Matt Strome was healthy-scratched off and on during the regular season and playoffs, but by the end of the 2024 postseason, his presence in the Hershey Bears’ lineup was undeniable.
Now, after scoring the Calder Cup-winning goal in overtime of Game 6 of the Calder Cup Finals, the veteran forward is one of the rare players this offseason who has earned a multi-year extension.
The youngest hockey-playing Strome brother announced the news on his Instagram Story on Saturday.
“Can’t wait for 2 more years,” Strome wrote, “see you soon Bear nation.”
The six-foot-four, 206-pound forward followed that up by sharing a card he received from Earls King West, a restaurant in Toronto, thanking him for celebrating his new contract with them.
The 25-year-old Strome was an unrestricted free agent for nearly three weeks before he and the Bears came to an agreement. Hershey has yet to publicly announce the deal.
Strome, a six-year veteran of the AHL, set career highs in goals (7), assists (13), points (20), plus-minus (plus-13), and shorthanded goals (2) with Hershey during the 2023-24 season, further coming into his own in the playoffs where he formed a powerful trio with Bogdan Trineyev and Henrik Rybinski. When Riley Sutter returned from injury, Strome temporarily lost his spot in the lineup, before returning and scoring one of the most historic goals in team history.
Strome tallied five points (2g, 3a) in 15 playoff games, but was also responsible defensively and played a pest-like role.
Strome joined the Bears in July 2022, the same time his brother Dylan signed with the Capitals. Strome played his four prior seasons for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers.
July 24 update: The Hershey Bears have officially announced Strome’s extension.
Let's make it 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 ✅
We have re-signed Calder Cup hero Matt Strome to a two-year AHL deal. Welcome back, Stromer!
📰 https://t.co/TQHunqwK2A pic.twitter.com/e3xsDDL7Lg
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) July 24, 2024
The press release follows:
BEARS RE-SIGN CALDER CUP HERO MATT STROME TO TWO-YEAR AHL DEAL
Forward notched the game-winning goal in overtime of Game 6 of the Finals to give Hershey its 13th Calder Cup
(Hershey, PA – July 24, 2024) – The 2024 Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears announced today that the club has re-signed forward Matt Strome to a two-year American Hockey League contract that runs through the 2025-26 season. The announcement was made by Hershey vice president of hockey operations Bryan Helmer.
Strome, 25, scored the game-winning goal in overtime of Game 6 of the 2024 Calder Cup Finals versus Coachella Valley, giving Hershey its 13th Calder Cup title. The Mississauga, Ontario native had a career-year with the Bears in 2023-24, posting 20 points (7g, 13a) in 50 games, and playing a large part in the league’s best penalty kill. In the playoffs, Strome skated in 15 games, adding five points (2g, 3a) including the Calder Cup winning goal on June 24 at GIANT Center, as the Bears defeated the Firebirds to win a second straight title.
The winger had five points (1g, 4a) in 34 games with Hershey in 2022-23, and the Bears went 23-8-2-1 when he was in the lineup that season. He served as a Black Ace during Hershey’s run to the 2023 Calder Cup title.
The 6’4″, 206-pound forward has skated in 175 career AHL games with Lehigh Valley and Hershey, scoring 48 points (16g, 32a). He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft, 106th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers.
