Hershey Bears Team Preview 2018-19
HERSHEY - Hershey Bears fans are used to seeing some new faces on the ice each season as guys “graduate” to Washington or sign with different teams, but on the heels of a disappointing 2017-2018 campaign the faces behind the bench have changed as well.
Gone, but not forgotten
The off-season saw several of Hershey favorites depart. Chris Bourque signed to play with his brother, Ryan in Bridgeport. Zach Sill went overseas to the ELH and signed on with Sparta Praha. Last year’s captain, Garrett Mitchell, is currently with the Reading Royals of the ECHL. Speedster Dustin Gazley signed with EC Salzburg. Fans also should not expect to see Travis Boyd or Chandler Stephenson back in chocolate and white as the duo made their presence known in Washington last season. However, Boyd was locked in a battle with newcomer Nic Dowd for the fourth line center spot prior to a lower-body injury that has him listed as week-to-week.
Goalies
Hershey fans, Ilya Samsonov is here - repeat - Ilya Samsonov is here. Bears fans have been waiting for this moment since the Russian was taken in the first round of the 2015 draft, 22nd overall. The 6-2, 205 pound netminder tracks the puck very well and has a pretty quick glove hand, which he showed Sunday evening in Hershey’s home scrimmage against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. However, the Russian learned pretty quickly that he can’t leave the net to help clear the puck as one of the goals he allowed came after his defender immediately turned over the puck before he was able to get back into the net. The language barrier could be an issue, but with Sergei Shumakov potentially making the team as a forward, along with Jeremy Morin who spent time in the KHL as well, the Caps and Bears perhaps have lined up a few translators.
Fan favorite Vitek Vanecek is also back. Last year was tough for both Vanecek and Pheonix Copley as the pair found a very young blue line in front of them and an offense that didn’t have nearly the firepower needed to win games. Vanecek is still learning, but with Alex Westlund back as the Associate Goaltending Coach, Vanecek is poised to finally have the breakout season that he’s been denied in his first two seasons in Hershey. Unlike two seasons ago, Vanecek is now poised to be the leader his team will desperately need this season.
Defense
Aaron Ness, Tyler Lewington, Colby Williams, Connor Hobbs, and Lucas Johansen are back to provide a strong anchor on the blueline for the Bears. Lewington has come back thinner than a season ago while Hobbs and Johansen seemed more confident in the pre-season contest in Hershey.
With Jonas Seigenthaler reassigned to Hershey, the coaching staff will have a hard time guaranteeing a starting spot to the likes of Kris Bindulis, John McLeod, Logan Pyett, or Tobias Geisser. McLeod and Pyett are both on AHL contracts and would likely wind up in South Carolina. Geisser, a first-year pro, could also just to ensure ice time. Bindulis held his own last season when given an opportunity in Hershey.
Forwards
Riley Barber, Liam O’Brien, Mason Mitchell, and Hampus Gustafsson have their work cut out for them as the only players returning with on-ice experience in Hershey. But Bears fans should not lose faith.
The long wait for the arrival of Shane Gersich has ended. The U of North Dakota offensive standout may need a bit of time to adjust to the speed of the AHL game, but the kid has proven he can score. Additionally, Beck Malenstyn and Garrett Pilon have finally aged out of the WHL; both were impressive in the preseason last year. Mike Sgarbossa brings AHL experience, while Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Morin, Juuso Ikonen, Sergei Shumakov, and Maximilian Kammerer all have experience playing overseas. Fjallby scored the first goal on Giant Center ice Sunday evening in the preseason contest against the Penguins.
Steven Whitney, Derek Hulak, Brian Pinho, and Grant Besse are also in contention for a spot on the team, but with the potential arrival of one or two more forwards from Washington, finding a spot on the team could prove to be a tall task, especially in the case of Hulak, who did not play last season and signed a tryout contract.
Opening weekend will bring excitement off the ice as well as Hershey and Washington have announced that the Stanley Cup will be in Hershey for October 7th contest against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. More information can be located on Hershey’s website and at http://www.hersheybears.com/news/detail.php?id=5658
