure at this time where and how that will look, but noted that “they’re on a certain program to sustain a level of fitness and getting ready to potentially play in the National Hockey League.” At this point, the names of those players have not been released, but they have been notified and could train in Hershey or Washington with Carbery or join the Capitals 23-man roster wherever they were based. Those details are still on hold pending the NHL’s decision about resuming the season.

As for Hershey, the Bears and Capitals are at the end of their current affiliation agreement, which was confirmed by Helmer, making things a bit trickier with signing free agents until an agreement is signed.

While the affiliation is one question that needs answered, another is what hockey might look like next season. Helmer fielded a question about some independently-owned teams not participating in the upcoming season if there were no fans or not enough revenue to sustain them.

“I know it’s been talked about...definitely discussions about what will happen if it comes to fruition,” Helmer began. “For me I’d want to play no matter what,” no matter when the season got underway.

“Safety is number one,” Carbery stressed as both he and Helmer noted that the health of the players, staff, fans, and the community was most important for a team that is constantly giving back through community service opportunities.

“I still get goosebumps thinking about it (Teddy Bear Toss Night) and just to see how many bears people brought in and see them all get thrown on the ice like that and then to have that run on ESPN...our guys do so much in the community and just helping out with Cocoa Packs and the Milton Hershey School,” said Helmer also noting other events in which players voluntarily participated. “It seemed like everything was going our way and it could have been a pretty special year.”

And while another year transpired without a Calder Cup in Hershey, it’s highlights like those on and off the ice that will have to sustain the fans until hockey returns to Giant Center.

“I’m pretty optimistic that we get a chance to be back in the building and get this season started in October,” said Helmer.

Aren’t we all, Helms?