HERSHEY, PA – In a season full of record setting achievements, the Hershey Bears saved the best for last by winning their 11th Calder Cup championship. It is their second in a row and third title in the past five years, and did so by winning Game Six 4-0 over the Texas Stars in a dominating performance that was reminiscent of what the team did throughout their record breaking season. The win gave the team a combined win total of 76 for the year, a new AHL record, and did something no other team in Calder Cup finals history has done before, which is to lose the first two games at home and still win the series. The Bears outshot Texas 17-4 in the first period and opened up a 2-0 lead and never looked back. To add to all of the records set in the playoffs, the Bears did something so rarely done in hockey must less in playoff hockey. All four goals in the game were scored by defenseman: John Carlson, Karl Alzner, and Patrick McNeill who had the last two goals on the night. In a change from the previous five games, Texas decided to put Brent Krahn in the net in place of Matt Climie. Unfortunately the move did not pay off for the Stars. Hershey goaltender Michal Neuvirth made 22 saves on the night while Krahn made 32 on 36 shots.
The Bears also set an attendance for a game in Hershey as 11,002 fans witnessed history as the Bears won the title on home ice for the first time since 1980 when they defeated the New Brunswick Hawks in six games. Hershey’s back-to-back titles are the first in the AHL since the Springfield Indians did it in 1990 and 1991. If the Bears wish to three-peat they will also have to do something not done since the Indians did it from 1960-62. Bears General Manger Doug Yingst won his fourth AHL title, which also ties an AHL record with former Hershey GM Frank Mathers. Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
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