
SEASON SYNOPSIS
One of the most storied franchises in the AHL, the Hershey Bears came into the 2022-23 campaign with a total of 11 Calder Cups won since the team’s IAHL/AHL inception in 1938.
As the Bears finished second in the Atlantic Division (44-19-9, 97 points, .674 points percentage), they began the systemic removal of their playoff opponents. Hershey defeated the Charlotte Checkers three games to one in the divisional semifinals. The Bears swept the Hartford Wolf Pack three games to none in the divisional finals. Hershey then took six games (four games to two) to defeat the Rochester Americans in the Eastern Conference Finals. And, in dramatic fashion, the Bears needed all seven games against Coachella Valley in the Calder Cup Finals (and an overtime game-winning goal from Mike Vecchione in Game 7) to win their first AHL championship in 13 years.
-
Ep 68: Auston Matthews Extension, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Much More
by Full Press Coverage on September 1, 2023 at 2:23 am
Jim and Chris are back to chat about the Auston Matthews extension, the […]
Fun fact: a Hershey’s chocolate bar is segmented into 12 parts, called “pips”. With the 12th Calder Cup secured, the Bears have a neat moment of synchronicity where their championship wins paralleled the pips on a Hershey bar. Hershey has won titles in nine different decades, starting in the 1940s. The Bears lifted two championships in the 50s, 80s, and 2000s.
(List accurate as of Sept. 18th, 5:55pm ET)
UNDER CONTRACT AND RE-SIGNINGS
Forwards
- Ethen Frank – Last year of two-way NHL contract
- Beck Malenstyn – Last year of NHL contract (one-way)
- Hendrix Lapierre – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
- Connor McMichael – Last year of entry-level contract
- Aliaksei Protas – Last year of entry-level contract
- Henry Rybinski – Second-to-last year of entry-level NHL contract
- Joe Snively – Last year of NHL contract (one-way)
- Bogdan Trineyev – Second-to-last year on entry-level contract
- Mike Vecchione – Signed a two-year AHL contract (thru 2024-25) on February 14
- Mike Sgarbossa – Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract extension on May 5
- Julian Napravnik – Signed a one-year AHL contract extension on June 30
- Riley Sutter – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 4
- Matthew Strome – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 14
- Kevin O’Neil – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 25 (played on loan for Hershey and AHL Colorado, 53 games for ECHL South Carolina in 2022-23)
Defensemen
- Vincent Iorio – First year of entry-level contract (entry-level slide)
- Lucas Johansen – Last year of NHL contract (one-way)
- Aaron Ness – Signed a two-year AHL contract extension on May 12
- Michael Kim – Signed a one-year AHL contract extension on June 30; played almost all of 2022-23 season with ECHL South Carolina (with two games played for Hershey)
- Dylan McIlrath – Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract on July 2
- Jake Massie – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on July 14
- Logan Day – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 17
- Benton Maass – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 20; played almost all of 2022-23 season with ECHL South Carolina (with two games played for Hershey)
Goaltenders
- Clay Stevenson – Last year of entry-level contract
- Mitchell Gibson – Signed a one-year, entry-level contract on April 7
- Hunter Shepard – Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract on July 1
NEW ADDITIONS
Forwards
- Ludwig Persson – First year of entry-level contract (entry-level slide; played with Frölunda HC of the SHL and BIK Karlskoga of HockeyAllsvenskan [both Sweden] in 2022-23)
- Ryan Hofer – Signed a three-year, entry-level NHL contract on May 1 (played the the Kamloops Blazers and Everett Silvertips in 2022-23
- Ivan Miroshnichenko – Signed a three-year, entry-level NHL contract on May 1 after KHL contract termination (played for Avangard Omsk of the KHL, Team Omsk of the VHL, and Omskie Yastreby of the MHL [all Russia] in 2022-23)
- Pierrick Dubé – Signed a two-year, entry-level NHL contract on July 1 (played for Laval and ECHL Trois-Rivières in 2022-23)
- Matthew Phillips – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 2 (played for the Calgary Flames and Wranglers in 2022-23)
- Alex Limoges – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 3 (played for Manitoba in 2022-23)
- Jimmy Huntington – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 18 (played for Milwaukee in 2022-23)
- Garrett Roe – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 19 (played for the ZSC Lions of the Swiss NL in 2022-23)
- Tyson Empey – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 24 (played for Tucson and ECHL Atlanta in 2022-23)
Defensemen
