Hershey Bears Down Coachella Valley Firebirds, 5-4 (OT) To Win 2024 Calder Cup And Back-To-Back AHL Championships



The Hershey Bears downed the Coachella Valley Firebirds, 5-4 (OT) in Game 6 of the 2024 Calder Cup Finals Monday night at Giant Center in Hershey, PA. The win gives the Bears a 4-2 series victory, their 13th Calder Cup in franchise history and back-to-back AHL championships.

Coachella Valley wasted little time in striking the game’s first tally when Ryan Winterton dented the twine just 1:37 into the game. But the Bears quickly answered with a power play goal from Pierrick Dube just under six minutes into the contest. Hendrix Lapierre added a late goal to give the Bears a 2-1 lead at the first intermission.

The Firebirds tied the game 2-2 early in the middle frame on a 4-on-4 goal from Marian Studenic and took their first lead of the night on Ryan Winterton’s second goal of the game at 7:59 of the second period. But the Bears answered again. Pierrick Dube scored his second goal of the night at 13:52 of the second period to make it 3-3 at the second break.

Pierrick Dube completed the hat trick midway through the final frame to give the Bears a 4-3 lead. The Firebirds tied the game late with a goal from Cale Fleury to make it 4-4, and that’s how regulation would end.

The Bears won it in overtime. Matt Strome scored the series clincher 1:06 into the extra farm.

LINEUP

Hunter Shepard (13-6, 2.41 GAA, .914 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Bears. Chris Driedger (12-5, 2.53 GAA, .912 sv%) started in goal for the visiting Firebirds. The forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:

Joe Snively – Hendrix Lapierre – Ethen Frank
Alex Limoges – Pierrick Dube – Jimmy Huntington
Ivan Miroshnichenko – Henrik Rybinski – Mike Vecchione
Matthew Strome – Riley Sutter – Bogdan Trineyev

Nick Leivermann – Dylan McIlrath
Hardy Haman Aktell – Logan Day
Jake Massie – Chase Priskie

Hunter Shepard
Clay Stevenson

Scratches: Vincent Iorio (Injury), Aaron Ness (Injury), Lucas Johansen (injury), John McDonald (Injury), Garrett Roe (Injury).

1ST PERIOD

The Firebirds opened the scoring just 1:37 into the contest with close-range blast from Ryan Winterton (6). Cameron Hughes (14) and Shane Wright (7) had the assists on the goal.

But the Bears wasted little time in answering the Firebirds initial salvo. Pierrick Dube (5) converted on the Bears first power play at 5:51. Hendrix Lapierre (15) and Joe Snively (14) had the helpers. Hershey led in shots, 8-3, midway through the first frame.

The Bears made it 2-1 late in the first frame on a goal from Hendrix Lapierre (7) at 19:24. Chase Priskie had the lone assist.

The Bears held the 2-1 lead at the first intermission and led in shots, 10-7 for the period. Coachella Valley was 0 for 1 and Hershey 1 for 1 on the power play in the first period.

2ND PERIOD

Coachella Valley tied the game early in the second period on a 4-on-4 goal from Marian Studenic (4) at 1:51 of the frame. Devin Shore (8) and Jimmy Schuldt (3) assisted.

The Firebirds took their first lead of the night on Ryan Winterton’s second goal of the game at 7:59. Shane Wright (8) and Cameron Hughes (15) had the assists.

But the Bears answered again. Pierrick Dube scored his second goal of the night at 13:52 of the second period to make it 3-3. Alex Limoges (8) and Jimmy Huntington (9) had the helpers.

The scored remained 3-3 at the second intermission. Hershey led in shots 16-12 after two periods of play. There were no power plays in the middle stanza.

3RD PERIOD

The Bears regained the lead on Pierrick Dube’s third goal of the game at 8:56 of the final frame.

The Firebirds tied the game late with a goal from Cale Fleury (5) at 17:05. Shane Wright (9) nd Cameron Hughes (16) had the assists.

Regulation ended tied 4-4. Hershey led in shots 21-20 after three periods of play.

OVERTIME

The Bears win it in overtime.Matt Strome scored the series clincher 1:06 into the extra farm.

SHAVINGS

  • NHL box score
  • Attendance: 11,013 (franchise record)
  • 100th playoff game in Giant Center history

About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.





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