Hershey Bears Win Final Regular Season Game + Player Awards + Fan Appreciation Night (Photos)

HERSHEY, PA — Well fans that’s a wrap on the 2018-19 regular season – now on to the fun part! The Hershey Bears closed out the season with a win against the Hartford Wolf Pack, a team the Chocolate and White swept 6-0 during the regular season. Some new guys checked into the lineup and helped out in a big way. The Bears’ three goals came from Chris McCarthy, Joey Leach, and Joe Snively. Ilya Samsonov returned to Hershey after a brief recall to Washington, and he stopped 23 of 24 shots.

Before the game, the Bears were recognized for some of their achievements throughout the year during the player awards, and what a season it has been for the Chocolate and White. At the end of 2018, the Bears were in last place in the entire AHL. Since then, Hershey has moved from 8th in the Atlantic Division to 3rd place, which of course came during the franchise record breaking 17-game point streak from Jan. 12-Feb. 23.

After the big win, the Bears took to the ice to give away their jerseys to some lucky fans for Fan Appreciation Night. It was a nice way to wrap up the season before the playoffs start, which officially kick off in Bridgeport this Friday!

For more on tonight’s matchup, check out our full-game recap, and keep scrolling for photos from the evening.

Steven Spinner gets the hot lap. This seems to be a regular event every game now.

Sammy’s back!

Hobbs repping the A today.

Beck gets an A too!

Bobby Nardella fresh from his season at Notre Dame.

Malenstyn gets awarded for being the Bears’ nominee for Man of the Year.

Barber gets Player of the Year.

Ryan Sproul wins Unsung Hero.

Geisser gets most improved.

Pilon gets the Rookie of the Year.

And Aaron Ness walked away with all the rest.

Killing it, Nessie.

The Junior Player of the Game joins Steve Whitney for the National Anthem.

Chris McCarthy gets the Bears on the board.

Joey Leach scores his first AHL goal.

The Bears win!

Players trickle onto the ice to give away sticks to the crowd.

So sad I only got half of Pilon waving in this one.

Now it’s time for a bunch of photos from the jersey of our backs giveaway.

Barber signing a photo for a young fan.

When you win a player’s jersey.

Barbs thanks Gersich for coming.

Ok, but is this an ad for that suit?

A young one gets Walker’s jersey.

See ya later regular season. It’s playoff time.

Ok. It’s an ad for real this time

Over the shoulder.

Pretty excited to get the O’Brien jersey.

It’s down to the final two players. Will Williams or Spinner be last?

Williams wins it.

Spinner has to wait until dead last to give his away.

It’s playoff time, fans. Let’s do this!