According to Swedish sports media outlet Expressen, Hershey Bears forward Shane Gersich has an agreement in place to play for Allsvenskan Västerås in Sweden next season.
Rumour: Shane Gersich (F) | Hershey Bears -> Västerås IK | https://t.co/rFYxq2z1mf #HockeyAllsvenskan
— EP Transfers (@ep_transfers) June 22, 2023
In 2017-2018, Gersich appeared in three regular season games and two playoff games for the Washington Capitals. Since he participated in the playoffs, he’s got a Stanley Cup title on his record. That’s in addition to a Calder Cup as well as an NCAA title in 2016 with the University of North Dakota.
Glad we could help our old friend @shane_gersich9 jump start his truck today! Apparently he was gone for a little while playing for a giant cup or something. @Capitals #CongratulationsChamp #StanleyCup #BestCopsAround pic.twitter.com/0FkyylKuVO
— University of North Dakota Police (@UNDPoliceDept) June 18, 2018
Gersich was on an AHL-only deal for the 2022-23 season with the Bears and is currently an unrestricted free agent. He totaled 113 points in 277 career AHL games over five seasons.
Gersich was a solid contributor for the Bears over his first few seasons in Hershey, but was a frequent healthy scratch towards the end of this season and in the playoffs.
Västerås IK is currently playing in the second-tier league in Sweden, Hockeyallsvenskan.
Gersich joins fellow Bears teammate Henrik Borgstrom in the exodus to Sweden. It was reported back in May that Borgstrom will leave the AHL for HV-71 in the Swedish Hockey League next season.
By Jon Sorensen
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To be fair…. The fact that he was scratched so often is a testament to how deep this team is/was. He did score the series clincher in the Conference Finals after all.
He played in just 6 of the 20 postseason games. That’s what a healthy scratch is.
Gersich is a good player, skates well, works hard. But he turned out not to be a goal scorer (despite scoring a bunch in his last year of college) and isn’t a big puck retriever or space creator, so he had to compete for 3-4W playing time in an organization that has a very large number of 3-4Ws. I hope he enjoys playing in Sweden, then comes back and gets a real chance at playing in the NHL.
He played on a line with Tyson Jost and Brock Boeser the year he posted 21 goals for UND. That might have inflated his draft value/perception at the time.
He adapted his game in recent years and I thought he did a good job as a 4th line grinder.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Nardella returned to SHL. He had a great year with Djurgarden and seemed to enjoy his time in Sweden.
Hershey Bears players are a hot commodity at the moment!
Roger that. Worst part about winning a championship
Sad to lose Shane but as a potential 4th liner, we have so many that it will be hard to keep all of them. Shame that he could not have scored like he did at UND. The same with Henrik Borgstrom, maybe a 3rd liner but most likely a 4th and a surplus. Just a shame to lose them both. Must also remember that both players are 26/27 this summer and probably not in the future plans due to age and line play. With Fucale also gone it is very important that they make every attempt to resign Hunter, yes even at his age, he is a mature player and like last year if there is an injury you need a 3rd goalie who can step in. I wonder if the NHL has given any thought to changing the rule and allowing a team to carry 1 extra man, that is 24 instead of the current 23 but the extra man has to be a goalie.