HERSHEY, PA — The Hershey Bears are one of the deepest teams in the American Hockey League, meaning many of their talented and accomplished black aces may never see the ice during the playoffs. But behind the scenes, they are working hard and making the most of the experience.
Andrew Cristall, the Washington Capitals’ second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, was loaned to the Bears in late April after his junior season ended in the WHL. Cristall’s Kelowna Rockets were eliminated by Zac Funk’s Prince George Cougars in the second round of the WHL playoffs.
During the regular season, Cristall set new career highs in goals (40), assists (71), and points (111), notching two hat tricks and posting a milestone seven-point game. The prospect winger finished fifth in WHL scoring and tied for 13th in goals, averaging 1.79 points per game during his age-18 season. The only thing that didn’t go Cristall’s way individually was a prized spot on the Team Canada U-20 World Junior Championship team.
Since arriving in Hershey, Cristall has impressed and showed off his tantalizing talent.
“He’s a smart player, skilled player,” Hershey Bears head coach Todd Nelson said to RMNB. “I think this is a good experience for him to get his feet wet with pro hockey. He’s learning every day. When he’s doing the competitive drills, you can see he’s still young, but he’s only going to get stronger. He’s just a young player. And you see that all the time from guys who come from junior, they’re going to have to adjust. But he’s been really good. Like I said, he has a skillset that’s special. He’s going to be a real good hockey player.”
Cristall typically takes the Early Skate with other black aces and extras, jumping onto the Giant Center or Hersheypark Arena ice sheet before the main team does. As the players stay ready for a potential opportunity in the AHL playoffs, they’re also getting mentored.
Bryan Helmer, Hershey’s vice president of hockey operations, has jumped onto the ice during the team’s on-ice sessions alongside Brooks Orpik and Jim Slater, a fellow member of the Washington Capitals’ player development department, who works primarily with forwards. Slater played 584 NHL games with the Winnipeg Jets and was especially good in the faceoff dot as a center.
Cristall is present for Hershey’s home playoff games — RMNB spotted him at Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Finals — and does not travel for away playoff games. He also has been spending a lot of time around fellow Capitals second-round pick Vincent Iorio, who has already played 9 games in the NHL despite only being 21.
“I think [black aces] can get a lot from [the experience],” Bears veteran defenseman Aaron Ness said. “You know that guys that did it last year are now playing in the playoffs for us, right? So I think you learn, you watch, you’re practicing every day. They’re getting better: on the ice, off the ice, in the gym, everywhere. And they’ve all had incredible attitudes. They’re great players and you never know, right? They’re getting ready and maintaining and ready when called upon. I think that’s the biggest mentality, is just staying ready and being ready because it can get long. But great attitudes top to bottom the whole time, great group of guys and it’s fun skating with them every day.”
Recently, Cristall spoke to RMNB at Giant Center about his experience in Hershey, his incredible season with the Kelowna Rockets, his favorite moments in his first Capitals’ training camp, and his longtime friendship with Connor Bedard.
RMNB Q&A with Andrew Cristall
The questions have been edited slightly for clarity.
Walk me through your time in Hershey since arriving. What have you been doing here? How are you using this experience to your advantage to develop?
Andrew Cristall: “Yeah, I think I got here maybe on the 22nd of April so I’ve been here for a little bit. It’s been unreal so far. It’s been super awesome. Everyone’s been super welcoming. But yeah, a typical day for me, come to the rink and practice, work out, be around the guys and all that, and then usually go back and hang out with some of the guys and just kind of fool around.”
Who are you working with closely while you’re here in Hershey? Do you have any mentors?
Andrew Cristall: “Yeah, I mean a lot of the guys. A guy I knew before coming in was Vinny, Vincent Iorio and he’s been super good with having me over at his house and making me dinner sometimes and just hanging out. So he’s been great. Everyone’s been super welcoming as well.”
What have you felt like you’ve learned so far from the experience?
Andrew Cristall: “I think the one thing I learned is how well to take care of your body. Before practice, players are always stretching and making sure they’re ready to get on the ice and preparing. No matter if it’s just a quick skate or a longer one, they’re always preparing and getting ready and treating their body well.”
How would you rate your 2023-24 season with the Kelowna Rockets? Many Capitals fans on social media were really excited about your play this season.
Andrew Cristall: “Yeah, I thought it went really well. I thought our team got better too, so that was a really good step for us. Making it out of the first round, that was a big goal for us [to] go a little bit deeper in the playoffs. For me personally, I felt confident throughout the whole year and I felt really good so. I’m going to hope to bring that momentum and carry it into the next season and being here.”
What were the high parts of your season?
