Can you say, repeat? In Hershey, you just might

HERSHEY, PA – It is something that has not been done since 1991 but the Hershey Bears are trying to do what is almost impossible to do in minor league hockey, and that is to win the Calder Cup title in back-to-back seasons. The Springfield Falcons won the cup in 1990 and 1991 against the Rochester Americans in both seasons.

Last season the Bears surpassed the Falcons in the cup total category with a league record 10 set last season as the Bears defeated the Manitoba Moose in six games. Now the Bears want to once again give Springfield a run for their money at the end of this season’s playoff run.
Once again the Bears have the league’s best record with 72 points and have seven more points than the Hamilton Bulldogs for the league lead.   The team is on a roll winning nine of their past 10 games and is on a six game winning streak.   They are also the only team in the league with less than 10 losses (9) and more than 30 wins (35). The Bears are the highest scoring team in the league with 197 goals, 39 more than Hamilton (158).   On defense, Hershey is tied with the bulldogs with 108 goals allowed, only three more than the Texas Stars.
Looking at those stats could be intimidating for any team to face but this is minor league hockey where anything can go.   It is common in hockey for the team with the best record to somehow fall flat on their faces come playoff time. The defending Calder Cup champs are looking to win this year’s cup despite having a new coach for the third time since winning the cup back in 2006. Bruce Boudreau won the cup that year with the team while his assistant coach Bob Woods won it with Hershey last season. This year it is Mark French who will get his crack at the AHL’s most coveted prize. So far, so good for French and his band of merry men.
 Is there a weakness that can be seen in order to exploit the Bears and provide and upset come April-June? If there is it’s not o special team units. The Bears are first overall on the penalty kill and third on the power play. Hershey has the top two point leaders in the league and has a rookie goaltender in Branden Holtby who is fifth overall in goals against average (2.04) and is tied for sixth in save percentage (.928).
The key here however is that he is a rookie to the AHL so there is always the tenancy for rookies to fall under the pressure come playoff time. You can bet that if the team can continue to score at their regular pace that will surely take some of the pressure off of him.  
Still, it looks as though the sweetest place on earth win once again taste playoff success come April through June.   If the Bears can repeat as champs, the team will then set their sights on a three-peat. Once again Hershey will look towards Springfield for inspiration where the Falcons did it in 1960-1962. In fact, the Bears were one of the Falcons victims back in 1961 when they were swept in four games.
 No a lot of people will remember those days but you can be sure at least one media member will be bringing it up from time to time over the course of next season of the team is in a position to do so.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com