Photo: Eric Lord
The Hershey Bears kick off their quest to become just the second team in American Hockey League (AHL) history to win three straight Calder Cup with a matchup with the Lehigh Phantoms. It is the second consecutive year that the two instate rivals will play in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. The Phantoms defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins two games to none in the opening round to earn the right to square off with the Bears.
Series Schedule
Game 1: Wednesday April 30, Lehigh Valley at Hershey – 7 p.m.
Game 2: Friday, May 2, Lehigh Valley at Hershey – 7 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, May 4, Hershey at Lehigh Valley – 5:05 p.m.
Game 4: Friday, May 9, Hershey at Lehigh Valley – 7:05 p.m. *
Game 5: Sunday May 11, Lehigh Valley at Hershey – 5 p.m. *
* If Necessary
Playoff History
This will be the seventh playoff meeting between the two franchises and the third since the Phantoms moved to Lehigh Valley. The other series happened when the Phantoms were located in Philadelphia.
The most memorable postseason meeting was the first one in 1997 in the Southern Division semifinals. The two sides were the top two teams in the AHL during the regular season. Hershey captured game one in the old Spectrum with winger Kurt Miller potting the winner in a 5-3 triumph for the chocolate and white. The Phantoms scored often in game two on their way to a 7-4 victory on home ice.
As the series shifted to Chocolate Town, the Bears prevailed 4-2 behind Eric Veilleux’s game winner. Philadelphia took back home ice when Colin Forbes tallied in overtime to lift the Phantoms to a 3-2 overtime victory.
After getting drubbed 5-0 in Philadelphia in game five, Hershey faced elimination on home ice in game six. What happened next was one of the most memorable games in franchise history.
With the score tied at two, the contest headed to overtime, make that three overtimes. Then, Blair Atcheynum etched his place in Bears’ history by splitting two Phantoms’ defensemen and slid a shot through the five hole of Neil Little to keep Hershey’s season alive. Goalie Jean-Francois Labbe made 62 saves. The Bears then topped Philadelphia 3-2 in game seven to win the series. Hershey would move on and win the Calder Cup in five games over Hamilton.
One year later, the Phantoms exacted their revenge on the Bears by eliminating the chocolate and white in the Mid-Atlantic Division finals in four games. Philadelphia ended up winning the Calder Cup that season.
1n 2000, Hershey edged the Phantoms three games to two in the Mid-Atlantic Division semifinals. The Bears dropped two games in the Hersheypark Arena after leading the series two games to one. However, David Aebischer recorded his second shutout of the series in game five and Hershey survived with a 4-0 triumph in game five.
The Bears brought the run of the Philadelphia Phantoms to an end with a four-game sweep in the opening round of the Calder Cup playoffs in 2009. Alexandre Giroux continued his historic season with two game winners in the series. Hershey would go on to defeat the Manitoba Moose in six games to win the Calder Cup.
The first playoff meeting with the Phantoms since the franchise was established in Allentown came in the first round in 2017. The series featured the road team winning every game. Nathan Walker’s overtime winner and Pheonix Copley’s shutout gave the Bears a 1-0 win in game one at the PPL Center and the Chocolate and White then topped Lehigh Valley 5-4 in game two. The Phantoms returned the favor in Hershey with Chris Connor scoring in overtime to lead Lehigh Valley to a 2-1 triumph in game three and the ghosts then captured game four 4-1. The Bears rode Colby Williams’ decider to exorcise the Phantoms 3-2 in game five.
Last season, Hershey scored twice in the first period of game one, one goal each for Hendrix Lapierre and Henriik Rybinski. Lehigh Valley got one back in the third, but Hunter Shepard held strong as the Bears prevailed 2-1.
In game two, Ethen Frank netted two markers in a span of three minutes and 29 seconds in the first period to put Hershey up two. The Bears had two power play chances to increase their lead, but failed to capitalize. Lehigh Valley gained momentum and moved within one with 1:15 remaining in the opening frame on a goal by Hunter McDonald. Hershey only had five shots on goal in the second period, but scored on two of them. Rybinski deflected Bogdan Trineyev’s shot for the third goal and Alex Limoges tallied on the power play to give the Bears a 4-1 edge after two periods. Hershey only recorded two shots in the third period, but potted the lone goal of the frame when Lapierre backhanded his shot into the empty and the Bears won 5-1 to go up two games to none in the series.
