The Hershey Bears announced their opening roster for 2024 Training Camp.
The list is highlighted by returning Calder Cup-winning veterans like Mike Vecchione, Pierrick Dubé, Ethen Frank, Alex Limoges, Garrett Roe, Henrik Rybinski, Matt Strome, Riley Sutter, Aaron Ness, Hardy Häman Aktell, Vincent Iorio, and Clay Stevenson.
Zac Funk and Alex Suzdalev will also look to carve out roles for themselves in their rookie AHL seasons.
Hershey’s initial roster will be split up into two groups for the first day of Training Camp on Monday. Groups A and B will scrimmage at Giant Center at 10:30 am. The skates are open to the public.
Setting the tone 😤 pic.twitter.com/7us0Wfj72r
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) September 29, 2024
Hershey will look to three-peat this season after winning back-to-back Calder Cups in 2023 and 2024.
Here’s the Hershey Bears’ full press release:
HERSHEY BEARS ANNOUNCE INITIAL 2024 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER
Back-to-Back Calder Cup Champions take the ice to open Training Camp on Monday morning at GIANT Center
(Hershey, PA – September 29, 2024) – The 2024 Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears announced today the initial roster and schedule for the opening day of the club’s 2024 Training Camp, set for Monday, Sept. 30 at GIANT Center starting at 9:45 a.m.
The following players are part of Hershey’s initial 2024 Training Camp roster:
Forwards (23):
Jack Adams*, Grant Cruikshank, Jeremy Davidson*, Pierrick Dubé, Ethen Frank, Zac Funk, Ryan Hofer, Kyler Kupka*, Ryan Leibold*, Alex Limoges, Austin Magera, Erik Middendorf, Micah Miller, Justin Nachbaur, Garrett Roe, Henrik Rybinski, Brennan Saulnier, Matt Strome, Riley Sutter, Alex Suzdalev, Bogdan Trineyev, Mike Vecchione, Tyler WeissDefensemen (13):
Powell Connor*, Logan Day**, Hardy Häman Aktell, Brad Hunt, Vincent Iorio, Jayden Lee, Nicky Leivermann, Jake Massie, Jon McDonald**, Aaron Ness, Dmitry Osipov, Chase Priskie, Hudson ThorntonGoaltenders (4):
Garin Bjorklund, Seth Eisele*, Mitch Gibson, Clay Stevenson* Indicates player on a Training Camp Tryout
** Indicates player who is currently injuredAmong those participating in the opening day of Hershey’s 2024 Training Camp are 18 players who played in last year’s playoffs and helped Hershey to the 2024 Calder Cup Championship. Returning players include alternate captains Mike Vecchione and Aaron Ness, forward Matt Strome, who scored the Game 6 overtime goal to give Hershey its 13th championship, Ethen Frank and Pierrick Dube, the club’s top two goals scorers in the 2023-24 season, and goaltender Clay Stevenson, the AHL’s leader in shutouts in 2023-24.
Additionally, the Capitals have sent forwards Luke Philp and Spencer Smallman to Hershey to continue their injury rehabilitation, but both cannot be officially added to the roster until they are healthy. The Bears have also announced that forward Brett Hyland will not be joining the club for the 2024-25 season and that he has been released from his AHL contract.
The 2024 Training Camp roster will be updated at HersheyBears.com over the next week. Several additions are expected to join the Bears roster, as Hershey’s NHL affiliate, the Washington Capitals, will have to reduce their camp roster to a maximum of 23 skaters.
The schedule for the first day of Hershey’s 2024 Training Camp is as follows:
Monday, Sept. 30
9:45 a.m., Group A Practice
10:30 a.m., Scrimmage: Group A vs. Group B
Following Scrimmage: Group A Media Availability
11:30 a.m., Group B Practice
Following Group B Practice: Head Coach Todd Nelson and Group B Media AvailabilityThe rest of the week’s Training Camp schedule will be shared when available at HersheyBears.com. Training Camp practices are free and open to the public. All Training Camp events are subject to change.
