The Hershey Bears announced on Saturday that they have recalled Capitals goaltender prospect Mitchell Gibson from the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. Gibson’s recall comes after Charlie Lindgren missed the Capitals’ morning skate before their game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Gibson’s call up insinuates that the Bears have seen one of their netminders, Hunter Shepard, sent to the Capitals to help cover for a potential Lindgren absence.
The Bears also play on Saturday night against the Charlotte Checkers. Shepard is not in their announced lineup.
The @Capitals have re-assigned goaltender Mitch Gibson to Hershey from the @SCStingrays.
rabbittransit | Roster Moves
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) December 2, 2023
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery indicated that he thought Lindgren would be good to go against Vegas but did leave some wiggle room for himself. “Just a maintenance day,” Carbery said. “Think he should be good tonight but we’ll see.”
Gibson is 3-3-1 in the ECHL this season with a 2.71 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage. He was credited with a goalie goal on Friday night, becoming only the 16th goaltender in ECHL history to do so.
The 2018 fourth-round draft selection has already made his AHL debut this season for the Bears. He was the winning goalie in Hershey’s 3-2 overtime win over the Bridgeport Islanders back in late October.
Here’s the full press release from the Bears:
GOALTENDER MITCH GIBSON RE-ASSIGNED TO BEARS
(Hershey, PA – December 2, 2023) – The Washington Capitals, the National Hockey League affiliate of the Hershey Bears, announced today that goaltender Mitch Gibson has been re-assigned to Hershey from South Carolina (ECHL).
Gibson, 24, has gone 3-3-1 in seven games with the Stingrays, owning a 2.71 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage. In Friday’s game versus Savannah, Gibson was credited with a goal, becoming the 16th goaltender in ECHL history to score.
With Hershey, Gibson made his professional debut on Oct. 22 at Bridgeport, stopping 21 shots in a 3-2 overtime win. He made 13 saves in the third period of that contest, and three more in overtime to secure his first professional win.
The Bears continue the 2023-24 season, presented by Penn State Health, when they close out the weekend with their second game against the Charlotte Checkers at Bojangles’ Coliseum tonight at 6 p.m. Hershey returns home to GIANT Center to host the Cleveland Monsters for Hometown Heroes Night, featuring military-themed activities and recognition throughout the evening, on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.
Headline photo: Katie Adler/RMNB
