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.
Screenshot via abc27 sports
Friday night in the Eastern Conference finals of the OHL playoffs, the London Knights and Plymouth Whalers faced off in a game that London would win and eliminate the Whalers. On that Whalers team was Washington Capitals prospect, Tom Wilson.
After the loss, Wilson and teammate Connor Carrick were informed they were going to Chocolate town USA to join the Bears in their run at Calder Cup number 12.
HERSHEY, PA – Steve Oleksy waves to the crowd after making a surprise appearance to accept his Top Bears Defenseman award Sunday night (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
On a night when the Chocolate and White punched their ticket to the 2013 Calder Cup playoffs, the players also accepted their awards for their accomplishments in a Bears uniform this season.
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 05: Steven Oleksy #61 of the Washington Capitals (R) and Tomas Kundratek #36 hold up pucks for their first point and goal respectivly after an NHL game against the Boston Bruins at Verizon Center on March 5, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Washington Capitals defeated the Boston Bruins 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
One day after Steven Oleksy was recalled by the Washington Capitals and signed to a three year deal, he and former Hershey, now Washington teammate Tomas Kundratek both recorded first in the Caps’ game against former Bear Chris Bourque and the Boston Bruins.
Approximately 90 minutes after the Hershey Bears said “good bye” to Zach Hamill and “hello” to Casey Wellman, yet another personnel change has been announced in the Washington/Hershey organization.
The Hershey Bears have lost another top scorer. Center Zach Hamill has been traded to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Casey Wellman. The Chocolate and White’s fourth leading scorer is now heading off to San Antonio for the Rampage’s second leading score. Wellman, 25, has scored seven goals and 16 assists for the Panthers affiliate in 37 games this season.
HERSHEY, PA – Tomas Kundratek speaks to the media after the 2013 Outdoor Classic (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
One night after scoring Hershey’s lone goal in the Outdoor Classic, Tomas Kundratek has been recalled by the Washington Capitals. The 23-year old defenseman has has one eventful week after being named to the 2013 AHL All-Star game, scoring Hershey’s goal last night, and now the recall.
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.”
Washington, DC – The opening faceoff of the AHL Showcase at Verizon Center (Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey on Earth)
It was a night not only Hershey Bears fans have waited for, but also Washington Capitals fans. With the NHL lacking a Collective Bargaining Agreement since September 16, Capitals fans stormed the gates of Verizon Center for the first time this season to view an American Hockey League Showcase.
With the season series tied at 1-1 entering Thursday, the Hershey Bears battled the Norfolk Admirals in our Nation’s Capital. Ryan Potulny scored his first goal of the season which proved to be the game-winner at the 4:26 mark of the third period to give the Bears a 2-1 lead, and eventual win.
This afternoon, the Hershey Bears and abc27 sports announced the broadcast of the Washington AHL Showcase at Verizon Center. The December 6th game between the Hershey Bears and Norfolk Admirals will be broadcasted live on abc27′s digital channel, 27.2.