- Hardy Häman Aktall – Signed a one-year, entry-level NHL contract on April 27 (played for Växjö Lakers HC of the SHL in 2022-23)
- Chase Priskie – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 5 (played for Rochester and San Diego in 2022-23)
- Nick Leivermann – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 20 (played for Univ. of Notre Dame [NCAA] in 2022-23)
- Colin Swoyer – Signed a one-year AHL contract on August 2 (played for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and ECHL Wheeling in 2022-23)
Goaltenders
- Garin Bjorklund – Second-to-last year on entry-level contract (played one game for ECHL South Carolina in 2022-23 after being injured for most of the season)
- Mitchell Gibson – Signed a one-year, entry-level NHL contract on April 7 (played for Harvard Univ. [NCAA] in 2022-23)
DEPARTURES
Forwards
- Shane Gersich – Signed a one-year contract with Västerås IK of HockeyAllsvenskan on June 23
- Henrik Borgström – Signed a two-year contract with HV71 of the SHL on June 26
- Mason Morelli – Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract with Vegas on July 1
- Garrett Pilon – Signed a one-year, two-way contract with Ottawa on July 1
- Bear Hughes – Signed a two-year AHL contract with Henderson on July 7 (played all of 2022-23 season with ECHL South Carolina)
- Sam Anas – Signed a one-year contract with Dinamo Minsk of the KHL on July 10
- Alexandre Fortin – Signed a one-year contract with ECHL Orlando on September 18 (played one game for Hershey and 37 games for ECHL South Carolina in 2022-23)
Defensemen
- Gabriel Carlsson – Signed a one-year contract with Vaxjo Lakers HC of the SHL on July 28
- Bobby Nardella – Signed a one-year contract with HV71 of the SHL on July 31
Goaltenders
- Zach Fucale – Signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL on July 6
FREE AGENTS
Forwards
- Kody Clark– UFA (was not extended qualifying offer on June 30; did not play in 2022-23 due to quad tendon injury)
- Ryan Scarfo – UFA (AHL); played all of 2022-23 season with ECHL South Carolina
Defensemen
- Martin Has – UFA (AHL); played all of 2022-23 season with ECHL South Carolina
(Special thanks to CapFriendly and Elite Prospects for all the contract terms and definitions for this offseason player tracker!)
———————
Other 2023 AHL Off Season Trackers :
Links will be updated as articles are released.
Central
- Chicago Wolves
- Grand Rapids Griffins
- Iowa Wild
- Manitoba Moose
- Milwaukee Admirals
- Rockford IceHogs
- Texas Stars
Pacific
- Abbotsford Canucks
- Bakersfield Condors
- Calgary Wranglers
- Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Colorado Eagles
- Henderson Silver Knights
- Ontario Reign
- San Diego Gulls
- San Jose Barracuda
- Tucson Roadrunners
Atlantic
- Bridgeport Islanders
- Charlotte Checkers
- Hartford Wolf Pack
- Hershey Bears
- Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Providence Bruins
- Springfield Thunderbirds
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
North
- Belleville Senators
- Cleveland Monsters
- Laval Rocket
- Rochester Americans
- Syracuse Crunch
- Toronto Marlies
- Utica Comets
-
Ep 68: Auston Matthews Extension, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Much More
by Full Press Coverage on September 1, 2023 at 2:23 am
Jim and Chris are back to chat about the Auston Matthews extension, the […]
-
Ep 67: Karlsson Trade, Matt Dumba Signs, NHL News and Notes
by Full Press Coverage on August 11, 2023 at 2:21 am
Jim and Chris discuss the big Erik Karlsson trade to Pittsburgh, the Matt […]
-
Ep 66: Vladimir Tarasenko, Patrice Bergeron Retires, RFAs, and More
by Full Press Coverage on August 3, 2023 at 11:59 pm
Jim and Chris return to discuss Vladimir Tarasenko signing in Ottawa, […]
-
Around the NHL: Mike Babcock Resigns as Head Coach In Columbus
by Full Press Coverage on September 19, 2023 at 1:48 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Vox Media NHL Analyst Bruce […]
-
Around the NHL: From Columbus to Montreal To Calgary To Atlanta
by Full Press Coverage on September 16, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Vox Media NHL Analyst Bruce […]
-
California Dreamin' in Los Angeles with Daryl Evans and the Kings
by Full Press Coverage on September 14, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Kings Radio Color Commentary […]
-
Ep 86: David Krejci Announces Retirement
by Full Press Coverage on August 14, 2023 at 10:28 pm
Ian and Chris react to David Krejci's retirement. Learn more about your ad […]
-
Ep 85: Offseason Reset: Lucic, Bergeron, Krejci, and More
by Full Press Coverage on July 23, 2023 at 2:10 pm
Ian and Chris discuss the changes the Bruins have seen over the last few […]
-
S5Ep2 - What Carey Price Meant to the Montreal Canadiens
by Jim Biringer on September 19, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back for the fifth season of the Final Word on Hockey […]
-
S5Ep1 - Does the NHL Have a CM Punk Problem with Mike Babcock?
