The Hershey Bears opened their 2022-23 campaign with a 3-1 victory over the Utica Comets Saturday night at Giant Center in Hershey. Capitals prospects Hendrix Lapierre and Vincent Iorio made their American Hockey League (AHL) debuts in the victory.
LINEUP
Zach Fucale got the start in goal for the Bears. Akira Schmid got the start between the pipes for the Comets.
Mike Vecchione – Mike Sgarbossa – Garrett Pilon
Shane Gersich – Henrik Borgstrom – Sam Anas
Mason Morelli – Hendrix Lapierre – Ethan Frank
Beck Malenstyn – Riley Sutter – Kale Kessy
Lucas Johansen – Arron Ness
Bobby Nardella – Dylan McIlrath
Gabriel Carlsson – Vincent Iorio
Jake Massie, Julian Napravnik, Logan Day, Henrik Rybinski (injury) and Martin Has (injury) were the scratches.
FIRST PERIOD
The Bears opened the scoring with a power play goal from Henrik Borgstrom (1) at 8:42 of the first period. Hendrix Lapierre earned his first AHL point with the primary assist. Mason Morelli had the second assist.
Hendrix Lapierre gets his first AHL point on the PP2. Shot is blocked and cleaned up by Henrik Borgstrom. Bears lead 1-0. #ALLCAPS #HBH pic.twitter.com/cFaOvawLsC
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 15, 2022
The Bears made it 2-0 near the end of the first frame with a tally from Mike Vecchione (1) at 17:42 of the frame. Garrett Pilon (1) and Mike Sgarbossa (1) had the helpers.
Nice pass by Mike Sgarbossa to Garrett Pilon, who takes a rip, Mike Vecchione collects and redirects for the Bears second goal. They lead 2-0. #HBH pic.twitter.com/pZ1NPCz74T
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 15, 2022
The period concluded with the Bears leading 2-0. The Bears led in shots 10-6. Utica was 0 for 1 and the Bears 1 for 1 on the power play in the first period.
SECOND PERIOD
The Comets closed the gap to 2-1 with a power play goal from former Hershey Bears forward Brian Pinho (1) just 24 seconds into the middle frame. Nolan Stevens (1) and Reilly Walsh (1) had the assists.
Brian Pinho, scoring at Giant Center…For Utica. Bears lead 2-1 early in the middle frame, #HBH pic.twitter.com/tcg2QjUnnf
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 16, 2022
That would be all of the scoring in the middle frame. Utica led in shots, 7-2. Comets led 13-12 after two periods. Utica was 1 for 3 and the Bears 1 for 2 on the power play after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Bears and Comets skated to a scoreless draw for most of the final frame. Riley Sutter would add an empty net goal with 29 seconds left in the game for the 3-1 final.
Just adding this for base-lining purposes:
Hershey Bears PP units for Game 1:
PP1: Vecchione, Anas, Nardella, Sgarbossa, Pilon
PP2: Ness, Lapierre, Frank, Morelli, Borgstrom#ALLCAPS #HBH— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 16, 2022
The Bears are back in action on Sunday when they host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Giant Center. Puck drop is set for 3PM.
SHAVINGS
- AHL box score
- Attendance: 7,766
- Bears led in shots 23-20.
- Zach Fucale stopped 19 of 20.
- Sam Anas and Vincent Iorio led all Bears in shots with 3 each.
- Stars of the game: 1) Mike Vecchione, 2) Zach Fucale and 3) Henrik Borgstrom.
- Utica was 1 for 4 and Hershey 1 for 2 on the power play.
- This was Todd Nelson’s debut as head coach of the Bears.
By Jon Sorensen