Special teams were the difference in game three in Allentown. Hershey took two early penalties and the Phantoms made the Bears pay. Emil Andrae and Olle Lycksell each put a shot past Shepard and the two power play markers allowed Lehigh Valley to lead 2-0 after one. The Phantoms were whistled for five high sticking penalties, including a double minor, but Hershey’s power play could not take advantage and Lehigh Valley staved off elimination with a 2-0 victory.
With another opportunity to close out the series in game four, the Bears fell behind in the first period when Rhett Gardner batted a rebound out of the air and in. Seventeen seconds later, Ivan Miroshnichenko equalized when he finished off a breakaway by elevating a shot over Petersen’s glove. Lehigh Valley took the lead back later in the first on a Garrett Wilson wrist shot, but Hershey again responded as Pierrick Dube snapped a shot over the glove of Petersen. Miroshnichenko gave the Bears their first lead of the night when he again beat Peterson over the glove. The lead increased to 4-2 later in the second when Frank placed his shot over Petersen’s glove. A Hershey turnover in the third allowed the Phantoms to move within one when Tanner Laczynski scored from in close. With Lehigh Valley on a power play just past the halfway mark of the third, Shepard came across to deny Lycksell with his blocker. The save was important as Hardy Haman Aktell would put one by Petersen to give the Bears an insurance. In what was a pattern all game long, Haman Aktell’s shot went over Petersen’s glove. The tally sealed a 5-3 win in game four and allowed Hershey to send the Phantoms to the golf course.
2024-25 Season Series
Having played 10 times during the regular season, there will be few secrets between the Bears and Lehigh Valley. Both teams won five games in the series and finished with a 5-4-1 record. Seven of the 10 games were decided by one goal and two of those went to overtime.
The Phantoms drew first blood by winning the initial matchup in Hershey on October 30. Helge Grans and Jake Massie exchanged goals in the first period, but Jacob Gaucher’s tally at the 8:56 point of the third was the difference in 2-1 Lehigh Valley victory.
The Bears returned the favor in Allentown on November 16. Garrett Roe initiated the scoring in the first. Samu Tuomoaala responded later in the opening stanza. Pierrick Dube and Zac Funk found the back of the net in the second period to give the Chocolate and White and 3-1 advantage after 40 minutes. The Phantoms stormed back with a tallies from Rodrigo Abols, Ethan Samson in a two minute and 53 second span in the third period to tie things up. Ethan Bear restored the lead for Hershey with a shot from the bottom of the right circle. Mike Vecchione and Matt Strome added goals to lift the Bears to a 6-3 win.
After a scoreless first period on November 29, Olle Lycksell put the Phantoms up 1-0 in the second. Ethen Frank evened the score in the third. Lycksell called game 27 seconds intp overtime by elevating his shot over the blocker of Clay Stevenson and Lehigh Valley prevailed 2-1.
Hershey emerged victorious in both ends of a home-and-home on December 7 and December 8. In Allentown on December 7, the Phantoms opened the scoring when Gaucher converted a shorthanded breakaway with 30 seconds left in the second period. The Bears tied it up in the third when Bear knocked home a Brad Hunt feed on the back door. Grans struck with 3:39 left to give the lead back to Lehigh Valley. With time running out, Smallman threw a pass from the left circle in front. From his knees, Rybinski redirected the pass by Cal Petersen’s left pad to force overtime with 2.3 seconds remaining. In the extra session, Mike Sgarbossa found Chase Priskie in front and Priskie ripped a shot up and in to lead Hershey to a 3-2 triumph.
A day later, Bogdan Trineyev’s first period shorthanded marker moved the Bears in front. Jon-Randall Avon batted a puck out of the air and into the net to tie it and then the Phantoms gained the advantage when Brendan Furry capitalized on sloppy Hershey passing on a major power play to pot a shorthanded goal. At the tail end of the same major power play, Vecchione leapt on a rebound of a Pierrick Dube shot to even the contest at two after 20 minutes. Luke Philp and Frank found the back of the net in the second frame. However, a lapse late in the period by Hershey allowed Lehigh Valley to strike twice to tie the game. First, Rhett Gardner beat Hunter Shepard and then Alexis Gendron tallied on the power play to make it 4-4 after two periods. Frank was the difference maker in the third period, wiring a shot high over Petersen’s glove to propel the Bears to a 5-4 victory.
