The Hershey Bears held their final Washington Capitals night of the 2025-26 season on Sunday against the Belleville Senators. Not only did the team wear their Caps-inspired Screaming Bear jerseys for the final time, but they also hosted a current Capitals player at the game.
Former Bears forward Ethen Frank participated in the ceremonial first puck drop before the game, dropping the biscuit between Matt Strome and Senators captain Garrett Pilon.
The moment was special because all three players were members of Hershey’s 2023 Calder Cup championship team.
Pilon scored one of the biggest goals of that run, hitting the back of the net in overtime of Game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals. After Pilon departed for Ottawa over the 2023 offseason, Frank and Strome remained and were also members of the Bears’ back-to-back championship club in 2024, with Frank leading the AHL Playoffs in goals (10) and Strome scoring the Calder Cup-winning goal in overtime of Game 6.
Frank remained for an on-ice interview after the first period concluded, speaking with Jim Jones on the bench. During the chat, Frank did Hershey’s famous ROAR celebration to the delight of the crowd.
During the game, Hershey sold a restock of replica Screaming Bear jerseys for $190 in a pop-up merch stand on the lower concourse of Giant Center. The jerseys sold out quickly when they were first released earlier in the season.
The team also held a jersey auction for the game-used Screaming Bear jerseys worn during the season. Andrew Cristall’s sweater notably landed $4,800.
