SUNDAY FEATURE: Sgarbossa Helping Lead Hershey's Offensive Balance

HERSHEY, Pennsylvania - Anyone who is not familiar with the Hershey Bears this season would probably be hard-pressed to pick all three of Hershey’s top-line forwards.

That’s because one, Joe Snively, is a rookie and another, Garrett Pilon, is a second-year pro. But to anyone who has seen Snively and Pilon play, they both look like they’ve played in the league quite a bit longer, and their linemate, Mike Sgarbossa (11G, 23A in 33 games - leads team - tied for 7th in the league) - recently named an AHL All-Star for the second time in his career, certainly agrees.

“I don’t consider [Snively] a rookie; they are in this league for a reason. Everyone on this team is,” Sgarbossa said of Snively and Pilon. “They’ve worked hard for what they’ve accomplished they’ve earned the right to play on that first line. They’ve kind of taken it and ran with it. That's a testament to those two.”

Pilon (7G, 11A in 34 games), who played an entire season in Hershey last year and Snively (9G, 7A in 33 games - tied for 18th in the league among rookies), who came after completing his senior year at Yale, benefitted from having guys like Travis Boyd, Riley Barber, and Nathan Walker among others to watch and imitate.

“They’re all really skilled players...dominant AHL players,” said Snively. “It’s good to be their teammate. See what they do. Take some notes. It was a good experience.”

“I think last year was good,” said Pilon. “We had a lot of older guys I think that were good to read off of. I mean Sgarbossa too and Megna were also guys that you watch and you know, I think it was a pretty big blessing for a first year guy to have those guys on the team and watch them, how they handle themselves. It was good to have those guys.”

But it isn’t just a matter of earning a spot on Hershey’s top line at such an early age, Hershey’s top line has been absolutely stellar since Spencer Carbery put them together upon Sgarbossa’s return from Washington.

“He changed the lines,” said Sgarbossa. “I think we started winning once he changed the lines. The problem with this league is the turnover. I know he was trying to find chemistry with certain combinations. Sometimes it takes a little bit, we went through a little bit of a rough patch with injuries and guys getting called up. We’ve been on a really good run so he hasn’t had to change much.”

“I think we’re getting some more games with each other. I think even when we’re not getting points sometimes I think we’re still creating a decent amount and I think it’s just getting used to each other,” said Pilon. “Obviously those guys are both difference-makers and play-makers so you don’t have to do as much on your own. I feel like I can kind of let them do their thing and make plays. It’s a really nice line to be on.”

It’s been a pleasure playing with Sgarbs and Pilon,” added Snively who agreed that the chemistry of the top line has come together quite well for the Bears. “They’re both very skilled players. Each game we’re getting better, earning tendencies, knowing where they are without even looking.”

But the top line wouldn’t be as effective as it is without scoring support from the other three lines.

“He found a combination, Sgarbossa said of Carbery. “Even the other lines seem to be thriving as well. Matty (Moulson) and Philly (Maillet) have played together before and you can see with Obi (O’Brien) they kind of have all facets of the game together and then the third line which is kind of the penalty killing line for us - they’ve been excellent throughout the year. And then our fourth line with Kess (Kessy) coming in and kind of policing it out there and making sure nothing happens to us, and then contributing too, he brings a lot of energy. That fourth line has been great as well. When you have four lines that are contributing in way that they’re supposed to be you get results.”

“Everyone’s more comfortable in the system,” agreed Snively. “The team’s doing well and when the team collectively does well individually guys start to get points. That’s been great to see, Everyone’s been shipping in scoring. I think the lines stay together and they build chemistry. Everyone’s been chipping in scoring.”

And Sgarbossa, who said he changed his off-season training this past summer to include speed workouts, is incredibly comfortable with his linemates, even as Pilon made the transition to wing from center to join the top line that Sgarbossa centers.

“He’s got extreme high-end offensive skill and talent,” Sgarbossa said of Pilon. “(He has) great hockey vision, he’s a great skater, great at being evasive with the puck, can create a lot out of nothing - it’s a rare skill to have. Being a centerman going to wing I think that’s translated nicely for him because you have a playmaking winger which is rare - that he’s able to see the ice as a centerman but playing the wing. Snives is very shifty, very fast and he’s got some skill and some vision. I don’t feel any added pressure or stress that I have to carry them. Sometimes i feel like they’re carrying me.”