Mid-Season Prospect Update: Hershey Bears (Washington) Part 1 - Goalies/Defense
HERSHEY, PA -- The shaky first season for Spence Carbery continues as the Bears once again find themselves in the basement of the Atlantic Division, this time at the mid-way point of the 2018-2019 season. The difference between this year and last though is that there are glimpses of just how good this team could be, but has it taken too long to get there and will they be able to put together consecutive 60-minute games?
During the first quarter of the season, the Bears were flirting with .500, but they’ve spent several weeks below that marker and have lost pace with the likes of the division-leading Charlotte Checkers, but then again, who hasn’t?
Still, there is optimism in Hershey, but it remains to be seen if it’s too little too late for this season.
Special Teams
Power Play
Hershey’s PP unit has made some serious improvements from the beginning of the season. At the quarter mark, the Bears were 20th in the league with four shorthanded goals against. In the second quarter, they have limited the mistakes that have cost them on the man-advantage and started to capitalize on the PP as well.
Season Stats: 38 games played, 32-for-165 = 19.4% - 14th in AHL (five shorthanded goals against)
Penalty Kill
Hershey has made very few strides with the PK, with numbers that have dipped a bit, but overall the Hershey PK has been solid so far this season, thanks in part to the speed of a rather young Hershey skating corps.
Season Stats: 38 games played, 133-164, 14th in AHL (one shorthanded goal for)
Goaltenders
Vitek Vanecek - Grade A-Season stats: 18GP, 8-8-2, 2.80 GAA, .903SV%, 1 SO
Vanecek continues to perform well in net for the Bears. He’s been solid so far this year despite an ever-changing blueline in front of him. However, he has struggled a bit, including this past Friday night in Springfield where he was lifted in favor of Samsonov. He continues to mature and seems a bit less rigid, and even has a bit of fun in with his teammates in pre-game.
Ilya Samsonov- Grade BSeason stats: 18GP, 6-11-0, 3.60 GAA, .866 SV%, 1 SO
Fresh off of his first AHL shutout in Lehigh Valley, Samsonov seems to be hitting his stride and adjusting to the North American rink. He’s also staying at home a bit more often and not making risky decisions in trying to help clear the puck from the trapezoid.
Parker Milner - Grade IncompleteSeason stats: 3GP, 2-1-0, 2.28 GAA, .931 SV%, 0 SO
Milner has returned to South Carolina, and is the Bears third goalie and top call up option stowed away with their ECHL affiliate.
Defensemen
Colby Williams - Grade CSeason Stats - 26GP, 0G-10A, -13, 27PIM
Williams has added just six assists from his totals at the quarter mark and his +/- has dropped considerably. Additionally, his penalty minutes have increased substantially. Williams has not appeared on the ice since the Bears hosted Milwaukee last week. There is no word on when he will return at this point.
Jonas Siegenthaler - Grade IncompleteSeason Stats - 14GP, 0G-2A, -2, 14PIM
Siegenthaler has been in Washington since November and has appeared in several games for the Capitals.
Lucas Johansen - Grade IncompleteSeason Stats - 17GP, 1G-8A, -13, 14PIM
Johansen has not appeared on the ice for the Bears since suffering an upper-body injury in late-November. He has resumed skating at practice in a limited capacity.
Connor Hobbs - Grade B+Season Stats - 29GP, 1G-12A, -7, 43PIM
Hobbs was sidelined for several games with an injury. He’s not yet back up to speed, adding an assist and penalty minutes while dropping further in the +/- category. The Bears have him on their PK unit with Tyler Lewington. Hobbs has a terrific shot from the blueline - now that he’s back from injury, Hershey fans hope to see that on full display.
Aaron Ness - Grade ASeason Stats - 34GP, 3G-21A, 2, 26PIM
The veteran defender has a knack for getting the puck to guys who will finish. He’s on track for perhaps the best point total of his career, 45 (8G, 37 A) during the 2014-2015 season while playing for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. One of six alternate captains for the Bears, Ness is reliable on defense and now that he’s contributing offensively as well it’s only going to serve as motivation for a young Hershey team.
Tyler Lewington - Grade C+Season Stats - 30GP, 2G-4A, -5, 67PIM
Lewington spent some time in Washington on recall by the Caps and while there recorded a Gordie Howe hat-trick, scoring an assist, a goal, and then, of course, got the green light for a fight. Even with the missed games, Lewington still leads the team in penalties, but the gap is shrinking. His presence back on the blueline has to be a bit comforting for the netminders.
Kris Bindulis - Grade IncompleteSeason Stats - 4GP, 0G-0A, 0, 2PIM
It’s difficult to get a read on a guy who has only played two games in the first quarter and two games in the second quarter. He did not get a good look while fellow blueliners were injured and on recall due in large part to the arrival of Ryan Sproul, making it difficult to get a read.
Tobias Geisser - Grade BSeason Stats - 20GP, 0G-1A, -2, 4PIM
The 19-year-old was reassigned to the Swiss Jr. team for World Juniors, but did not appear in a game. Geisser has a good understanding of on-ice positioning for a 19-year-old. He has a big frame and once he figures out how to use that to his advantage, he will be well on his way to making a name for himself in this league and beyond. One area of his game that needs improvement is his offensive contribution, but there’s time for that.
Ryan Sproul - Grade ASeason Stats - 27 GP, 4G, 9A, -12, 8PIM
After coming over from the Hartford Wolf Pack, Sproul has shown Hershey fans just how good he is. He has a wicked shot from the blueline and is a big presence on the ice, both of which Hershey fans always knew, but now they’re happy since he’s in Chocolate and White. His veteran presence is also helping out a young crop of d-men.
Joey Leach - Grade BSeason Stats - 10 GP, 0G, 0A, -3, 2PIM
Leach, on recall from South Carolina, gives the Bears yet another big blueliner to help out in front of Vanecek and Samsonov. Leach is a blue-collar type of defenseman, as evident in Sunday’s game when he took a Greg Carey-shot to the face. He eventually got up off the ice, returned to the bench, and didn’t miss a shift. The tough-as-nails mentality is sure to rub off of the younger guys.
Steve Johnson - Grade IncompleteSeason Stats - 9 GP, 0G, 1A, -6, 0PIM
Johnson has yet to appear in ten games for the Bears after coming in due to injuries to Hobbs and Johansen and during recalls of Seigenthaler and Lewington.
