The Hershey Bears lost 4-3 (SO) to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Thursday during their first exhibition of the preseason. The game started early at Mohegan Sun Arena, with the opening faceoff at 10:30 am.
The Bears took the ice with a young and inexperienced roster, as only Jake Massie, Dmitry Osipov, and Nicky Leivermann were the only returning players who dressed. Garin Bjorklund, who spent all last season with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays, started in net and was backed up by Seth Eisele.
This morning's projected lineup:
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The Bears were led by Training Camp invitee and former Washington Little Capitals forward Ryan Leibold, who scored two goals in his AHL preseason debut.
Leibold’s first goal came one minute and 15 seconds into the game. The slick-skating center found the back of the net on Hershey’s first shot as he poked a loose puck in the slot past Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov.
He later added a shorthanded breakaway goal in the second period after making a heads-up defensive play and utilizing his speed during a defensive zone faceoff. The tally gave the Bears a 3-2 lead.
Leibold, a 25-year-old Ashburn, VA native, has spent the last two seasons with the Stingrays and is looking to earn a contract with the Bears this fall. The local product had a career year in 2023-24, posting 30 points (14g, 16a) in 65 ECHL games. During the offseason, he worked for Wendy Marco’s Cold Rush Hockey camp.
Grant Cruikshank scored the Bears’ other goal of the day.
Hershey ultimately surrendered their one-goal lead late in the second period. After a scoreless third period and overtime, the two teams went to a shootout. Logan Pietila was the only player to score, giving the Penguins victory. The Bears’ shooters were Zac Funk, Alex Suzdalev, and Micah Miller.
Hershey’s next preseason game is at home against the Penguins on Friday night. Puck drop is at 7 pm at Giant Center.
Here’s the full press release from Hershey:
BEARS DROP PRESEASON OPENER TO PENS 4-3 IN SHOOTOUT
Leibold, Cruikshank score for Hershey
(Wilkes-Barre Township, PA – Oct. 3, 2024) – The Hershey Bears (0-0-0-1) opened the 2024 preseason with a 4-3 shootout loss against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (2-0-0-0) on Thursday afternoon at Mohegan Sun Arena.
The Bears established a 2-0 lead early in the first period with goals from Ryan Leibold at 1:15 on Hershey’s first shot of the contest, and Grant Cruikshank at 6:32.
The Penguins responded at 18:42 with a strike from Jordan Martel, and Matthew Querica leveled the score at 2-2 at 3:12 of the second.
Leibold stole the puck for a shorthanded breakaway and beat Sergei Murashov at 6:52 for his second of the day to put Hershey in front 3-2.
At the 10:34 mark, the Bears rotated goaltenders, sending in Seth Eisele to take over for starter Garin Bjorklund.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton evened it up at 14:09 via a goal from Mats Lindgren.
The score remained tied 3-3 through the end of regulation and overtime. With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton electing to shoot first in the shootout, the only goal came off the stick of Logan Pietila in the second round to secure the win for the hosts.
Shots finished 35-20 in favor of the Penguins. Bjorklund posted a 12-for-14 performance, while Eisele took the shootout loss with a 19-for-20 effort; Murashov got the win for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with a 17-for-20 effort. The Bears went 0-for-1 on the power play; the Penguins went 0-for-2 with the man advantage.
The Bears continue the preseason when they host the Penguins on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. at GIANT Center.
