The Hershey Bears traded defenseman Dmitry Osipov to the Utica Comets for forward Jace Isley on Friday afternoon.
The 28-year-old Osipov played 17 regular-season games with the Bears last season, registering one assist and 34 PIMs. He also skated in three Calder Cup Finals games as Hershey went through several levels of depth on their backend due to injuries. The Russian blueliner has played four games for Hershey this year.
One of Osipov’s primary responsibilities with the Bears last season was mentoring and translating for Ivan Miroshnichenko and Bogdan Trineyev. The elder Russian speaks great English and has been in North America for over a decade, playing his junior hockey in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants and Brandon Wheat Kings.
Per Zack Fisch, the voice of the Bears, Hershey’s head coach Todd Nelson says the move was partly made to get Osipov more playing time. Utica started the season 0-10-1 and are at the bottom of the AHL’s North Division. Hershey still has nine defenders on their roster, including six with prior NHL experience.
TRADE: The Bears have acquired forward Jace Isley from the @UticaComets in exchange for defenseman Dmitry Osipov.
Welcome to Chocolatetown, Jace!
📰 https://t.co/lM5IGoJjET pic.twitter.com/c6Y0ZwxNis
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) November 29, 2024
Isley is a 22-year-old forward who split his first pro season last year between the Comets and the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder. In nine games for the Thunder this season, he has recorded four points (1g, 3a). He has one goal in seven career AHL games.
The 6’2″, 201-pound center played parts of five junior seasons with the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. Isley was a teammate of former Bears defenseman and current Washington Capitals defenseman Alex Alexeyev on the Rebels during the 2018-19 season.
Here’s the Hershey Bears’ press release:
BEARS OBTAIN FORWARD JACE ISLEY IN TRADE WITH UTICA COMETS
Defender Dmitry Osipov dealt to Utica in trade for second-year pro
(Hershey, PA– Nov. 29, 2024) – The Hershey Bears announced today that the club has acquired forward Jace Isley from the Utica Comets in exchange for defenseman Dmitry Osipov. The announcement was made by Hershey vice president of hockey operations Bryan Helmer.
Isley, 22, has appeared in nine games with the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder this season, posting four points (1g, 3a) and 13 penalty minutes. The 6’2″, 201-pound center was recalled by Utica on Nov. 17.
With the Comets in 2023-24, Isley made his AHL debut on Dec. 8, 2023 versus Bridgeport and scored his first AHL goal on Jan. 12, 2024 versus Cleveland. He skated in seven games with the Comets last season, striking for one goal.
The native of Grand Prairie, Alberta had 23 points (6g, 17a) in 55 games with Adirondack during his rookie season last year.
Prior to turning pro, Isley played four seasons for the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League, with his best campaign coming in 2022-23 when he scored 56 points (30g, 26a).
Osipov, 28, has appeared in four games with the Bears this season playing both forward and defense. In 2023-24, he tallied one assist over 17 games with the Bears. He appeared in three games for Hershey in the 2024 Calder Cup Finals, helping the club to its 13th championship.
The native of Moscow, Russia has skated in 192 career AHL games with Chicago, Rockford, San Diego, and Hershey, collecting 19 points (8g, 11a) and notching 292 penalty minutes.
