Photo: Kyle Mace/Chocolate Hockey
While the Capitals had last night off, their minor-league AHL affiliate Hershey Bears delivered a shellacking to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The Bears won 8-0, which included two goals 19 seconds apart. Per the AHL’s PR, it was Hershey’s largest margin of victory in a road shutout in the team’s 78-year history.
It was also a memorable night for one of the Capitals’ newest prospects. Via Chocolate Hockey, 18-year-old defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler scored his first AHL point in his first AHL game, assisting on a second period goal scored by Erik Burgdoerfer.
“It was a good, high paced game,” Siegenthaler said to Kyle Mace before posing with his milestone puck. “I really enjoyed to play with the Bears. It was a lot of fun.I would not say [tonight] was easy, but since the team helps you a lot, it made [my first game] easier.”
The 6’3″, 220-pound Swiss national spent the year playing for the ZSC Lions of the Swiss Elite League on loan before coming over to Hershey last week. He was the Capitals’ second round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, selected 57th overall after the Caps traded their picks at 62 and 113 to the Rangers. Siegenthaler signed an entry-level contract with the Capitals over the summer.
After seeing Siegenthaler practice for a week, Bears head coach Troy Mann was impressed by his team’s new addition.
“He’s a big body,” Mann said The Patriot-News’ Bob Flounders. “He’s certainly got that pro look to him. He did very well in the Swiss-A League. … He was a guy that really had a real good rookie tournament down in Florida. He gives us a little bit more size, he skates very well.”
