The Hershey Bears will have a shot to win the franchise’s 13th Calder Cup on Monday night.
After earning a 3-2 win in California in Game 5, the Bears secured a 3-2 championship series lead over the Coachella Valley Firebirds, taking two out of three games in California to put them one win away from a championship. Thanks to the AHL’s 2-3-2 playoff format, the Bears will host both Game 6 and a potential Game 7 at a sold-out Giant Center; a victory in either game would see them win the Calder Cup at home for the first time since 2010.
A clutch performance from forward Jimmy Huntington powered Hershey to their last win at Acrisure Arena: Huntington scored twice in Game 5 and notched the game-winning goal with just 3:15 remaining in the third period. Hardy Häman Aktell also chipped in a huge goal, tying the game 2-2 at the 8:26 mark of the third.
Per the Bears, Game 6 will be the 100th playoff game to take place at Giant Center since the building opened ahead of the 2002-03 season. Hershey holds a 65-34 record in the 99 prior games and has won 14 series-clinching games at home, including a 4-0 win over the Texas Stars in Game 6 of the 2010 Calder Cup Finals.
Here’s how the Bears have earned their series lead.
Calder Cup Finals results
Game 1 – Fri., June 14 – Coachella Valley 4, HERSHEY 3
Game 2 – Sun., June 16 – HERSHEY 5, Coachella Valley 2
Game 3 – Tue., June 18 – COACHELLA VALLEY 6, Hershey 2
Game 4 – Thu., June 20 – Hershey 3, COACHELLA VALLEY 2
Game 5 – Sat., June 22 – Hershey 3, COACHELLA VALLEY 2
Game 6 – Mon., June 24 – Coachella Valley at Hershey, 7:00
*Game 7 – Wed., June 26 – Coachella Valley at Hershey, 7:00
* Only necessary if Bears lose to Firebirds in Game 6
Back-to-back
Hershey has won back-to-back championships twice, first doing so in 1957 and 1958. Their latest repeat came in 2009 and 2010. Nine total teams in AHL history have been able to repeat as champions, but Hershey could become the first franchise to earn three sets of back-to-back wins.
The feat has become increasingly rare in recent decades, with only Hershey and the Springfield Indians (1990-91) capturing back-to-back titles in the last 45 years. The full list of back-to-back winners includes the Buffalo Bisons (1943-44), Cleveland Barons (1953-54), Hershey Bears (1958-59; 2009-10), Springfield Indians (1960-61-62; 1990-91), Rochester Americans (1965-66), Nova Scotia Voyageurs (1976-77), and Maine Mariners (1978-79).
When the Bears won their championships in 2009 and 2010, they won the first on the road at MTS Centre in Winnipeg against the Manitoba Moose and then won their second at home against the Stars. Last season the Bears won the 2023 Calder Cup Finals on the road at Coachella Valley’s Acrisure Arena and will have the chance to give fans deja vu with a repeat championship win on home ice.
Statistical picture
The Bears have posted a 3-4 record in the 2024 playoffs when trying to close out a series. Over the franchise’s history, Hershey holds an 80-70 record in series clinchers. The first goal of the game will be vital: Hershey has gone 9-2 this postseason when scoring first but just 4-4 when allowing the first goal of the game. Coachella Valley holds a record of 8-1 when scoring first and 4-4 when surrendering the first goal.
Through the first five games of the series, Häman Aktell (4g,1a), Huntington (3g, 2a), Hendrix Lapierre (2g, 3a), Joe Snively (2g, 3a), Ethen Frank (1g, 4a), and Alex Limoges lead Hershey in scoring with five points apiece. Ryan Winterton (4g, 1a) and Shane Wright (2g, 3a) lead the Firebirds.
Hunter Shepard has posted a .895 save percentage in Hershey’s net, while Chris Driedger holds a save percentage of .861 for Coachella Valley.
Hershey’s power play is operating at just 15.8 percent, but their penalty kill has been excellent, allowing just one goal on 16 opportunities. The Firebirds lead the overall shots on goal race 149-109 and both teams have scored 16 total goals in the five games.
The Bears have spent a total of 78:56 in the lead, while Coachella Valley has led for 114:27.
Potential injury returns
Hershey has suffered through a deluge of injury problems throughout this year’s playoff run and those issues have leaked into the Calder Cup Finals. The Bears have missed defensemen Aaron Ness, Lucas Johansen, and Vincent Iorio in all five games, forcing both Dmitry Osipov and Nicky Leivermann to make their first appearances this postseason in the championship series.
Veteran forward Garrett Roe has also been out of action since he left Game 1 against the Firebirds early due to injury. Henrik Rybinski has dutifully replaced him as the centerman on the team’s third line and Matt Strome reentered the lineup on the fourth line.
There may be good news coming on both Ness and Roe ahead of Game 6, however. Both players took the morning skate and could be in the mix for the potential championship clincher, per Bears Hockey Nation,
Home sweet home 🏡 pic.twitter.com/qghX8qHRAE
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 24, 2024
Ness warmed up ahead of the team’s last two games in California. Roe also made the trip out west and head coach Todd Nelson believes the Vienna, Virginia native will be “ready” to jump back into the series in Game 6.
Puck drop for Game 6 is set for 7 pm inside Giant Center. Monday night represents the first time in 15 years that the Calder Cup and Stanley Cup could be awarded on the same night.
Note: Many of the stats and facts in this article were provided by the Hershey Bears through their preview press release
