CEDAR PARK, Texas – The Hershey Bears and Texas Stars have battled long and hard this post season to reach the Calder Cup final series. 
The Stars have gone 5-2 this post season in overtime and the Bears have worked extra time in eight games, going 7-1 in those games. The OT sessions have been kind to both clubs and the Stars won three of their conference finals games in OT.
Hershey needed six games to eliminate the Manchester Monarchs and four of the games went to OT with the Bears prevailing in three.
The Stars went the distance with the Chicago Wolves in their conference finals.
Texas sports two players with Calder Cups to their credit. Stars defenseman Dan Jancevski won the Calder Cup in 2007 when the Hamilton Bulldogs defeated the Bears and Andrew Hutchinson skated for the Milwaukee Admirals when they claimed Cup over the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins in 2004.
Meanwhile the Bars returned 18 players from last year’s Calder Cup winning team. The Bears are looking to be the first repeat team since the Springfield Indians did the deed in 1989-1991.
The Bears have experience and depth at every position and are strong contenders to take the Cup home again. But the Stars have been guided by AHL-rookie head coach Glen Gulutzan who has made an impact on his young and veteran players alike.
Look for a prediction on the series later in the week.
Contact Lou.Lafrado@prohockeynews.com
Calder Cup Finals – Texas Stars vs. Hershey Bears (best of seven)
Game 1 – Thu., June 3 – Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm
Game 2 – Sat., June 5 – Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm
Game 3 – Mon., June 7 – Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm
Game 4 – Wed., June 9 – Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm
*Game 5 – Fri., June 11 – Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm
*Game 6 – Mon., June 14 – Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm
*Game 7 – Wed., June 16 – Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm
*if necessary… All times Central
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