The Hershey Bears defeated the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 4-1 on Friday. Not only did the Bears tie the AHL record for the most wins in a 72-game season, but they also won the Kilpatrick Trophy as AHL regular-season champions once the west coast slate of games were completed early in the morning.
When the Coachella Valley Firebirds lost in overtime to the Bakersfield Condors 3-2, Hershey (51-12-0-5) clinched the most points in the league (107 points). With only four games remaining on the schedule, even if Coachella Valley (44-14-6-4) won out and the Bears lost all their games, the Firebirds (98 points) could no longer catch up.
Following tonight's results, the Bears have claimed the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as @TheAHL regular-season champions! 🏆
Plenty of work to still be done, though 😉
MORE ⤵️
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) April 13, 2024
Seemingly never in doubt all year, the regular season championship marks the ninth time in franchise Hershey has paced the AHL in the regular season and the fourth instance overall the club has won the trophy since it was instituted by the AHL Board of Governors in 1997.
Roaring for the 2023-24 regular season CHAMPS🥇🧸 pic.twitter.com/34fh6PWoLD
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) April 13, 2024
Led by two-time Calder Cup champion Todd Nelson, the Bears have seen stellar performances from their two goaltenders this season, Hunter Shepard and Clay Stevenson, who broke the franchise’s single season shutout record (12) earlier in the year. The two netminders are in the top two of the AHL in both goals against average and save percentage.
Hershey also sports three different 20-goal scorers on offense including Ethen Frank (29), Pierrick Dube (27), and Alex Limoges (23) and one of the deepest blue lines in the AHL featuring veterans Dylan McIlrath, Lucas Johansen, and Aaron Ness.
The Bears have given up the fewest goals (139) and scored the ninth most (219) in the league. They have the most regulation wins (39) in the AHL.
Since Hershey won their division, they will have a first round bye in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Here’s the full press release from the Bears:
BEARS WIN KILPATRICK TROPHY AS AHL’S REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPIONS
Hershey locks up first-place finish, home-ice advantage for 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs
(Hershey, PA – April 13, 2024) – The Hershey Bears have earned the American Hockey League’s Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the league’s regular-season champions for the 2023-24 campaign. This marks the first time the Bears have won the Kilpatrick Trophy since the abbreviated 2020-21 season, the fourth overall instance the club has won the trophy since it was instituted by the AHL Board of Governors in 1997, and the ninth overall regular-season championship won by Hershey.
Hershey had initially reduced its Magic Number for securing the Kilpatrick Trophy to one point following its 4-1 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday night. Coachella Valley’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Bakersfield Condors ensures the Bears will finish the regular season in first place, and guarantees home ice advantage for Hershey through the entirety of the 2024 Calder Calder Cup Playoffs.
Four of Hershey’s previous eight regular-season titles were followed up with a Calder Cup championship (1946-47, 1957-58, 1987-88, 2009-10).
Guided by head coach Todd Nelson, the Bears own a 51-12-0-5 (.787, 107 points) record this season with four games remaining. With Hershey’s win on Friday, the Bears tied an AHL record for the most wins in a 72-game season, matching the mark set by the 2022-23 Calgary Wranglers.
A longtime member of the AHL Board of Governors, Macgregor Kilpatrick also served as the AHL’s senior vice president and general counsel. Mr. Kilpatrick joined the AHL in 1970 as the chairman of Sports Associates, owners of a new AHL franchise in New Haven, Conn.
Mr. Kilpatrick, a 1976 recipient of the James C. Hendy Award as the AHL’s outstanding executive, served on the Board of Governors for 27 years.
