Strawberry Fields
12x Calder Cup Champs
I mean, with Imama going to WBS and Sweezey to Providence, can't hurt to have a part time pugilist on the roster. I remember him from the Phantoms a couple years ago
Prospect Info: Hershey Bears/South Carolina Stingrays 2023-24 Seasons | Hershey 12x (and Defending) Champions Edition
- Thread starter AlexModvechkin8
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MFHOOD
Registered User
- Apr 29, 2024
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Never known Hershey for being a fighting team so I'm not a fan of this at all. We don't need to resort to the jackassery WBS or Lehigh Valley does to win.
Strawberry Fields
12x Calder Cup Champs
Bears have had their share of goons in my time watching over the years. Bonvie, Robitaille (more of a pest really), Doug Doull, Kip Brennan, Pete Vandermeer, Grant McNeill, Rechlicz, Kessy, Osipov, granted only Bonvie and Robo tended to take regular shifts. Then there's guys who put up big PIMs but could play too, Arsene, Amadio, Wellar, Oleksy, Pinizzotto, LOB, Newbury, Byers. It's never been the Bears' bread and butter but they usually have some sort of toughness on the team.
And in an era when the Phantoms were regularly dressing the likes of Gratton, Cote, Fedoruk, etc and WBS was regularly dressing the likes of Koci, Mike Sgroi, Vandenbussche, and Bonvie after he left Hershey, it was needed. Of course, the game has changed a lot since then. I don't have much of a use for pure goons in today's game either. Even Wrecker and Kessy I found pretty useless and wastes of a roster spot despite being loved by the fanbase at large. I doubt Saulnier will play much at all but he did put up about a half point a game in limited action with Belleville a couple years ago. Maybe we can get that out of him again?
I did want Hershey to add a little bit of sandpaper up front after getting pushed around by Cleveland. My hope was for guys who are also decent players but that kind of guy doesn't really grow on trees. Someone like John Hayden from Coachella Valley.
And in an era when the Phantoms were regularly dressing the likes of Gratton, Cote, Fedoruk, etc and WBS was regularly dressing the likes of Koci, Mike Sgroi, Vandenbussche, and Bonvie after he left Hershey, it was needed. Of course, the game has changed a lot since then. I don't have much of a use for pure goons in today's game either. Even Wrecker and Kessy I found pretty useless and wastes of a roster spot despite being loved by the fanbase at large. I doubt Saulnier will play much at all but he did put up about a half point a game in limited action with Belleville a couple years ago. Maybe we can get that out of him again?
I did want Hershey to add a little bit of sandpaper up front after getting pushed around by Cleveland. My hope was for guys who are also decent players but that kind of guy doesn't really grow on trees. Someone like John Hayden from Coachella Valley.
hb13xchamps
Registered User
The guys they added are bigger in nature. All 5’10” and above, which is a plus. They did get pushed around a lot in the Cleveland series. I was surprised that the CV series wasn’t more physical but Hershey played with more grit compared to the ECF.
Fans are clamoring for them to sign Strome but I think his time is up unless he wants to take a reduced role. There’s a lot of bodies at the forward position
Fans are clamoring for them to sign Strome but I think his time is up unless he wants to take a reduced role. There’s a lot of bodies at the forward position
Here is a report from Caps Player Development Cap, where todays 3x3 practice was open to the public
Leonard - looks ready for prime time
Parascak - does not but he’s young yet
Cristall - great hands!
Ilya Protas - a man among boys, surprisingly nimble
Hutson - sneaky shot, a gamer … small
Suzdalev - smooth skater, could be fun to watch
Kempf - made some nice saves, could be a good low round pick
Leonard - looks ready for prime time
Parascak - does not but he’s young yet
Cristall - great hands!
Ilya Protas - a man among boys, surprisingly nimble
Hutson - sneaky shot, a gamer … small
Suzdalev - smooth skater, could be fun to watch
Kempf - made some nice saves, could be a good low round pick
Ovechkins Wodka
Registered User
Rayquaza64
McMichael>McDavid
What rookies can we realistically expect to get playing time? Funk, Suzdalev, Thornton?
Also a slight bit disappointed our huntington replacement is a guy looking to bounce back from injury instead of a guy we’re confident will produce, but I’ll admit I don’t know much about him
Also a slight bit disappointed our huntington replacement is a guy looking to bounce back from injury instead of a guy we’re confident will produce, but I’ll admit I don’t know much about him
I don't know if any of those three will see a regular spot but injuries and call ups are bound to happen and could force the issue. Wouldn't be surprised to see Thornton eventually outplay Massie and get into the lineup on a regular basis due to his pace and offensive pop. Suzdalev I'm still worried about being ready for AHL hockey but it's probably now or never if he's going to play pro hockey in America. He'll see time when the inevitable Miro or Trineyev call up happens for injury in Washington. Hofer I thought played well in limited duty last year but he could end up seeing ECHL time this year because I think Funk beats him out for 13th forward.
