Hershey Bears Defeat Coachella Valley, End Title Drought

13-Year Title Drought Ends with 3-2 Victory

The Hershey Bears defeated the Coachella Valley Firebirds 3-2 in Game 6 of the Calder Cup Finals on Wednesday, June 22, 2023, ending a 13-year title drought. The Bears' victory marks their first AHL championship since 2010 and their 11th overall.

Game 6 Recap

The Bears took an early lead in Game 6, with goals from Mike Vecchione and Liam O'Brien in the first period. Coachella Valley fought back in the second period, tying the game with goals from Ryan Sproul and Jesper Froden. The Bears regained the lead in the third period on a goal from Sam Anas, which proved to be the game-winner.

Hershey Bears Season Recap

The Bears finished the regular season with a record of 52-18-8, earning the top seed in the AHL Eastern Conference playoffs. They defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Springfield Thunderbirds, and Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the playoffs to reach the Calder Cup Finals.

Next Game

The Hershey Bears will play their next game on Wednesday, October 12, 2024, at 11:00 PM UTC against the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL.