The Washington Capitals will honor the Hershey Bears 2024 Calder Cup championship team at Capital One Arena, Wednesday.
In a release, the Capitals say they will hold a pregame ceremony before their game against the Nashville Predators on November 6 where “Bears representatives” will participate in a ceremonial puck drop. The Capitals will also be making the Calder Cup available to fans for photos and viewing throughout the night. Bears play-by-play man Zack Fisch will join the Capitals radio broadcast during the second period.
Last year, the Capitals held a ceremony for the 2023 championship team and the Bears had their leadership team — Dylan McIlrath, Aaron Ness, and Mike Vecchione — participate in the puck drop. McIlrath, Hershey’s captain during their back-to-back Calder Cups in 2023 and 2024, graduated to the Capitals this season after making the team out of Training camp.
The moment comes as the Bears have no games this week until Saturday and Sunday at Giant Center. While the team has gotten off to a quick start, winning seven of their first 11 games of the season and sitting atop the standings in the Atlantic Division, the Bears have not been satisfied with their underlying play. The team lost consecutive games in regulation last week, something they did not do during the entire regular season in 2023-24.
When asked if they were going through a Calder Cup hangover, Bears head coach Todd Nelson said after the team’s 4-3 shootout win Sunday, “You know what? I think you’re seeing it right now, like we’re grinding it out. We didn’t see it last year, but it’s rearing its ugly head right now, as far as I’m concerned. We’re doing things, and the guys from last year know how we play, but they’re making mistakes that we had to correct two years ago. It’s kind of a funk that we’re in; we’re happy with the result but not with the way we did it.”
The celebration with the Caps should mark the Bears’ final Calder Cup championship-related event before fully turning their gaze to the 2024-25 season.
Here’s the full press release from the Capitals:
Washington Capitals to Honor Back-to-Back Calder Cup Champions Hershey Bears with Pre-Game Ceremony Nov. 6 versus Nashville
Ceremonial puck drop and Calder Cup viewing at the Signature Club among festivities
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals will hold a pre-game ceremony on Nov. 6 against the Nashville Predators to honor the 2024 Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears, the Capitals’ American Hockey League affiliate, for winning back-to-back championships. Bears representatives will participate in a ceremonial puck drop.
As part of the evening festivities, fans are invited to the Signature Club at Capital One Arena beginning at 6 p.m. Fans will have the opportunity to take a photo with the Calder Cup, and the evening will also feature appearances by Capitals alums and giveaways. In addition, fans are invited to view the Calder Cup on the 100-level concourse during the first period.
The Bears defeated the Coachella Valley Firebirds 5-4 in overtime in Game 6 of the Calder Cup Finals to capture the franchise’s AHL-record 13th championship. The Bears won their fifth Calder Cup since becoming the top development affiliate of the Capitals in 2005-06, with Hershey also winning in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2023. The Capitals and Bears were previously affiliated for seven seasons from 1977 to 1984, including Hershey’s 1980 Calder Cup championship.
