2013–14 Hershey Bears season

2013–14 Hershey Bears
Division	4th East Division
Conference	9th Eastern Conference
2013–14 record	39–27–5–5 (88 pts)
Home record	24–10–1–3
Road record	15–17–4–2
Goals for	221
Goals against	213
Team information
General manager	Doug Yingst
Coach	Mike Haviland
Assistant coach	Ryan Mougenel
Captain	Dane Byers
Alternate captains	Garrett Mitchell Jeff Taffe
Arena	Giant Center
Team leaders
Goals	Jeff Taffe (21)
Assists	Kris Newbury (31)
Points	Kris Newbury (49)
Penalty minutes	Dane Byers (211)
Plus/minus	(+) Cameron Schilling Michael Latta (+14) (−) Jeff Taffe (−20)
Wins	David Leggio (23)
Goals against average	Riley Gill (1.66)

The 2013–14 Hershey Bears season is the franchise's 76th season in the American Hockey League, which began on October 5, 2013. It marked the first season with Mike Haviland as head coach, having replaced Mark French. Efforts were made to establish a more aggressive, better-balanced team, and 40 percent of the roster were new players once the season began.

Off-season

Follow Hershey's first-round elimination from the 2013 Calder Cup playoffs, it was announced Mark French would not be retained as the Bears head coach, a position he had held four years. He subsequently became head coach of KHL Medveščak Zagreb for the Kontinental Hockey League. Several people were identified as possible candidates to succeed French, including Troy Mann, Paul Jerrard, Mike Stothers, Eric Veilleux and Larry Courville. After a search, it was announced on June 18 that Mike Haviland had been chosen for the position. Bears President Doug Yingst said Haviland was chosen because it was believed he could improve Hershey's home record and create a more aggressive, better-balanced, "in your face" team. Haviland had applied for the Washington Capitals head coach position the year prior, but Adam Oates was selected instead. Troy Mann also departed from his position as Hershey's assistant coach for a job as head coach of ECHL's Bakersfield Condors. He had re-interviewed for his position with the Bears and felt it went well, but said he faced a deadline to accept the Bakersfield job and could not turn it down. Ryan Mougenel was signed as Mann's replacement on July 5. He had previously worked with Haviland, when Mougenel was alternate captain on and Haviland was head coach of the ECHL's Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2002–03, the year the team won the Kelly Cup.

Several players departed from the Hershey roster during the off season. After 365 games with Hershey and playing as captain since 2001, Boyd Kane left to join French with the Medveščak Zagreb. Dane Byers was named the new captain, with Garrett Mitchell and Jeff Taffe as alternate captains. Barry Almeida, Alex Berry, Mike Carman, Jon Kalinski, Jon DiSalvatore, Danick Paquette, Matt Pope, Ryan Potulny, Dany Sabourin and Mattias Sjögren also left the team, as did Patrick McNeill, who was limited to 47 games in the 2012–13 season due to veteran roster limits. Joey Crabb, who had come to Hershey mid-season from the Washington Capitals after clearing waivers, signed with the Florida Panthers. Byers, Joel Rechlicz, Ryan Stoa, T.J. Syner and Patrick Wellar were all re-signed for the 2013–14 season, and Nicolas Deschamps and Peter LeBlanc received qualifying offers from the Washington Capitals. It was announced June 14 that Taffe re-signed with the Bears. The Swedish Hockey League had announced one month earlier that Taffe had signed a contract with them, but Taffe said that announcement had been premature, and he wanted to keep his family in North America. Hershey signed several new players for the 2013–14 season, including defensemen Nate Schmidt, David Kolomatis and Tyson Strachan; goaltender David Leggio; and forwards Josh Brittain, Michal Čajkovský, Dustin Gazley, Tyler Ruegsegger, Brandon Segal, Matt Watkins, Derek Whitmore, and Jamie Johnson, a former linemate of Taffe's with the Rochester Americans. The Bears also signed forward Nathan Walker, making him the first Australian to play for the American Hockey League. Several Hershey players were released the ECHL's Reading Royals after training camp, including Syner, Brandon Anderson, Mike Banwell, Brett Flemming, Dustin Gazley, Riley Gill, Ryan Kavanagh, David Marshall and Domenic Monardo.

