Da Bears ready for playoffs
The Hershey Bears finished season 31 with 35 wins and 97 points which was good for fourth in the Atlantic division. Similar to the Washington Capitals, the Bears play in the most competitive division as the top two Atlantic teams were the top two overall teams in the WAHL. The Bears endured and ended with a +23 goal differential (a slight bump from +18 at the midway point).
Scoring. Nick Ritchie led the team in scoring with 29 goals, 223 shots, and 62 points. Five more players – Rasmus Andersson (61 points), Alexander Volkov (55 points), Michael McLeod (44 points), Morgan Geekie (43 points), and Nick Suzuki (40 points in 49 games played) – racked up at least one point every two games. Andersson had the team lead in assists (47) and Volkov led in game winning goals (5).
Various Stats. Both Olivier Leblanc and Volkov (+14) were tied with the team lead in +/- rating and were among 12 players with a positive rating. Ritchie dished out the most hits (269) and was the most penalized player (161 PIM) on the teeam. Libor Hajek blocked the most shots (86) for a second straight year. Geekie had the best winning face-off percentage (59.49%) among players who have taken at least 350 draws.
League Leaders. Several Bears shined across the WAHL including Andersson who led all defencemen in scoring, Volkov who led all players in short-handed goals (4), and Hajek led the league in shots blocked. Ritchie ranked third in both hits and shots league-wide. The Bears were a respectably top five in Goals Against, Shots Against, and Faceoff %.
Transactions. Two more Bears, Danick Martel and Adin Hilll, were re-signed.
MVPs. The MVP (Offence) is Ritchie who scored prolifically despite spending extended time in the sin bin, and the MVP (Defence) is Andersson who played a 200 foot game contributing at both ends of the ice.
Scoring. Nick Ritchie led the team in scoring with 29 goals, 223 shots, and 62 points. Five more players – Rasmus Andersson (61 points), Alexander Volkov (55 points), Michael McLeod (44 points), Morgan Geekie (43 points), and Nick Suzuki (40 points in 49 games played) – racked up at least one point every two games. Andersson had the team lead in assists (47) and Volkov led in game winning goals (5).
Various Stats. Both Olivier Leblanc and Volkov (+14) were tied with the team lead in +/- rating and were among 12 players with a positive rating. Ritchie dished out the most hits (269) and was the most penalized player (161 PIM) on the teeam. Libor Hajek blocked the most shots (86) for a second straight year. Geekie had the best winning face-off percentage (59.49%) among players who have taken at least 350 draws.
League Leaders. Several Bears shined across the WAHL including Andersson who led all defencemen in scoring, Volkov who led all players in short-handed goals (4), and Hajek led the league in shots blocked. Ritchie ranked third in both hits and shots league-wide. The Bears were a respectably top five in Goals Against, Shots Against, and Faceoff %.
Transactions. Two more Bears, Danick Martel and Adin Hilll, were re-signed.
MVPs. The MVP (Offence) is Ritchie who scored prolifically despite spending extended time in the sin bin, and the MVP (Defence) is Andersson who played a 200 foot game contributing at both ends of the ice.
