You'd probably have to go back to the fall of 1988 to come close to the level of excitement that surrounds the 2008-09 edition of the Hershey Bears Hockey Club. The BEARS completed a 12-0 run in '88 to hoist the team's seventh Calder Cup title, and a good many of the players that drank out of the chalice that season were returning to Chocolatetown that fall under head coach John Paddock and the flag of the Philadelphia Flyers. Don Biggs was coming back that year. So was Brian Dobbin. Throw in a rookie named Mark Freer, the return of Mark Lofthouse, Glen Seabrooke, Don Nachbaur, Dave Fenyves and more, there was no reason to think there wasn't more of the same coming in 1988-89. I can't imagine since then there has been a group of guys that has come together during training camp that has elicited more excitement than the preseason just concluded by the 2008-09 team. In no particular order, how about these amazing events since Hershey's first round exit in April against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton:
-The return of Alexandre Giroux for a full season after being the only Hershey player this century to score more than 40 goals in a single season (42 in 2006-07)
-The homecoming of Graham Mink, who meant so much to the 2006 Calder Cup team, and who has only gotten better in terms of offensive production the last two seasons in Worcester.
-The acquisition of front-line center Keith Aucoin, who could skate in a phone booth, posted 99 points two years ago in Albany, and spent half a season in the NHL last year with Carolina.
-The return of Chris Bourque and Kyle Wilson from last year's team. They combined to score 58 goals last season, and both are still up and coming prospects.
-The chance to see impressive rookies Jay Beagle and Andrew Gordon for their second seasons, after scoring 35 goals between them last season.
-The addition of two tremendous goaltending prospects in Simeon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth. Both will push 2007-08 breakout story Daren Machesney.
-Another year of Sami Lepisto (or Sami Assisto if you prefer) after notching 45 points last season, including 41 assists.
-The defense as a whole, with veteran newcomer Bryan Helmer teaming with Dean Arsene and Tyler Sloan to show the ropes to highly touted rookies Karl Alzner (first round pick, fifth overall in 2007), and Josh Godfrey (hit 102 on the radar gun last week and scored three goals Sunday.)
-Toughness in Greg Amadio, Grant McNeill and even Steve Pinizzotto, who dismantled Danny Richmond of the Penguins last Friday.
-A parent club in Washington, who if all goes well in the health department, can contend for a Stanley Cup this year.
It's nothing short of amazing what's transpired over the summer months. Great credit to both Washington VP/GM George McPhee and Hershey's longtime President/GM Doug Yingst for what has been assembled here. Some of it has come through the draft and the rebuilding that started at the end of the 2003-04 season in the District. Some of it has come through shrewd signings at this level. But no one can dispute that Washington is a contender to play into June, and the Hershey Bears are no different in the American Hockey League. Expectations are sky high going into Wednesday night's regular season opener in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. No team ever won a Calder Cup because of what its lineup card looked like. But this team certainly has the look of a throughbred that can go the distance. Will everyone stay healthy? Probably not. Will there be disappointments along the way? Most assuredly. Can this team overcome the adversity to come and make a serious run in the postseason? Only time will tell. But the foundation has been laid. It's now up to the men that wear the uniform of the AHL's most historic franchise to walk the walk. We all hope here in central PA and in Washington that that walk takes us well into June. Again.
Here is the official roster to begin the season for your 2008-09 Hershey Bears:
1-Daren Machesney-G
2-Patrick McNeill-D
4-Josh Godfrey-D
5-Tyler Sloan-D
6-Sean Collins-D
7-Karl Alzner-D
10-Andrew Gordon-RW
11-Keith Aucoin-C
12-Alexandre Giroux-LW
13-Steve Pinizzotto-RW
14-Jay Beagle-C
15-Michael Dubuc-LW
17-Chris Bourque-LW
18-Kyle Wilson-C
19-Darren Reid-RW
20-Bryan Helmer-D
21-Graham Mink-RW
22-Francois Bouchard-RW
23-Andrew Joudrey-C
24-Mathieu Perreault-C
25-Maxime Lacroix-LW
26-Quintin Laing-LW
27-Grant McNeill-D
29-Dean Arsene-D
30-Michal Neuvirth-G
31-Simeon Varlamov-G
32-Greg Amadio-D
36-Oskar Osala-LW
37-Sami Lepisto-D
Note that Helmer was named Captain today, and that Mink and Arsene will wear the "A" at home. Aucoin and Laing will wear the "A" on the road this season.
