Hershey update

Tim Leone has some Hershey updates. I loved this part:

NOTES: Robitaille remains in the market for a name for his son. "I was going to say we're probably going to call him Bruce to get more ice time -- or Douglas [for Doug Yingst]," he joked.

Apparently Robitaille lost 5 lbs. this off season and put on some muscle to better compete for ice time. Leone also quotes him as saying:

I guess having a kid on the way is going to stop me from doing my [partying] stuff like the last two years," he said. "I'm more intense, more dedicated to hockey. I think it's one of the major things that changed me this summer, getting more quiet and staying at home and working more at the gym.

Um, how hard can you party in Hershey? I'm not knocking the place, but everything is about 5 miles apart. And has to do with chocolate.

News from Hershey

Tim Leone has some news on Hershey's Louis Robitaille, who was just signed to a new one year deal. You might remember Robitaille as the guy who got into it with Rory Fitzpatrick during his first shift in his first pre-season game with the Caps in '06. Robitaille is a spark plug for the Hershey team, and the star of one of my favorite Hershey videos. And many congrats to Robitaille, as he and his significant other are expecting.

Thus, the left winger, a fan favorite in his instigator role the past two seasons, agreed to a one-way AHL contract that will return him to the Bears for a third straight season.

"Obviously, we were looking for an NHL two-way contract," Robitaille said Tuesday. "I was only interested in moving my family if there was an NHL opportunity. Otherwise, I wanted to come back here."

News from Hershey

The always excellent Tim Leone has a piece out today about some of the players who took part in last week's development camp. Andrew Gordon and Sami Lepisto will be in Hershey, but expect the Cap's recent signee, Jason Morgan, to make it up in case of injuries. After finishing up the year with St. Cloud State, Gordon played on the Bear's practice squad during the playoffs and even sported the team's trademark mohawk.

Leone also speaks with Oskar Osala (how can you not love that name?) about his prospects in the pros. And Leone has some fun facts: Sami Lepisto's godfather? Jari Kurri. And Bruce Boudreau knows Jason Morgan, as he coached him in the ECHL during the 97-98 season. Some highlights from the column:

Boudreau said he likes the reality and ego check young players get when they're able to get a taste of the AHL before their formal rookie campaign.

"These kids that weren't Aces (Bear's practice squad), they come to camp and think automatically they've got a job, for one," Boudreau said. "They think, Oh, I didn't make the NHL, I'm going to eat up the American Hockey League. I think these kids [who were 2007 Black Aces] are going to be so ahead of that.

And this from the 6-4, 222 pound Osala:

"When you're big like me, you have to finish every check," Osala said. "That's just a part of the North American game. That's what I will always do.

"I try to do everything to help the team win. I try to finish my checks, shoot a lot, and try to make room for my teammates.

I would love to see Osala in Washington or Hershey soon, and from GMGM's quotes, that shouldnt be too far off the horizon.

Bears lose Calder Cup

Sadly, the Hershey Bears lost the AHL Calder Cup to the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Bulldogs goaltender was absolutely amazing in goal. It was a great season for the Bears and a great experience for a lot of Caps prospects. Here's to hoping I see a lot of those prospects in DC next season.

Carey Price led Hamilton to its first Calder Cup title, stopping 29 shots in the Bulldogs' 2-1 victory over the Hershey Bears on Thursday night in Game 5 of the American Hockey League championship series.

Price, the 19-year-old goalie who spent most of the season in junior hockey with the Tri-City Americans, was the playoffs MVP.

"I was just so relieved [when the game ended]," Price said. "They're a good team. They could have come back at any second. It's a nice way to top it off."

NHL in the future for Boudreau?

This is a good article about Hershey Bears Coach Bruce Boudreau. I know his name has been mentioned a number of times as a possible replacement for Glen Hanlon, should he get the ax. Personally, I hope the Caps keep Hanlon around but its clear that Boudreau is eager to make the jump.

Fans in Washington were clamouring for his promotion given that club’s disappointing 2006-07 season. And Boudreau has a heck of a resumé with the Calder Cup, the ECHL title and trip to the Turner Cup finals in the old IHL among his coaching accomplishments.

