The Washington Capitals sent goaltender Mitch Gibson back to the Hershey Bears on Wednesday afternoon.
Gibson returns to Hershey as the Capitals prepare to welcome number-one netminder Logan Thompson back into their lineup. Thompson was out with a lower-body injury and missed last weekend’s game against the Buffalo Sabres, which led to Gibson’s brief stint in DC.
Gibson, 27, served as Charlie Lindgren‘s backup against the Sabres. He has yet to make his NHL debut.
The 2018 fourth-round pick will return to the Bears, where he’ll compete for time in net with veteran Cal Petersen. In two starts for Hershey this season, Gibson is 1-1-0 with a 3.50 goals-against average and an .881 save percentage. Last season, Gibson made 23 appearances for the Bears, posting a 9-9-5 record with a 2.94 goals-against average, a .903 save percentage, and one shutout.
Gibson’s demotion comes with Thompson likely to start for the Capitals against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night. Caps head coach Spencer Carbery wouldn’t confirm Thompson’s availability after the team’s morning skate, but Thompson was the first goaltender off the ice, suggesting he’ll start.
Hershey will also play on Wednesday, facing the Rochester Americans in the first of two road games to end October. Garin Bjorklund, recalled from the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays, is currently serving as Petersen’s backup.
Here’s the Capitals’ full press release:
Capitals Loan Mitch Gibson to Hershey
Goaltender Logan Thompson activated from IR
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have loaned goaltender Mitch Gibson to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today. In addition, the Capitals have activated goaltender Logan Thompson from Injured Reserve (IR).
Gibson, 27, has a 1-1-0 record with a 3.50 goals-against average and an .881 save percentage in two games with Hershey this season.
The 6’2”, 205-pound goaltender posted a 9-9-3 record with a 2.94 goals-against average, a .903 save percentage and one shutout in 23 games with the Bears last season. Gibson, a native of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, recorded 30 or more saves in nine of his 23 appearances, including a 36-save shutout win vs. Charlotte on Dec. 13, 2025. Gibson also appeared in 13 games with the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) in 2025-26, going 8-5-0 with a 2.32 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage and one shutout.
During the 2024-25 season, Gibson went 12-1-0 with a 1.75 goals-against average, a .933 save percentage and one shutout in 14 games with South Carolina. Gibson ranked first in the ECHL in goals-against average and second in save percentage among goaltenders with at least 10 games played. In his lone AHL start of 2024-25, Gibson made 26 saves in a 6-2 win at Springfield on Oct. 26, 2024.
Gibson made 42 appearances with South Carolina in 2023-24, posting a 22-14-3 record with a 2.56 goals-against average, an .899 save percentage and three shutouts. Gibson’s 2.56 goals-against average ranked third among ECHL goaltenders with 40 or more games played. Gibson also played two games with Hershey, going 2-0-0 with a 1.92 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage.
Gibson has a 13-10-3 record with a 2.87 goals-against average, a .903 save percentage and one shutout in 28 career AHL games with Hershey. In 69 career ECHL games with South Carolina, Gibson has posted a record of 42-20-3 with a 2.36 goals-against average, a .909 save percentage and four shutouts.
Gibson played collegiately at Harvard University, where he posted a record of 47-25-6 with six shutouts, a 2.32 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 80 games over three seasons.