Andrew Cristall: “Honestly the win in the first round, Game Six at home was super awesome. It was a really tight game. They would have actually have their backs against the walls and we really played well. I was able to score, so it was a pretty nice feeling to do that at home. But that was a super high moment of the year.”
Do you get more pleasure from scoring goals or being an assist man?
Andrew Cristall: “Yeah I think both for me to be honest. Whatever I can do to help put the puck in the net, I’ll do. So if I see the pass, I’m definitely going to make the pass rather than shoot it for no reason. So yeah, I think both are pretty equal.”
You cited your skating as something you really wanted to improve. How have you tried to do so?
Andrew Cristall: “Yeah, I worked with Wendy Marco in Development Camp and that was really good for me to work with her, and then I went back home in the summer and worked with a skating coach named Barb Aidelbaum. I worked with her the whole summer and I took some drills that she had for me and tried to apply during the year and stuff like that. I’ll be working with her again and I thought she helped me a lot.”
Pun intended, did you feel like you took strides this year?
Andrew Cristall: [laughs] “Yeah, definitely. I think so. I thought I definitely had an extra step especially off the line and just my acceleration. I’m still working on getting more speed and [getting] my stride a little bit longer, but I definitely think I took a stride this year.”
What was it like being around a superstar like Alex Ovechkin at training camp? Did you have any moments that stuck out then? I recall you forgot your shoes before a preseason game.
Andrew Cristall: “It was an unbelievable experience. I can’t really put it into words. [Laughs] I never really expected to maybe be in that position when I was a kid. It was pretty cool to learn from all those guys like Ovi, Oshie, all the guys there. Backstrom when he was there. It was pretty cool for me to be a part of with all of them being so welcoming. Yeah that was a funny moment. I think I forgot my shoes from the car. I came running back and Ovi was like ‘Slow down. It’s okay. The game’s not going anywhere.’ So yeah, it was a pretty funny moment.”
So excited for tonight that he forgot his shoes in the car 😂#ALLCAPS | @Kia pic.twitter.com/gi8NOvLQZP
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 28, 2023
Did you have a ‘Welcome to the NHL’ moment in training camp?
Andrew Cristall: “Yeah, I think there was a couple. One time I was on the ice at the end of practice, just kind of stretching, and Oshie was going down and taking shootouts on one of the goalies there. And he [was] scoring every single time and I was like, ‘Wow, this is pretty crazy to watch him do this in person.’ So that was pretty crazy.”
When we all spoke to Connor Bedard at the NHL Rookie Showcase last September, he told us of you, “Washington has a hell of a player and should be very excited about him” and Andrew is “probably the smartest hockey player I’ve gotten to play with.” Your thoughts?
Andrew Cristall: “Yeah, no, I mean, it’s pretty nice for him to say. Definitely pumping my tires a bit. I appreciate that. But yeah, no, he’s been super fun to grow up with and play with and compete with so yeah he’s a great guy.”
What I’ve found as an adult is that when I’m around people who are more experienced and talented than myself, it constantly challenges me to be a better person and make the most of myself. Have you had a similar experience being around Connor? Do you feel like that’s helped you grow as a player?
Andrew Cristall: “Yeah, absolutely. I think if you surround yourself with the kind of players [who are] where you want to be, it’ll help you get there yourself. And to be able to skate with him all summer and see what he does out there and compete against him as well and compare yourself to see what you need to improve on, it’s been super beneficial for my development growing up.”
This is perhaps the most important question I have to ask. Are you re-joining your roller hockey team in the NSIHL this summer?
Andrew Cristall: [laughs] “Yeah, we’re still in talks right now.”
I’m imagining big contract discussions now.
Andrew Cristall: [still laughing] “Contract talks with the league? No, but I think Connor’s in the World Championships right now and everybody’s kind of still not ready to be back in Vancouver, so. Once we all get back there I think we’ll have a discussion and try to join the league again because it’s a lot of fun.”
Your roller hockey team name is the Great Guys but would you personally consider yourself personally a great guy?
Andrew Cristall: “Yeah, I mean I’d like to think so. I think to be on that team you’ve got to qualify a little bit. So I think so, yeah.”
What are your goals for next year? You just missed out on Canada’s World Junior Championship team.
Andrew Cristall: “Yeah, I think obviously that’s a really big goal. I want to make that team and put myself in that conversation for sure. And then just going into next year, I want to have a good training camp and force them to make a hard decision on me and just try and work my hardest and see what happens.”
Would you say you are entering that spot where you’re probably ready to be a full-time AHL player next year, but have to either be in the NHL or junior due to the NHL/CHL agreement?
Andrew Cristall: “I think no matter what you can develop you know where you are. If that’s in the WHL, there’s a lot of things that I can do to get better and things that I can work on so that I can be ready to make that jump the next year. But yeah wherever I am, I’ll be happy.”
