HERSHEY, PA — Ethen Frank started the 2024-25 season with a bang on Saturday.
In front of a packed Giant Center, the Hershey Bears’ leading goal-scorer the last two seasons tallied a hat trick on banner-raising night, earning First Star of the Night honors in the team’s 7-3 victory over the Cleveland Monsters.
Frank scored two power-play goals from the Ovi Spot in the second period and then sent headwear flying 5:40 into the third. Finding a loose puck in the slot, he fired a shot past Monsters goaltender Jet Greaves to hit the milestone on a milestone night.
Per the Bears’ Jesse Liebman, Frank’s hat trick on Opening Night was the first since Andrew Gordon had one against the Norfolk Admirals on October 3, 2009. The Bears would go on to win the Calder Cup that year.
Frank’s first goal
Frank’s first tally came 13:07 into the second period to tie the game 2-2. Taking a pass from Chase Priskie, the right winger sent a one-timer from the top of the left circle past Greaves, low and short side.
Frank’s second goal
Four minutes and 35 seconds later, Frank scored on another one-timer from the left circle. Skating down the right wing, Mike Sgarbossa hit Frank with a cross-ice pass, and the Papillion, Nebraska native beat Greaves far side to the top corner.
Frank’s Hat-trick goal
Frank captured his fifth career hat trick via a fortunate bounce. After Mike Vecchione had his shot blocked, Frank found the biscuit at his feet and made no mistake with the loose puck. The tally gave the Bears a 5-2 lead they would not surrender.
In the locker room, Aaron Ness awarded Frank the team’s Bear Head as the team’s player of the game.
“Nice job, boys. Let’s build it up from here,” Frank said before ROAR’ing in front of his teammates.
In the media room, Frank was asked where he’d rank the moment in his career.
“Probably anywhere from five to ten,” he said. “There’s been some pretty special moments in my so-called career, but yeah. It did mean a lot, so I don’t wanna underplay it or anything, but yeah, it was a fun night.”
Frank also made sure to credit “Mike and Mike,” veteran forwards Mike Sgarbossa and Mike Vecchione, for his success.
“They make my job really easy,” Frank said. “I typically just stand there and shoot the puck, so yeah, I gotta give them a lot of credit.”
As to why there wasn’t much of a celebration after scoring his hat-trick goal, Frank said he didn’t want to show up an Eastern Conference rival as they were pouring it on late in the game, especially with the two teams rematching on Sunday at 5 pm.
“I just didn’t really wanna rub it in their face or anything,” he said. “It was obviously nice to get that third one and cap that off the right way. But like I said, I didn’t really wanna rub it in and kinda be that arrogant guy.”
Frank’s hat trick came just two weeks after he was cut from the Washington Capitals’ Training Camp roster. After his impressive showing in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs, the right wing was attempting to challenge for a spot on the Capitals’ Opening Night roster. Instead, he’s starting the year in Hershey for his third pro season.
“I definitely wasn’t feeling too great about myself and my game as far as Training Camp was going,” Frank said. “So I’m glad to kinda get that out of the way and make sure that I’m not gonna have a slow start or anything like that.”
“To get out of the gates like that, I think it’s going to give him a big boost,” Bears head coach Todd Nelson added. “He’s a goal scorer, and goal scorers need confidence. He certainly got that tonight.”
Vincent Iorio, Bogdan Trineyev, Ethan Bear, and Luke Philp also scored for Hershey. If you count Pierrick Dube’s big night in Game 6 of the Calder Cup Finals, Hershey’s had hat tricks in consecutive games.
Warmups underway!
Pre-game coverage begins at 6:30.
📺 @fox43.2
🖥️ AHLTV on @FloHockey: https://t.co/PN33pvVp4L (freeview at https://t.co/Zi5nfLbq1u)
📻 @FroggyValley, @foxsports1460am, @WOYK1350Tonight's projected lineup: pic.twitter.com/z9653FmlJh
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) October 12, 2024