By the end of the off-season, 40 percent of Hershey's new roster were new players. The Bears training camp was held from September 23 to 26 at Hersheypark Arena, followed by a three-game exhibition season that began with a 6–0 shutout victory over the Utica Comets on September 27. Leggio made 25 saves, and Hershey had six successful penalty kills against Utica. Brittain suffered a left arm injury in the game, which could keep him sidelined for the first month of the regular season. The Bears also defeated Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 6–1 on September 28; Marshall had two goals and two assists, as well as one fight, which gave him a Gordie Howe hat trick. Hershey lost their September 29 preseason finale 2–1, also against the Penguins, with Stoa scoring Hershey's only goal. Hershey went 3-for-16 in the power play in the three exhibition games.

2013–14 Preseason Game Log: 2–1–0–0 (Home: 2–0–0–0; Road: 0–1–0–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record 1 September 27 Utica 0–6 Hershey Leggio 1–0–0–0 2 September 28 WB/Scranton 1–6 Hershey Grubauer 2–0–0–0 3 September 29 Hershey 1–2 WB/Scranton Gill 2–1–0–0

Regular season

October

Hershey lost their first three games of the season for the first time since 2007–08. They lost their October 5 season opener to the Adirondack Phantoms 4–3 after allowing two goals against on rebounds in the first four minutes. Hershey scored three unanswered goals in the second period, but ultimately lost in overtime. The Capitals recalled Nate Schmidt on October 11 to fill in for an injured John Erskine, and sent down to Hershey rookie defenseman Connor Carrick, who starting three games with Washington. The Bears lost 3–1 to the Penguins the next day, allowing two goals against in the final three minutes of the game. Hershey then split a pair of away games against the St. John's IceCaps, losing the first on October 18 by 5–1. Taffe scored the team's sole goal, breaking a 0-for-14 power play streak.

The Bears secured their first win of the season the next day, with Grubauer stopping all 30 shots in a 4–0 shutout. Dmitry Orlov scored a goal and three assists, his first game with more than two points since November 19, 2011. Hershey lost their second straight home game on October 26 with a 4–3 defeat against the Hartford Wolf Pack, surrendering two leads and failing to score on two five-on-three power play goals, including one that lasted 2:56. Hershey recorded their first home victory on the next day with a 4–2 win over Norfolk, with David Leggio making 17 saves in his first victory for the Bears. They outshot the Admirals 38–19, marking the first time Hershey outshot an opponent all season. Nathan Walker scored his first professional goal, making him the first Australian-born player to score in the AHL. The Bears lost their two leading scorers on October 30, as Orlov and Michael Latta were recalled to the Washington Capitals.

November

Hershey lost their next three games, starting with a home-and-home series against the Penguins on November 1 and 2, dropping the first after winger Matt Watkins missed a penalty shot in overtime, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scored with 25 seconds left in the extra period. The Bears lost the second game despite Leggio making 38 saves and Hershey scoring twice in their first three shots, just two minutes apart. In their 4–3 loss against Norfolk on November 3, the Bears scored three goals in three minutes during regulation, but failed to connect on the shootout. Orlov, having just returned from Washington, scored a goal and assist, leaving him tied for eighth in the league for defensemen with eight points, and first for shooting at 40 percent. He was sent back to the Capitals after one day back with Hershey. The Bears were successful in all 10 penalty kills over their past two games, bringing it to sixth-best in the league at 85.7 percent, although their power play was ranked 27th of 30 at 12 percent. Having won only one of five home games so far, Mike Haviland believed the team needed to stop feeling so comfortable on home ice.

