Capitals Recall Aaron Ness From Hershey, Send Travis Boyd To Hershey on Conditioning Stint; Bears Recall Parker Milner from South Carolina

Photo: NHL.com

The Washington Capitals recalled defenseman Aaron Ness from the AHL’s Hershey Bears while the Bears recalled goaltender Parker Milner from the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays, the teams announced on Wednesday evening.

The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman Aaron Ness from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) and have assigned Travis Boyd to Hershey on a long term injury conditioning assignment. #ALLCAPS https://t.co/Eex5WM8aW4

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 31, 2018

The Capitals also sent center Travis Boyd, 24, to Hershey for a conditioning stint after he missed the final two preseason games and the first 10 regular season games. Capitals head coach Todd Reirden told reporters on Wednesday morning that Boyd was likely going to play two games in Hershey this weekend before the Capitals call him back up.

Boyd, who signed a one-year contract in the offseason as a restricted free agent, recorded 15 goals, 47 points, and a -24 rating in 61 games with the Hershey Bears in last season. He led the team with 63 points in 2016-17 when he also had 16 goals. He has 53 goals, 168 points, and a -1 rating in 215 career games in Hershey. In eight games played with Washington last year, Boyd recorded an assist and a+ +2 rating and appeared in one playoff game.

Ness, 28, was re-signed by the Capitals on a one-year, two-way contract last season. So far this season, Ness has recorded four assists and a -1 rating in 11 games with Hershey. Last season, he tallied an assist and a +2 rating in eight games with the Capitals and four goals, 29 points, and a -6 rating in 55 games with Hershey.

Milner, who was recalled from the Stingrays following an injury to goaltender Vitek Vanecek, posted an .884 save percentage and a 3.85 GAA in five games with the Stingrays so far this season. He did not appear in a game for Hershey during his brief stint. Last season, Milner, 28, recorded a save percentage of .865 and a GAA of 3.81 in six games with Hershey and a save percentage of .929 and a GAA of 1.86 with South Carolina. Goaltender Vitek Vanecek has an upper-body injury and will not appear this weekend for the Bears.

NEWS: We’ve made a trio of roster moves. @Aaron_Ness has been recalled by the @Capitals. @milzy35 has been recalled to Hershey from @SCStingrays. @Tboyd93 has been assigned to Hershey on a long term injury conditioning assignment. #HBH #DefendTheDen https://t.co/9vRsDiR6X0 pic.twitter.com/HfhCmpsanJ

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) October 31, 2018

Capitals Release

The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman Aaron Ness from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) and have assigned Travis Boyd to Hershey on a long term injury conditioning assignment, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

Ness, 28, played in 11 games with Hershey this season and registered four assists. On Oct. 27 against Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, Ness, playing in his 459th career AHL game, recorded his 200th career AHL point (38g, 162a). 179 career games with Hershey, the 5’10”, 189-pound defenseman has recorded 77 points (15g, 62a).

In 18 career games with the Capitals, the Roseau, Minn., native has recorded three assists. Ness made his Capitals debut on Jan. 2, 2016 against the Columbus Blue Jackets and earned his first point as a Capital with an assist on Jan. 5, 2016 against the Boston Bruins. Ness was drafted by the New York Islanders in the second round, 40th overall, in the 2008 NHL Draft and has recorded six points (1g, 5a) in 47 career NHL games with the New York Islanders and Washington.

Boyd, 25, has played in seven career games for the Capitals after making his NHL debut against the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 4, 2017. Boyd recorded his first career point, an assist, against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 18.

Boyd recorded 47 points (15g, 32a) in 61 games with Hershey last season, which ranked second on the Bears. Additionally, the Hopkins, Minn. native’s 26 power play points (7g, 19a) led the Bears. In 215 games with the Bears, the 5’11”, 181-pound forward has recorded 165 points (53g, 112a).

Drafted with the Capitals’ sixth-round pick in the 2011 draft, Boyd played in four seasons for the University of Minnesota and recorded 96 points (32g, 64a) in 148 collegiate games. Boyd won the Big Ten championship in the 2014-15 season and was named to the Big Ten’s Second All-Star Team. Additionally, Boyd won a gold medal for Team USA in the U-18 World Junior Championship in 2011.

Bears Release

(Hershey, PA-October 31, 2018)–The Hershey Bears announced a trio of roster moves today. The Bears have recalled goaltender Parker Milner from the club’s ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays. Additionally, the Washington Capitals, the NHL affiliate of the Bears, announced today that the club has assigned forward Travis Boyd to Hershey on a long term injury conditioning assignment, and recalled defenseman Aaron Ness from the Bears.

Milner, 28, returns to the Bears for the second time this season. He has appeared in five games with the Stingrays this year, going 3-2-0 with a 3.85 goals against average. He was named the Warrior Hockey/ECHL Goaltender of the Year for his work in 2017-18, posting a 28-7-3 record with the Stingrays. His goals against average of 1.86 was the best in the ECHL, and the fourth best in league history.The two-time national champion at Boston College did not see any game action during his previous recall with Hershey.

Boyd, 25, has yet to appear in a game with the Capitals after suffering a lower body injury during the preseason. He spent the previous three seasons with the Bears, earning the the club’s PNC Most Valuable Player award in 2016-17 and 2017-18. Last year, Boyd finished second on the Bears with 47 points, scoring 15 goals and 32 assists. He also appeared in eight regular season games with the Capitals, posting one assist. He played in one playoff game with Washington, helping them to a Stanley Cup Championship.

The native of Hopkins, Minn. has played in 215 regular season games with Hershey in his career, scoring 165 points (53 goals, 112 assists). He had a sensational 2016-17 campaign, leading the Bears with a career-best 63 points (16 goals, 47 assists). He skated in the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic and landed on the AHL’s Second All-Star Team.

Ness, 28, has appeared in 11 games with Hershey this season, collecting four assists. The veteran defender posted his 200th career AHL point in Sunday’s victory over Lehigh Valley. The fourth-year Bear serves as an alternate captain with the club. The native of Roseau, Minn. opened the 2017-18 season with the Capitals, recording one assist in eight games. He has played in 18 games with the Capitals over the past three seasons, compiling three assists. Ness, a second-round selection of the Islanders in the 2008 NHL draft, has appeared in 47 NHL games, scoring six points (one goal, five assists).

The Bears next contest is in Rochester on Friday evening with a 7:05 p.m. puck drop. The game may be viewed on AHL.TV as Zack Fisch will have the call on the Bears Radio Network.

By Harrison Brown