by Jim Biringer on September 15, 2023 at 6:18 pm
Jim Biringer is back for the fifth season of the Final Word on Hockey […]
-
Dallas Stars Preview
by Broken Controller Media on September 21, 2023 at 3:45 pm
Hunter Logan Previews The Dallas Stars Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown […]
-
Colorado Avalanche Preview
by Broken Controller Media on September 20, 2023 at 3:30 pm
Hunter Logan Previews The Colorado Avalanche Stack the Pucks gives a […]
-
Chicago Blackhawks Preview
by Broken Controller Media on September 19, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Hunter Logan Previews The Chicago Blackhawks Stack the Pucks gives a […]
-
Episode #144: 22-23 AHL Awards Show
by Full Press Coverage on July 14, 2023 at 10:00 pm
The 2022-23 AHL season has come to a close, and what better way to […]
-
Episode #143: Dessert > Desert
by Full Press Coverage on June 24, 2023 at 5:54 pm
On this episode of The Calder Farmstead, Sean and Sarah wrap up the […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - 9-21 - Kyle Davidson’s Presser Takeaways
by Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Reacting to what Blackhawks general manager, Kyle Davidson said to media, […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - 9-20 - The Southeast Florida Prospect Showcase & the Hurricanes Training Camp
by Full Press Coverage on September 20, 2023 at 3:00 pm
The Hurricanes have won all 3 games at their prospect showcase this past […]
-
ROP Special Commentary: A Catfish Too Far
by Charlie Saunier on September 20, 2023 at 5:01 am
Renegades Of Puck Special Commentary: A Catfish Too Far Learn more about […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - 9-19 - Connor Bedard is HIM!!!
by Full Press Coverage on September 19, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Breaking down Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks games at the Tom Kurvers […]
-
Full Press Kraken - 9-18 - 2021 draft, Shane Wright, training camp
by Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 3:00 pm
A look back at the 2021 Draft, Shane Wright update, Camp primer Learn more […]
-
Full Press Canadiens - 9-18 - Christian Dvorak trade rumors
by Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Josh Gosse and Jesse Poirier speak about the latest Montreal Canadiens […]
-
9/21 - Thursday Night Football Preview; NFL MVP Talk
by Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Ian and John preview Thursday Night Football between the Giants and 49ers […]
-
9/19 - Monday Night Recap, State of Quarterback Play, 2-0 Teams
by Full Press Coverage on September 19, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Ian and John discuss MNF and talk about the state of quarterback play. […]
-
9/18 - Week 2 Headlines; Monday Night Football Predictions
by Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Ian and John discuss some of the headlines from Sunday's action, some […]
-
9/15 - Eagles Survive Vikings; Week 2 Picks and Predictions
by Full Press Coverage on September 15, 2023 at 2:09 pm
Ian and John discuss the Eagles win over the Vikings and preview Week 2. […]
-
9/21 - Thursday Night Football Preview; NFL MVP Talk
by Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Ian and John preview Thursday Night Football between the Giants and 49ers […]
-
Ep 183: Week 3 Preview vs Saints
by Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:11 am
In this episode, Kyle Senra is joined by Courtney Burrows (luvtractor3) […]
-
Ep 134: NFL Week 2 Studs And Duds
by Full Press Coverage on September 20, 2023 at 7:07 pm
Ian and Braden give their Studs and Duds for the second week of NFL […]
-
9/19 - Monday Night Recap, State of Quarterback Play, 2-0 Teams
by Full Press Coverage on September 19, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Ian and John discuss MNF and talk about the state of quarterback play. […]
-
9/18 - Week 2 Headlines; Monday Night Football Predictions
by Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Ian and John discuss some of the headlines from Sunday's action, some […]
-
Ep 133: Week 2 Overreactions
by Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 2:03 pm
Ian and John overreact to what they saw in Week 2 of the NFL. Learn more […]
-
Ep 182: Week 2 Instant Reactions
by Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 1:52 am
The Green Bay Packers lost a close 25-24 game at the hands of the Atlanta […]
-
Ep 132: Eagles Move To 2-0, AFC East, NFL Week 2 Thoughts
by Full Press Coverage on September 17, 2023 at 3:11 pm
Ian and Braden discuss the Eagles win over Minnesota, the state of the AFC […]
Comments 3