Schedule and results

2013–14 Game Log – Regular season
October: 2–3–1–0 (Home: 1–1–1–0 ; Road: 1–2–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 1 October 5 Adirondack 4–3 Hershey OT Grubauer 8,753 0–0–1–0 1 Gamesheet 2 October 12 Hershey 1–3 WB/Scranton Leggio 7,156 0–1–1–0 1 Gamesheet 3 October 18 Hershey 1–5 St. John's Leggio 6,287 0–2–1–0 1 Gamesheet 4 October 19 Hershey 4–0 St. John's Grubauer 6,287 1–2–1–0 3 Gamesheet 5 October 26 Hartford 4–3 Hershey Grubauer 8,001 1–3–1–0 3 Gamesheet 6 October 27 Norfolk 2–4 Hershey Leggio 10,125 2–3–1–0 5 Gamesheet
November: 5–4–1–2 (Home: 3–3–0–2 ; Road: 2–1–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 7 November 1 Hershey 2–3 WB/Scranton OT Grubauer 5,019 2–3–2–0 6 Gamesheet 8 November 2 WB/Scranton 4–2 Hershey Leggio 8,563 2–4–2–0 6 Gamesheet 9 November 3 Norfolk 4–3 Hershey SO Leggio 10,760 2–4–2–1 7 Gamesheet 10 November 9 Bridgeport 2–3 Hershey SO Grubauer 8,408 3–4–2–1 9 Gamesheet 11 November 10 Binghamton 5–4 Hershey SO Grubauer 8,218 3–4–2–2 10 Gamesheet 12 November 13 Hershey 5–3 Charlotte Leggio 3,878 4–4–2–2 12 Gamesheet 13 November 14 Hershey 8–1 Charlotte Grubauer 5,451 5–4–2–2 14 Gamesheet 14 November 16 Hershey 1–3 WB/Scranton Leggio 6,008 5–5–2–2 14 Gamesheet 15 November 23 Binghamton 2–5 Hershey Grubauer 10,100 6–5–2–2 16 Gamesheet 16 November 24 Binghamton 5–1 Hershey Grubauer 7,248 6–6–2–2 16 Gamesheet 17 November 27 St. John's 4–2 Hershey Leggio 8,618 6–7–2–2 16 Gamesheet 18 November 30 WB/Scranton 2–3 Hershey OT Leggio 10,081 7–7–2–2 18 Gamesheet
December: 6–5–0–1 (Home: 4–2–0–1 ; Road: 2–3–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 19 December 1 Providence 3–2 Hershey SO Leggio 9,601 7–7–2–3 19 Gamesheet 20 December 6 Hershey 4–2 Binghamton Leggio 2,727 8–7–2–3 21 Gamesheet 21 December 7 Hershey 2–4 Bridgeport Leggio 3,680 8–8–2–3 21 Gamesheet 22 December 11 Hershey 4–3 Binghamton SO Leggio 3,079 9–8–2–3 23 Gamesheet 23 December 13 Hershey 3–5 WB/Scranton Leggio 5,947 9–9–2–3 23 Gamesheet 24 December 14 Binghamton 4–7 Hershey Neuvirth 9,045 10–9–2–3 25 Gamesheet 25 December 18 Syracuse 3–4 Hershey SO Leggio 10,801 11–9–2–3 27 Gamesheet 26 December 21 Worcester 3–2 Hershey Leggio 8,744 11–10–2–3 27 Gamesheet 27 December 22 Worcester 0–4 Hershey Leggio 8,986 12–10–2–3 29 Gamesheet 28 December 26 Hershey 1–4 Binghamton Leggio 3,808 12–11–2–3 29 Gamesheet 29 December 27 Syracuse 3–2 Hershey Leggio 9,278 12–12–2–3 29 Gamesheet 30 December 28 WB/Scranton 1–2 Hershey SO Leggio 10,708 13–12–2–3 31 Gamesheet
January: 10–2–1–0 (Home: 7–0–0–0 ; Road: 3–2–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 31 January 3 Hershey 0–1 Adirondack OT Gill 2,576 13–12–3–3 32 Gamesheet 32 January 4 Rochester 1–5 Hershey Leggio 9,457 14–12–3–3 34 Gamesheet 33 January 5 Manchester 3–6 Hershey Leggio 8,686 15–12–3–3 36 Gamesheet 34 January 10 Hershey 2–4 Binghamton Leggio 3,023 15–13–3–3 36 Gamesheet 35 January 11 Springfield 3–5 Hershey Leggio 9,555 16–13–3–3 38 Gamesheet 36 January 12 Hershey 4–1 Albany Gill 2,734 17–13–3–3 40 Gamesheet 37 January 17 Hershey 2–3 Syracuse Leggio 5,302 17–14–3–3 40 Gamesheet 38 January 18 Bridgeport 3–5 Hershey Gill 10,469 18–14–3–3 42 Gamesheet 39 January 19 Albany 3–4 Hershey SO Leggio 9,719 19–14–3–3 44 Gamesheet 40 January 24 Hershey 4–1 Syracuse Grubauer 5,568 20–14–3–3 46 Gamesheet 41 January 25 Syracuse 2–3 Hershey Leggio 9,880 21–14–3–3 48 Gamesheet 42 January 26 WB/Scranton 0–2 Hershey Grubauer 9,485 22–14–3–3 50 Gamesheet 43 January 31 Hershey 5–3 Adirondack Leggio 4,929 23–14–3–3 52 Gamesheet
