Two members of the Hershey Bears’ 2023 Calder Cup championship team are making progress towards possible returns to the lineup.
Riley Sutter and Vincent Iorio both participated in Hershey’s practice on Tuesday — the team’s first full on-ice session ahead of their best-of-five series against the Hartford Wolf Pack beginning on Thursday.
In photos shared by the Bears, Sutter shed his non-contact jersey and wore a dark red sweater that normally indicates a player is healthy, but not assigned to one of the team’s top four lines. The Capitals’ 2018 third-round pick has not suited up in a game during the 2024 postseason due to an undisclosed injury. He played in every one of the team’s games in April down the stretch and missed only six games total this season.
Sutter centered the Bears’ fourth line during the team’s 2023 Calder Cup championship run and continued that role into the 2023-24 campaign. While the 24-year old pivot has been sidelined in the playoffs, Henrik Rybinski replaced him on the checking line and has made the most of the opportunity, scoring two goals in the Bears’ four-game series against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Tuesday morning, Rybinski continued to skate with his line-mates Bogdan Trineyev and Matt Strome during practice as all three wore light blue practice jerseys.
While Iorio participated in the main-session skate, the Canadian defenseman rocked a red non-contact sweater, suggesting his return remains further away.
Iorio was injured in Game 1 of the Washington Capitals’ first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers. During that April 21 matchup, Iorio took a borderline hit from Rangers forward Alexis Lafrenière. Iorio crashed into the boards awkwardly and could be seen holding his shoulder afterward.
Iorio skated with the Capitals in a non-contact jersey towards the end of the series with New York.
The 21-year-old blueliner will officially rejoin the Bears roster when his rehab concludes.
Matthew Phillips, who was a healthy scratch in Game 4 of the Bears’ Atlantic Division Semifinals series, wore a dark red sweater at Tuesday’s practice, indicating remains an extra as well.
S/T to Bears Hockey Nation for first tweeting.