The inaugural meeting of 2025 took place in the Giant Center on January 7 and it did not start well for Hershey. The Phantoms scored three teams in the first period with Hunter McDonald, Elliot Desnoyers and Samson tallying. The Bears lone marker came from Grant Cruikshank shorthanded. Early in the second, Emil Andrae dangled through two Hershey players and elevated a shot past Shepard to give Lehigh Valley a three-goal edge. Bear brought Hershey within two until a controversial goal pushed the Phantoms lead back to three. Garrett Wilson made contact with Shepard’s arm and then interfered with the netminder’s ability to get over to make a save. Gaucher fired a shot into the open net. The goal was originally called off, but was awarded after the officials got together. The goal stood as the AHL does not allow challenges for goaltender interference. Sgarbossa netted a goal late in the second and added another early in the third to make it a one goal game, but the Chocolate and White could not find an equalizer and Lehigh Valley held on for a 5-4 win.
Nearly two months passed before the two sides met again on March 2. This one was all Bears. A Miroshnichenko one-timer on the power play put the Bears up in the first period and Hendrix Lapierre potted another to make it 2-0 after one frame. Dalton Smith’s first goal as a Bear upped the advantage to 3-0 in the second and Vincent Iorio scored his first goal since November in the third period. Shepard turned aside all 21 shots he faced and Hershey blanked the Phantoms 4-0.
The fifth and final win for the Bears came at Lehigh Valley on April 4. Clay Stevenson stopped all 13 shots he saw in the first period, a stanza where the Phantoms vastly outplayed Hershey. With two minutes and 41 seconds gone in the second period, Luke Philp redirected a Nicky Leivermann shot pass by the glove of Peterson to put the Bears up one. Smallman doubled Hershey’s edge later in the second. The Phantoms got a goal back in the third, but Stevenson held strong, making 32 saves en route to a 2-1 triumph.
The penultimate matchup of the season series did not go well for the Bears. A Hershey turnover led to a Ben Gleason goal for the sole goal of the first. Another turnover early in the second led to an Abols tally and allowed the Phantoms to lead 2-0 after 40 minutes. Lehigh Valley netted another in the third when a Samson shot deflected off Vecchione on its way to the net and went into the goal. The Bears finally broke onto the scoreboard when Matt Strome put home a rebound. The goal did nothing to change the outcome of the game as McDonald and Grans scored to ensure there would be no Hershey rally and The Phantoms prevailed 5-1.
The two teams met in the regular season finale. With nothing on the line, both teams rested several regulars. Lehigh Valley opened the scoring in the first period and the Bears answered. This went on for two period with neither team scoring consecutive goals. Alex Bump for the Phantoms and Hershey’s Ivan Miroshnichenko each tallied twice. Lehigh Valley led 4-3 after two frames. The difference was special teams play. The Phantoms struck twice on the power play and once shorthanded, while the Bears failed to convert on seven power play opportunities. There was no scoring in the third, but the contest descended into chaos. Scrums occurred after every whistle and 23 penalties were doled out. Lehigh Valley won the game 4-3 and plenty of bad blood was created.
Season Series Leaders
Hershey Lehigh Valley
Points: Ethan Bear – 9 Elliot Desnoyers – 6
Goals: Miroshnichenko/Philp – 3 Grans/Gaucher/Samson – 3
Assists: Ethan Bear – 7 Elliot Desnoyers – 5
Wins: Hunter Shepard – 3 Cal Petersen – 4
Shutouts: Hunter Shepard – 1 None
Roster News
The Bears have several roster concerns heading into the series. Ethan Bear is currently in Washington serving as an extra defenseman for the Capitals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. His absence leaves a massive hole in the Hershey lineup. Bear became just the second defenseman in franchise history to lead the team in scoring and was the best player on the Bears during the season. He was the team’s most valuable player for a reason. The Ochapowace, Saskatchewan native also played on the top defensive pairing. It is unclear if he will rejoin Hershey for the playoffs. Bear’s partner on the top defensive pairing is another question mark. Aaron Ness missed the final three games of the regular season with an upper body injury. This came after he missed more than a month with a facial injury. Ness is the team’s best defensive defenseman and to be without him and Bear could be big problem. Also injured for the Chocolate and White is center Mike Sgarbossa. He has played four games since February and has been out with an upper body injury since being hurt on March 1. Hershey has enough center depth to cover for his absence, but having a player available who produces offensively like Sgarbossa does only makes the team better. The final question mark for the Bears in the second goalie spot. Clay Stevenson is up with Washington as the third goalie. If he is not returned to Hershey, that likely leaves Garin Bjorklund to serve as the backup to Hunter Shepard. Bjorklund played well in his limited time with the Bears this season, but it is preferable to have the best tandem available for a playoff run.
