The Hershey Bears are dealing with a slew of injuries to key players in their lineup and those issues only got worse on Monday night.
The team’s top goal-scoring winger, Ethen Frank, left Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Monsters early in the second period. Frank got crushed against the boards during a Bears power play and eventually made his way to the team’s locker room.
Frank left the ice grimacing in pain, favoring his left leg. The 26-year-old has dealt with some prior injury problems during this year’s playoffs, missing a game in the Atlantic Division Finals and leaving Game 4 against the Monsters early.
He also missed about a month of action during the regular season with a lower-body injury suffered in early February.
Frank had a seven-game, playoff goal streak ended in Game 5’s 5-1 loss in Cleveland. His streak was the second longest in Hershey’s long history.
Ivan Miroshnichenko was promoted to Hershey’s top line with Frank out of action. The Bears are also without their second-leading goal scorer from the regular season, Pierrick Dubé, as well as key defensemen Aaron Ness and Lucas Johansen.
Projected lineup for Game 6! 📝
Catch the broadcast:
📺@fox43.2 (Antenna TV), @MonSportsNet (DC region)
🖥️ https://t.co/HaxQBmLCRZ
📻@FroggyValley, @foxsports1460am, @WOYK1350 (joined in-progress), @CapitalsRadio pic.twitter.com/Yin3OLPT6Q— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 10, 2024
Update (8:58 pm): Hershey has announced that Frank will not return to Game 6.
UPDATE: Bears forward Ethen Frank is OUT for the remainder of tonight’s game after sustaining an injury in the second period.
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 11, 2024