February: 6–5–0–1 (Home: 4–1–0–0 ; Road: 2–4–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 44 February 1 Hershey 1–4 Adirondack Grubauer 16,173 23–15–3–3 52 Gamesheet 45 February 2 Norfolk 1–3 Hershey Grubauer 9,186 24–15–3–3 54 Gamesheet 46 February 7 Hershey 1–4 Rochester Leggio 7,149 24–16–3–3 54 Gamesheet 47 February 8 Portland 1–2 Hershey Grubauer 9,596 25–16–3–3 56 Gamesheet 48 February 9 WB/Scranton 3–4 Hershey OT Grubauer 9,827 26–16–3–3 58 Gamesheet 49 February 14 Hershey 3–2 Albany SO Grubauer 2,931 27–16–3–3 60 Gamesheet 50 February 15 WB/Scranton 4–5 Hershey Grubauer 10,890 28–16–3–3 62 Gamesheet 51 February 16 Hershey 3–1 WB/Scranton Leggio 5,896 29–16–3–3 64 Gamesheet 52 February 22 Syracuse 5–0 Hershey Grubauer 10,373 29–17–3–3 64 Gamesheet 53 February 23 Hershey 2–5 Syracuse Grubauer 15,763 29–18–3–3 64 Gamesheet 54 February 25 Hershey 5–6 WB/Scranton Leggio 4,391 29–19–3–3 64 Gamesheet 55 February 28 Hershey 1–2 Hartford SO Leggio 4,172 29–19–3–4 65 Gamesheet
March: 5–6–1–0 (Home: 3–3–0–0 ; Road: 2–3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 56 March 1 Charlotte 4–1 Hershey Grubauer 9,784 29–20–3–4 65 Gamesheet 57 March 2 Charlotte 6–3 Hershey Leggio 9,942 29–21–3–4 65 Gamesheet 58 March 7 Hershey 3–2 Norfolk Leggio 4,690 30–21–3–4 67 Gamesheet 59 March 8 Hershey 1–3 Norfolk Leggio 8,386 30–22–3–4 67 Gamesheet 60 March 14 Hershey 2–3 Syracuse OT Grubauer 4,871 30–22–4–4 68 Gamesheet 61 March 15 Adirondack 1–4 Hershey Leggio 10,995 31–22–4–4 70 Gamesheet 62 March 16 Norfolk 3–2 Hershey Grubauer 10,753 31–23–4–4 70 Gamesheet 63 March 21 Hershey 2–0 Providence Leggio 9,283 32–23–4–4 72 Gamesheet 64 March 22 Hershey 2–4 Worcester Leggio 4,820 32–24–4–4 72 Gamesheet 65 March 23 Hershey 1–2 Manchester Grubauer 8,902 32–25–4–4 72 Gamesheet 66 March 28 Albany 1–4 Hershey Leggio 10,149 33–25–4–4 74 Gamesheet 67 March 29 St. John's 1–2 Hershey SO Leggio 10,506 34–25–4–4 76 Gamesheet
April: 5–2–1–1 (Home: 2–0–0–0 ; Road: 3–2–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 68 April 4 Hershey 3–2 Portland Leggio 1,268 35–25–4–4 78 Gamesheet 69 April 5 Hershey 3–2 Worcester Grubauer 4,024 36–25–4–4 80 Gamesheet 70 April 6 Hershey 5–4 Bridgeport Leggio 5,854 37–25–4–4 82 Gamesheet 71 April 11 Hershey 4–5 Binghamton OT Leggio 3,246 37–25–5–4 83 Gamesheet 72 April 12 Hershey 3–4 Springfield SO Grubauer 5,848 37–25–5–5 84 Gamesheet 73 April 13 Binghamton 0–1 Hershey OT Grubauer 10,984 38–25–5–5 86 Gamesheet 74 April 16 Hershey 3–5 Norfolk Grubauer 4,525 38–26–5–5 86 Gamesheet 75 April 18 Hershey 1–3 Norfolk Grubauer 8,701 38–27–5–5 86 Gamesheet 76 April 19 Adirondack 1–2 Hershey Leggio 10,964 39–27–5–5 88 Gamesheet
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1-point)