Hershey added several players down the stretch. Capitals prospects Ryan Chesley, David Gucciardi and Leon Muggli joined the defensive corps. Up front, prospects Ludwig Persson, Terik Parascak and Patrick Thomas are all in tow if needed. Also, Ilya Protas was recently assigned to the Chocolate and White after his junior season concluded.
Unlike Hershey, the Phantoms do not have to worry about players being up with their parent club, as the Philadelphia Flyers failed to qualify. Lehigh Valley has been without speedy winger Samu Tuomaala since March 1 with a lower body injury. The initial diagnosis was that he would be out six-to-eight weeks. That timeline would make it possible he returns for this series. Goalie Eetu Makiniemi suffered a core injury while attempting to make a save in a game against the Bears on November 16 and has not played since.
The Phantoms have gained considerable talent in the past month. They acquired Nikita Grebenkin and Givani Smith through trades the Flyers made at the NHL trade deadline. Also, top prospects Jett Luchanko and Alex Bump joined Lehigh Valley late in the season. Bump scored two goals and Luchanko had four assists in the Phantoms two-game sweep of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Series Outlook/Keys
The Bears last played on April 19 and several of their regulars rested in that game. Sharpness could be an issue to start the series. Hershey will need to overcome any rust quickly because the Phantoms will be ready to play.
Lehigh Valley has a few agitators on their team in Garrett Wilson and Sawyer Boulton. They will try to goad the Bears into taking penalties. Hershey has to remain disciplined and not retaliate. Be physical, but do not cross the line.
Special teams are key to any playoff series. During the regular season, the penalty kills dominated. Hershey was three for 40 with the man-advantage, converting at a measly 7.5%. The Phantoms were not much better, scoring three times in 29 attempts. Lehigh Valley is dangerous shorthanded, having scored 12 goals on the penalty kill. Three of these came against the Bears. Brendan Furry tied for the AHL lead with five shorthanded tallies. Hershey has to be smart on the power play and make solid passes. Poor decisions with the man-advantage could end up in your own net. In a tight series, the team who gets more from their special teams will likely emerge as the winner.
Lehigh Valley has upped their talent level up front with the additions of Jett Luchanko, Alex Bump and Nikita Grebenkin. The Phantoms scored eight goals in two games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and 13 different players recorded at least one point. Bump and Anthony Richard each tallied two goals in the series. Luchanko dished out a team high four assists. Richard finished with three points as did Olle Lycksell. Hershey will need to be strong positionally defensively and not have breakdowns or Lehigh Valley will make them pay.
All season long, the Bears have had issues with giving up too many odd-man rushes. Head coach Todd Nelson has talked about this for months. It is time to clean up the decision making with the puck and limit the turnovers. Do not force a pass that is not there. Do gamble with a pinch that is unlikely to prove successful. Be smart and take what Lehigh Valley gives you.
Defensively, Hershey will need players to step up. If Ethan Bear remains in Washington and if Aaron Ness is out injured, other defensemen will be thrust into bigger roles. Nicky Leivermann, Jon McDonald, Ryan Chesley and David Gucciardi could be in line for increased minutes. How they handle the increased responsibility will be key to the success the Bears will have.
The play of the fourth line has been essential to Hershey’s runs to the Calder Cup during the past two seasons. The line has set the tone with physical play and contributed offensively at times. The Bears will need the fourth line to deliver the same impact. Riley Sutter had a down year, but can erase that with a strong playoff. Matt Strome was one of the team’s best players down the stretch and Dalton Smith provides a ton of energy and physicality.
Lastly, Hunter Shepard will need to find his A game. The two-time Calder Cup champion has been excellent in the past to playoff runs, but had an up-and-down campaign. He looked great at times and then poor at others. Shepard has always shined in the postseason, whether that was at Minnesota-Duluth or with Hershey. Big game Shep needs to remerge for the Bears for the team to win the series and make another deep playoff run.
