Parker Milner (Caps Outsider)
In the grand opening to their 80th anniversary season, the Hershey Bears dropped a 7-2 decision to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The Phantoms scored four goals on 10 shots on goal in the third period.
Chandler Stephenson and John Albert scored the lone goals for the Bears. Parker Milner made 24 saves on 30 shots.
The Phantoms relied on returning players for their offense. Danick Martel put up a goal in each period for a hat trick. Nicolas Aube-Kubel had a goal and an assist. T.J. Brennan factored in with three assists. Mike Vecchione had one assist and a +5 rating on the night along his linemates Martel and Aube-Kubel.
Alex Lyon stopped 29 shots, including all 15 he faced in the third period.
Tyler Lewington and Martel dropped gloves for the first fight of the regular season. After a few cross-checks, Lewingto tied up Martel’s arms to get the first few punches. As they went to the ice, both combatants flopped around for positioning before the linesmen stepped in.
Lewington had eight fights last season, topping the team list.
Phoenix Copley (lower body) and Vitek Vanecek (lower body), last season’s goalie tandem after the trade deadline, were not on the roster for the first game due to injuries
NEXT WEEK
Hershey has to wait a whole week until they welcome the Bellville Senators to GIANT Center for the first home matchup of the season. The next night, they will welcome the Phantoms.
Hershey is 23-11-3-3 all-time against the Senators AHL franchise, formerly located in Binghamton, N.Y. At home, the Bears play the Sens to a 12-5-2-1 clip.