“This is our second finals in a row,” said Boudreau. “I think our teams have been pretty well prepared. We’ll let the people in the higher-ups make the decision.

Calder Cup Finals

The Hershey Bears finished their sweep of the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday night with a 3-1 win. They will take on the Hamilton Bulldogs in the Calder Cup finals. Unfortunately, I will be moving on June 1-2, but if the Bulldogs push the series past five games, I will definitely make it up to Hershey.

GAME 1: Friday, June 1
Hamilton at HERSHEY
7:00 p.m.
GIANT Center

GAME 2:
Saturday, June 2
Hamilton at HERSHEY
7:00 p.m.
GIANT Center

GAME 3:
Monday, June 4
HERSHEY at Hamilton
7:30 p.m.
Copps Coliseum

GAME 4:
Wednesday, June 6
HERSHEY at Hamilton
7:30 p.m.
Copps Coliseum

GAME 5:
Thursday, June 7
HERSHEY at Hamilton
7:30 p.m.
Copps Coliseum*

GAME 6:
Tuesday, June 12
Hamilton at HERSHEY
7:00 p.m.
GIANT Center *

GAME 7:
Friday, June 15
Hamilton at HERSHEY
7:00 p.m.
GIANT Center*

*if necessary

Hershey update

Last night the Bears won Game 3 of the AHL Eastern Conference final against the Manchester Monarchs in ManchVegas, NH. The win propels the Bears to a 3-0 series lead and gives them the opportunity to close out the series with a win on Saturday in NH.

Quick highlights:
- Caps D prospect Mike Green scored last night, and the Bears official stats have him with goals in the past three games and points in five straight games
- Caps F prospect Tomas Fleischmann had a goal and a couple assists
-The Bears have outscored the Monarchs 15-4 through the first three games of this series

weekend update

The Bears beat the crap beat the Manchester Monarchs this weekend in the first two games of the conference final. The total score for both games was 11-3. Caps defensive prospect Mike Green now has at least one point in four consecutive games, something Caps Coach Glen Hanlon will be happy about after Green was sent back down to Hershey this season to work on his offense. Green is considered to be a d-man with offensive upside, rather then a stay at home guy. Here is a great video of Green displaying some of that upside.



A lot of credit for these wins also goes to goalie Freddie Cassivi, who spent approximately half of game two with the Bears on the penalty kill. Games three and four take place in Manchester this week.

Blog business

It looks like I will be hosting some visitors this weekend and will not be able to make it to Hershey on Saturday for the first game of the conference final. If anyone does attend and takes pictures they want to share, I will be glad to post them here. Go Hershey!

Bears playoff update

I made the trip to Hershey, PA on Friday night to watch the Caps' AHL affiliate Hershey Bears play. The Bears are the defending Calder Cup champs, and on Friday they cinched their spot in the conference final by defeating the Wilkes-Barre Penguins 7-6 in OT. (Click on the pictures for a bigger view)


The game winning goal was scored by Caps prospect Alexandre Giroux and Tomas Fleischmann finished the night with 5 points, tying a Hershey playoff record for most points in a single game. Scott Barney scored a hat trick, which caused the biggest concentration of John Deere hats I have ever seen to hit the ice.


The best part of the night was the fan in section 102 who lead the entire arena in a chant of "B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T" when the refs called a penalty on the Bears. Everyone joined in -- from the kid sitting in front of me who couldnt have been more then 6 years old, to the grandma four rows over. The Bears begin the conference final this Saturday at Hershey, you can get tickets here. Let me know if you are heading up, I plan on being there.

Hershey Time

I will be on the road for the rest of the week but I will be attending the Hershey Bears game in Hershey, PA tomorrow. The Bears are the defending Calder Cup champs and they are in round two of the AHL playoffs. A win tomorrow against the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (say that fast three times) will cinch the series for them, the Bears lead the series 3-1.

On display will be a handful of prospects and players that have spent time with both the Caps and the Bears this season. The list includes Mike Green, Jeff Schultz, Alexandre Giroux, Freddy Cassivi, Tomas Fleischmann, Jakub Klepis and Dave Steckel.

I have already forgotten my digital camera at my apartment but I will try to borrow someone else's camera to get some pics.