Not to be Outdone, Hershey Releases Their Own Canine Calendar
In recent days, news of the Capitals-with-Dogs calendar has made the rounds since its release at Friday’s game. What’s less well known is that the Hershey Bears annually put out their own dog calendar in partnership with UDS Service Dogs, and it’s got a distinct AHL flair (S/T to Rink Rebel for the reminder to clarify that Hershey’s been doing it for years longer than the Caps).
Below the jump, find a few select highlight images and a dash of color commentary.
Of the images selected for this post, this one was a no-brainer. It has a couple of selling points, really. The first is that it features that cliché of flip-flops on the ice that is found in hockey rinks everywhere. The other, and perhaps broader in appeal, is the stunning illustration of the height differential between the average pro hockey player (played here by Kyle Greentree, whom we hope to soon see in the lineup again soon) and our two scoring leaders (Keith Aucoin and Chris Bourque):
While this year’s Hershey calendar has a number of differences from the Caps version, the two most notable are the number of models used and the inclusion (or lack thereof) of player-owned dogs. The Capitals called on twelve of their players for their calendar, and only three of them borrowed companions from the Washington Animal Rescue League, their partner organization for the project.
The Bears, on the other hand, decided to include:
- Twenty-two players, including two currently playing with the Caps (Cody Eakin & Dmitry Orlov).
- Two coaches (Mark French & Troy Mann)
- Three members of the team’s support staff (Equipment Manager Justin Kullman, Broadcaster Scott Stuccio, and Trainer Dan “Beaker” Stuck).
- One very dog-friendly mascot (Coco the Bear)
In addition to the broad range of two-legged talent Hershey wrangled in front of the camera, there is the four-legged crew to consider as well. In direct contrast to the Capitals, all dogs pictured in the Hershey calendar are affiliated with UDS.
The calendars will available at Bears home games during the month of December at the UDS table. They can also be purchased online through the UDS Website. The cost is $10, and you get the bonus of a smattering of awkward Holtby-with-Dog images and a collection of out-takes scattered in and around the more classically posed photos. Whether that’s better or worse than Roman Hamrlik channeling his inner Eastern European Gangster (we all know what the Miniature Pinscher really means), well, your mileage may vary. Perhaps Michal Neuvirth and Graham Mink would better serve as determining factors
Whichever direction your interests might lie, both calendars are a good way to support different facets of the same great cause: improving quality of life through the care, training, and placement of dogs within our communities.