Miro-Sgarbossa-Frank
Limo-Philp-Dube
Smallman-Roe-Vechs
Rybi-Sutter-Trineyev
Extra: Hofer, Funk, Suzdalev, Saulnier
Ness-McIlrath
HHA-Iorio
Massie-Priskie
Extra: Leivermann, Thornton, Osipov
Stevenson
Shepherd
Strawberry Fields
12x Calder Cup Champs
Special mention to Deryk Engelland, who I completely neglected in my fighter list. Jacques and Marc-Antoine Pouliot (I think) had been shitting on Hershey and the Bears to the local WBS media not unlike what Coachella's media did this year. I still remember this fight like it was yesterday and I think it was among the loudest moments I remember from Giant Center to that point. The place blew up. Honestly it's sort of a miracle footage of it exists on YouTube given how poorly documented minor league video is pre-2010 or so.
hb13xchamps
Registered User
JF Jacques was an asshole. He knocked Joey Tenute out of the playoffs that year with a dirty hit and wouldn’t answer for it in game so Engelland went after him the next game.
Strawberry Fields
12x Calder Cup Champs
Engelland was an underrated fighter. Went toe to toe with plenty of heavies in the NHL and usually fared really well. He had Colton Orr seeing stars once iirc. It was a real shame to see him leave for the Penguins org but he had a nice long career for someone who started in the ECHL.
That year was also the birth of my insane skepticism. The Bears completely steamrolled through the first three rounds and I thought a repeat was an inevitability. Then they couldn't solve Price or the Bulldogs defense to save their lives. It was a heavy slap in the face of reality to a 10 year old kid, lol.
Strawberry Fields
12x Calder Cup Champs
My one buddy at work and my supervisor bought season ticket packages for next season as a result of my influence (12 and 36 games respectively)... well, my supervisor was already a big hockey and Caps fan before he knew me... but it'll still be nice to have two more people to talk hockey and the Bears with.
Feels like last year when i thought we signed too many players and were going to force some developing players out of the lineup. Turns out it was all good and the right moves. Still, feels the same way this year. Haha.
I think they may try to have Rybinski play 3C and have Roe on wing.
At full roster there are just too many players. But one of Frank, Rybinski, or Trineyev could make the caps. There will be injuries so callups will happen to even things out but this feels like a very veteran heavy roster again.
hb13xchamps
Registered User
Really surprised to see LuJo and Phillips both unsigned as of today. Wonder what kind of options they are weighing?
The one I thought about was the new Major League Hockey 3v3 league that’s debuting in the fall. They are supposedly going to pay their players pretty well as each team has a $30 million salary cap.
The one I thought about was the new Major League Hockey 3v3 league that’s debuting in the fall. They are supposedly going to pay their players pretty well as each team has a $30 million salary cap.
hb13xchamps
Registered User
Major League Hockey | Inaugural Season 2025
MLH is confident that this postponement will result in an even more spectacular inaugural season and looks forward to sharing more exciting updates as October 2025 approaches.
www.majorleaguehockey.com
lol yep. Twitter rumors indicated it might be a Saudi backed league. Apparently they had some very strict NDAs revolved around any leaks about the league. No clue why they think this is a good idea
Calicaps
NFA
MFHOOD
Registered User
- Apr 29, 2024
- 313
- 389
First I've heard of this new 3-on-3 league, color me quite intrigued... not really sure what to even think of it yet but it is certainly interesting
Major League Hockey | Inaugural Season 2025
MLH is confident that this postponement will result in an even more spectacular inaugural season and looks forward to sharing more exciting updates as October 2025 approaches.
lol yep. Twitter rumors indicated it might be a Saudi backed league. Apparently they had some very strict NDAs revolved around any leaks about the league. No clue why they think this is a good idea
Nevermind
Ovechkins Wodka
Registered User
Do you think any of those 980 players know they got drafted to the three on three league
Pretty cool they’re going to have open tryouts in Toronto and Minnesota it actually seems like pretty good money for that level of hockey
Pretty cool they’re going to have open tryouts in Toronto and Minnesota it actually seems like pretty good money for that level of hockey
Ovechkins Wodka
Registered User
I don’t know how many college players or top juniors would leave their club teams to play in the three on three league unless they were allowed to do both leagues.
Watch some how Jagr is on a team lol
Watch some how Jagr is on a team lol
Phillips would have surprised me earlier this year but after he was a ghost during the Bears run I am significantly less surprised.
LuJo is probably trying to hold out for a one-way deal somewhere (that way even if he gets sent down at least he's making NHL money), but he may have to settle for a two-way deal with a high AHL salary.
hb13xchamps
Registered User
No idea. The only rumors I’ve heard/seen were that any players or coaches who asked about it were only fed information once they signed NDAs.
Some are even skeptical that it is going to even happen
Strawberry Fields
12x Calder Cup Champs
Strawberry Fields
12x Calder Cup Champs
