The Hershey Bears and Washington Capitals announced Friday afternoon that goaltender Clay Stevenson and defenseman Benton Maass will join the Hershey Bears for the remainder of the season.

Stevenson, 24, is a 6’-4” left-handed netminder from Drayton Valley, Alberta. The Capitals inked the undrafted free agent to a two-year entry-level deal for $855,000 average annual value on March 28, 2022.

Related: Clay Stevenson: 2023 Annual Review And Forecast

Stevenson spent a majority of the 2022-23 season with the South Carolina Stingrays in the ECHL, going 19-12-3-1 with a 2.54 GAA and a .916 save percentage in 36 appearances. In the postseason, Stevenson went 2-1-2 with a 2.11 GAA and a .926 save percentage. Stevenson also appeared in three games with the Hershey Bears, going 3-0-0 with a 1.96 GAA and a .924 save percentage.

Maass, a 6’2”, 195-lb, right-handed defenseman, was selected by the Capitals in the sixth round (#182 overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old, Elk River, Minnesota native spent four seasons playing for the University of New Hampshire and spent a fifth year of collegiate eligibility due to Covid playing for Minnesota State. He was signed to a one-year deal by the Hershey Bears on May 26, 2022.

Maass, 24, had one assist in two games with the Chocolate and White this year. In 55 games with South Carolina, he registered 11 points (4g, 7a), and also appeared in five Kelly Cup Playoff games.

FROM THE HERSHEY BEARS

The Hershey Bears announced today that defenseman Michael Kim and Benton Maass have been recalled from the club’s ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays. Additionally, the Washington Capitals have re-assigned goaltender Clay Stevenson from South Carolina to Hershey. 

Kim, 27, skated in two games with Hershey this season, striking for a pair of assists. He spent the majority of the season with South Carolina, leading all defenders in scoring with 40 points (9g, 31a) in 53 games. He also had one assist in six games during the Stingrays’ first-round playoff loss to Florida.

Maass, 24, had one assist in two games with the Chocolate and White this year. In 55 games with South Carolina, he registered 11 points (4g, 7a), and also appeared in five Kelly Cup Playoff games.

Stevenson, 24, went 3-0-0 for the Bears this season in his first AHL action, owning a 1.96 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. The rookie netminder played in 36 games with South Carolina, finishing with a 19-12-4 record, a 2.70 goals-against average, and .922 save percentage with two shutouts. He earned ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors for Nov. 29-Dec. 4. He was 2-3 in the playoffs for South Carolina over five games with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage.

The Bears advanced to the Atlantic Division Finals of the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs with a 6-2 victory over the Charlotte Checkers on Thursday night. They await the winner of the Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins Atlantic Division Semifinal.