Washington, DC – Mark French, seen here at the AHL Showcase at Verizon Center, was named head coach of KHL Medveščak Zagreb in Croatia (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Former Bears head coach Mark French has been named head coach of . After five seasons in Hershey, French heads overseas to coach the Zagreb Bears. The Washington Capitals announced in May they will not be renewing his contract for the 2013-14 season.
Photo by Kyle Mace
After four seasons behind the Bears bench, Mark French will not return as coach for the 2013-14 season. The announcement was made Friday morning by the Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee. The move comes after the Bears failed to win a first round playoff series against the top seeded Providence Bruins, after winning the first two games of the best-of-five series.
HERSHEY, PA – Ryan Potunly shoots his game winning goal during Hershey’s 3-2 come back victory over Providence (Tim Stough – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Nine games. That’s all that remains to decide the Hershey Bears playoff fate. Saturday night the Bears pulled off a come from behind victory over one of the best teams in the league, beating the Providence Bruins 3-2 at Giant Center. The victory keeps the Bears in the 8th and final playoff position, just two points ahead of Norfolk.
HERSHEY, PA – Boyd Kane skates during warm-ups of the 2013 AHL Outdoor Classic. Kane scored his 500th AHL point tonight during Hershey’s 6-4 loss to Manchester (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Saturday night, American Hockey League history was made with Boyd Kane’s 500th career AHL point against the Manchester Monarchs. Kane became the 85th player in league history to reach the milestone. However, the memorable moment was soon spoiled, as Manchester came back to answer Hershey’s early scoring onslaught with a scoring parade of their own. The Monarchs tallied three goals in both the second and third period to down Hershey, 6-4.
Hershey Bears practice earlier this morning (Photo via our Instagram account)
The Outdoor Classic is just over 24-hours away and Bears players are getting more and more excited as the game draws closer. After getting their first look at the Hersheypark Stadium rink, the Bears gave their thoughts on what the experience will mean to them.
HERSHEY, PA – Washington Capital Tom Poti stands during warm-ups on January 13, 2013 before playing his first game in two years (Tim Stough – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
January 12, 2011. That was the last time Tom Poti was on the ice playing in a hockey game. Poti has had a loitering groin problems and at one point, a fractured pelvis. “It was awesome,” Poti said after Hershey’s 5-0 win against the Connecticut Whale. “It’s good to have some fun again and play some hockey.”
HERSHEY, PA – Sharks players celebrate their goal in front of goalie Braden Holtby during Hershey’s 2-1 loss to Worcester (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
A night after a deflating loss to the Senators, the Hershey Bears looked to rebound back against the Worcester Sharks. Three weeks ago, the Sharks handed Hershey their only shootout loss of the 2012-13 season to date. Sunday the Bears looked to overcome a two goal deficit in the third period, but fell to the Sharks, 2-1.
Corporal Shawn Petterson drops the puck before tonight’s Bears-Phantoms game (Photo courtesy @PhantomsHockey)
It has been no lie the Hershey Bears have been struggling of late in November. The Bears hopped the bus to head north to Adirondack Saturday morning, while being victims of defeat in five of their last six games. The Bears fired 24 shots on net, but the power play was no where close to effective in a 3-1 loss to the Phantoms.
HERSHEY, PA – Tomas Kundratek skates by as Braden Holtby looks on after Wilkes-Barre scores their fourth goal of the game (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Adam Oates is gone, but the Hershey Bears slump remains. Following Wednesday night’s 4-0 loss to the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, the Washington Capitals announced that Caps head coach and Hershey Bears co-coach Adam Oates would no longer be on the Bears bench. Oates had been in Hershey and on the Bears bench for every game this season. Members of the Caps staff will also return to Washington.
HERSHEY, PA – Zach Hamil celebrates his goal against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in Hershey’s 3-2 win (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
Sunday the Hershey Bears faced off against their I-81 rivals from Wilkes-Barre Township to close out the month of October. A night after celebrating the first win of the season at Giant Center and a stellar 35-save shutout by Braden Holtby, the Bears hung for a 3-2 victory.