Clash of Titans: Bears Face Off Against Americans at 5 p.m. Showdown!

January 19, 2025

The Hershey Bears aim to elevate the team’s winning streak to four games this evening as they host the Rochester Americans in a clash between the AHL’s longest-standing rivals, and the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. 

Hershey Bears (24-11-3-0) vs. Rochester Americans (23-10-3-1)
Jan. 19, 2025 | 5 p.m. | GIANT Center
Referees: Rob Hennessey (87), John Lindner (92) 
Linespersons: Patrick Dapuzzo (57), Tommy George (61)

Promotions for Tonight:

Throwback Jersey Auction – Players will be showcasing Throwback themed jerseys that will be up for auction after the game.

Toyota Poster Night – Every fan will receive a poster, courtesy of Toyota.

PURCHASE TICKETS NOW VIA TICKETMASTER

Broadcast Details 
Voice of the Bears, Zack Fisch, former Bears captain Garrett Mitchell, and FOX43 Sports Director Todd Sadowski on the commentary
TELEVISION: Antenna TV (WPMT FOX 43.2, Xfinity Ch. 247 and 1178, Verizon FiOS Ch. 463, Blue Ridge Ephrata Ch. 91, and Blue Ridge Newberry/Duncannon Ch. 88)
RADIO: WFVY-100.1 FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM, SportsRadio 98.9-FM & WOYK 1350-AM (in progress), Capitals Radio, In-arena on 88.9 FM
WATCH LIVE: AHLTV on FloHockey
LISTEN LIVE: Fox Sports AM-1460 Stream, Caps Radio 24/7
Radio pre-game coverage begins at 4:30 p.m.; TV coverage kicks off at 5 p.m.

LAST GAME RECAP:
The Bears began the weekend with a 4-1 triumph over the Belleville Senators on Friday evening at GIANT Center. Hershey outshot the Senators 9-1 during the opening period and led 1-0 due to an Alex Limoges goal on the power play. In the second period, Hershey received goals from Mike Vecchione and Luke Philp, and Aaron Ness completed the scoring in the third to lead the Bears to their win. Hershey outshot Belleville 35-15 to secure a third consecutive victory. Rochester played last night at Lehigh Valley, achieving a 3-2 win. After losing to the Phantoms in a shootout by the same score on Friday in Rochester, the Amerks evened the series in the second leg of their home-and-home matchup, with Isak Rosen netting two goals in last night’s victory, including the decisive goal at 16:53 of the third period. 

THROWING BACK WITH THE AMERKS:
As Hershey dons throwback themed jerseys this evening, it is apt that they face off against the Americans, as the AHL’s longest-standing rivalry is showcased tonight. This game marks the 468th encounter in the regular season between Hershey and Rochester, the most against any single opponent in Bears’ history. The Bears hold an all-time record of 220-189-53-3-2 against the Americans. Hershey triumphed over the Amerks in their last encounter on Nov. 22 with a thrilling 4-3 overtime win at Blue Cross Arena. In the regular season, Hershey has emerged victorious in their last three meetings against Rochester and secured points in five consecutive face-offs (4-0-0-1). The last time the Americans visited the GIANT Center was on Feb. 24, 2024, where the Bears claimed a 2-1 overtime victory thanks to Alex Limoges’ deciding goal just 1:20 into the extra frame. This evening’s match is Rochester’s only visit to Hershey for this season.

MIKE’S IMPACT:
Hershey alternate captain Mike Vecchione has been on a scoring tear, netting goals in two consecutive matches, including one on Friday after achieving his first hat trick as a Bear last Saturday in Charlotte. Before that remarkable game, Vecchione had been struggling with only one assist over his preceding 10 games. In their last match against Rochester on Nov. 22, Vecchione had a standout performance, scoring the equalizer with just nine seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime, followed by clinching the win at 3:38 of the 3-on-3 overtime. Throughout his AHL career, Vecchione has secured seven points (4g, 3a) in 10 games against the Amerks. The Bears are undefeated this season (6-0-0-0) when Vecchione scores a goal and 15-1-1-0 when he records at least a point. 

CHALLENGING MATCHUPS AHEAD:
The Amerks come into tonight’s contest with 50 points, just one point behind Hershey for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, with one game in hand. Only the Texas Stars (9-1-0-0) have been performing better than the Americans (8-1-0-1) over the last 10 contests. Hershey’s upcoming schedule remains tough as they head north for their next outing on Wednesday to face the Laval Rocket. Laval is positioned third in the Eastern Conference with 49 points, just two behind Hershey’s 51 points. The Rocket have the day off today and will not play again until Wednesday’s showdown against Hershey, meaning they will have two games in hand on the Bears prior to that matchup. 

WELLAR’S KILLERS:
Hershey’s penalty kill was perfect, going 2-for-2 last Friday, positioning the Bears fifth in the league on the penalty kill at an impressive 86.2%. Hershey has accomplished perfect penalty kills in 10 of the last 12 games, boasting an outstanding 39-for-41 (95.1%) in that stretch. Rochester ranks 16th in the league on the power play at 16.6%, but they are fresh off a 3-for-7 showing last night against Lehigh Valley, with Amerks forward Brett Murray topping the league with nine goals while on the power play. 

BEARS BITS
The Washington Capitals assigned goaltender Hunter Shepard to the Bears yesterday, and in a corresponding move, goaltender Garin Bjorklund was reassigned to South Carolina (ECHL)…The Bears have a record of 6-2-1-0 versus the North Division this season…Hershey has found success on the power play in the last two games, and overall this season, the Bears are 13-3-3-0 when scoring a power-play goal…Mike Sgarbossa’s assist during Friday’s win marked the 300th of his AHL career…With two points (1g, 1a) on Friday, Alex Limoges has now reached a point streak of six games (3g, 4a)…Defender Ethan Bear has recorded points in five consecutive games (7a), while fellow blueliner Aaron Ness is looking to extend his point streak to four games today (2g, 1a)…Hershey defender Chase Priskie skated for the Americans during the previous 2022-23 season, while forward Dalton Smith competed for Rochester over four seasons from 2017-21, accumulating 321 penalty minutes…Former Bears forward Vaclav Prospal returns for his second season as an assistant coach for Rochester, having played for the Bears from 1993-96.

ON THIS DATE:
Jan. 19, 1991 – Rookie forward Craig Fisher scored three goals, including the game-winner, in a 4-3 win against the Capital District Islanders at Hersheypark Arena. Fisher went on to lead the Bears in goals that season, finishing with 41, a record that still stands for Hershey rookies. That season was Fisher’s only one with Hershey, after which he finished his playing career skating for two seasons with Rochester from 1998-2000.