Hershey Bears: Games to Gun For

Games to gun for will go over specific games and opponents fans might want to see. Criteria are based upon AHL rivalries, fun teams to watch in the AHL and regional rivalries between the local NHL teams. Consider it a guide for casual fans to know how to get the biggest bang for their buck.

Creative Commons: Teka England

The Hershey Bears are one of the most historical franchises in the AHL. Think of them as an original Six city of sorts when it comes to the AHL. There is a lot of history and a lot of Calder cups, 11 to be exact so they are an AHL team worth your attention, and their winning history and stylish, classy and classic logo have earned my attention. Of all the teams I'm most eager to learn about in the AHL, the Hershey Bears are at the top of my list. Since I'm starting to get out of my areas of knowledge, I'm going to do the best I can from here on out and these blogs might get updated further down the line. Or maybe next year when I get a year under my belt. 

That said, Hershey Bears have made my job easier with some nifty schedule breakdowns on their schedule page. Bonus points to them there.

Home opener:Saturday Oct. 24,

Opponent: Hartford Wolfpack

Hershey starts off with a loooong road trip and they don't open at home until about two weeks after many of their divisional opponents. By the time they play, it might not even feel like a home opener at all, but still, they're playing a divisional opponent and should be plenty ready for this match. If they are looking to start the season, why not start with some revenge against the team that knocked them out of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

Opponents:

1. Wilkes-Barton Scranton Penguins

I have typed those words so many times, and I'm not even sure if I'm spelling it right. Its a divisional, regional, affiliate rival whom also has an affiliate in the same state. Its a good storm where if you're a Hershey fan, or a Caps fan, they can earn your ire, or if you're a flyers fan in the area, same thing, or if you're a Penguins fan who lives in the area, this team is probably on your list. These teams face twelve times, so if volume=rivalry, they're also high on the list with twelve games, six at home.

2. Lehigh Valley Phantoms

See: Penguins. Much of that reasoning applies here, only you're more in Flyers home territory anyway, so you're more likely to want to see a home game. Like the Penguins, they face twelve times, six at home.

3. Springfield Falcons

This is more about AHL history if anything. They don't meet often, only twice at each location, but if you get the chance, it should be fun for the fact that Springfield is home to seven Calder Cups, second most out of all the active locations in the AHL. Granted, not all by the Falcons, but still, its a classic match up. 

4. Syracuse Crunch

They only meet six times (More than some divisional rivals) and they don't have as much at stake, but there is one important reason to go to this match up: fights. Syracuse loves to fight and has been at the top of the league, or around it for a few seasons now. Maybe it was because their mascot was a coked up, psychotic Sasquatch, and with a new mascot, that might change as they continue to shift away from that, but I hope they still continue to put up some fists. Sometimes, all you want to see is a trench war and this is probably the match up that will best exemplify that. 

5. Birminghamton Senators

This one is added by the volume alone. They face off four times at home, four times away. While they aren't divisional, they see each other as often as a divisional opponent. That makes sense because last year they were a divisional opponent... But that's the volatility of the AHL for you, rival one year, next year they're chopped liver, year after that they could be in the ECHL for all you know. I'm pretty sure there isn't any love lost between the two in any case.