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
Updated as of November 3, 2013

Regular Season

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
Dmitry Orlov	5	2	6	8	1	0
Jeff Taffe	9	3	2	5	−2	4
Dane Byers	9	3	1	4	4	42
Michael Latta‡	6	2	2	4	3	25
David Kolomatis	5	1	3	4	−1	4
Derek Whitmore	9	3	0	3	−2	4
Peter LeBlanc	9	2	1	3	1	6
Nathan Walker*	6	1	2	3	−1	7
Jamie Johnson	6	0	3	3	−1	6
Connor Carrick*	7	0	3	3	−2	6
Julien Brouillette	4	1	1	2	0	2
Ryan Stoa	4	1	1	2	−2	2
Chay Genoway	9	1	1	2	−4	0
Tyson Strachan	8	0	2	2	2	20
Matt Watkins	8	0	2	2	−2	4
Garrett Mitchell	9	0	2	2	−2	13
Nate Schmidt‡	1	1	0	1	1	0
Tomáš Kundrátek	5	1	0	1	−1	6
Casey Wellman	8	1	0	1	−1	0
Joel Rechlicz	5	0	1	1	1	19
Tyler Ruegsegger	8	0	1	1	−2	2
Cameron Schilling	9	0	1	1	−2	8
Patrick Wellar	1	0	0	0	0	0
T. J. Syner	2	0	0	0	−1	5
Brandon Segal	6	0	0	0	−3	2
Nicolas Deschamps	6	0	0	0	−4	6

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining team. Stats reflect time with the team only.
^‡Left the team mid-season
^*Rookie

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on Ice; W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SV = Saves; SA = Shots against; SV% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts; G = Goals; A = Assists; PIM = Penalty minutes
Updated as of November 3, 2013

Regular Season

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	GAA	SV	SA	SV%	SO	G	A	PIM
Philipp Grubauer	4	246:27	1	3	11	2.68	103	114	.904	0	0	0	2
David Leggio	5	303:01	1	4	17	3.37	139	156	.891	0	0	1	0
Totals		549:28	2	7	28	3.06	242	270	.896	0	0	1	2

^‡Left the team mid-season
^*Rookie

Milestones

Player	Milestone	Reached
Nathan Walker	1st AHL Game	October 5, 2013
Connor Carrick	1st AHL Game	October 12, 2013
Connor Carrick	1st AHL Assist	October 26, 2013
Nathan Walker	1st AHL Goal	October 27, 2013

External links

• Hershey Bears official site