Hershey Bears News

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BEARS ANNOUNCE RETURN OF RIGHT WING SCOTT BARNEY
07/31/2007 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2007

BEARS BRING BACK RIGHT WING SCOTT BARNEY FOR UPCOMING 2007-08 SEASON

PROLIFIC SCORER BACK IN HERSHEY LINEUP THIS SEASON AFTER 19 POINTS IN 19 POSTSEASON GAMES IN 2007 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS

HERSHEY – The HERSHEY BEARS announced today that right wing Scott Barney has been signed to a contract for the upcoming 2007-08 season. The announcement was made today by BEARS President/GM Doug Yingst.

Acquired in early March from the Grand Rapids Griffins, Barney scored six goals in 11 games after coming to Chocolatetown. He was one of HERSHEY’S most prolific scorers in the 2007 Calder Cup Playoffs, scoring 10 goals and assisting on nine others in 19 playoff games. A proven goal scorer, Barney scored 32 goals in just 53 games in 2005-06 with Chicago (AHL), and 20 goals in 44 games for Manchester (AHL) in 2003-04.


Last week the Bears also agreed to terms with Quintin Lang:

QUINTIN LAING RETURNS FOR 2007-08

HARD-NOSED WINGER BACK FOR SECOND SEASON IN CHOCOLATETOWN

HERSHEY – The HERSHEY BEARS announced today in conjunction with the American Hockey League the club has signed left wing Quintin Laing for the 2007-08 season.

Laing, who played the previous five seasons for Norfolk (AHL) prior to joining HERSHEY in 2006-07, scored a career high 15 goals last season and accumulated 43 points. The winner of the 2006-07 BEARS Unsung hero award, Laing added seven points in 19 games during the 2007 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Hershey Routes the Senators

Seven Straight Unanswered Goals by the Bears Leads to a Third Period Brawl Totaling 68 Penalty Minutes

Hershey Bears 7, Binghamton Senators 1

Boxscore

(Photos Courtesy of Michael Fernandez/Patriot-News)

Playing without their leading scorer in Alexandre Giroux, who was recalled by Washington, the Bears had no trouble denting the scoreboard tonight as six players combined to tally seven goals in route to the Bears blowout victory over Binghamton.

Making his home debut with Hershey Scott Barney lead the way with 2 goals and 2 assists on the night. While struggling to put up just 4 goals and 12 points in 40 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins this season, the Oshawa, Onterio native seemed to regain his offensive stride that saw him put up 32 goals in only 53 games for the Chicago Wolves last year.

Despite not allowing a shot during the first ten minutes of the game, the Bears ended up giving up the game’s first goal when Ryan Vesce scored his 12th goal of the season at the 11:44 mark. The power play goal would be the Senators’ only tally of the game and gave the them a brief 1-0 lead.

Hershey would answer back just two minutes later as goals by Joey Tenute and Scott Barney only 61 seconds apart would give the Bears the lead for good. They got contributions all throughout their lineup as 15 of the 17 players recorded at least a point on the night. Only defensemen Deryk Engelland and Donny Grover were get off the score sheet.

In the third period with the Senators trailing 5 to 1 their frustrations finally got the best of them as Louis Robitaille was jumped from behind leading to an all out brawl that even included both goalies going at it. Goaltender Jeff Glass left his crease and skated the entire length of the ice after Bears goaltender Maxime Daigneault, who defended himself well by catching Glass with a few solid punches that left him shaking his hand afterwards. For his trouble the Senators goalie received 29 penalty minutes alone for leaving the crease, instigating, fighting, a ten minute misconduct, and a game misconduct.

The win kept the Bears on pace with the division leading Norfolk Admirals, who won in a shootout and the third place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who won in overtime. They remain three points out of first place while still two points ahead of third.

Game Notes:

Troy Milam, Jamie Hunt, Eric Fehr, Pete Vandermeer, and Dean Arsene were the scratches…. Maxime Daigneault stopped 33 of 34 shots to improve his record to 17-4-0.

Wilson Wins Game in Comeback Fashion

Kyle Wilson’s Game Winner With 2:31 Left Completes Hershey’s 3rd Period Rally

Hershey Bears 3, Albany River Rats 2
Boxscore
(Photo Courtesy of Just Sports Photography)

The Bears scored first but needed two third period goals in order to prevail in Albany tonight before 3,004 fans at the Times Union Center.

Despite the River Rats controlling the action early on, including recording 9 of the games first 10 shots on goal, Joey Tenute was able to tally the game’s first goal at the 13:07 mark of the opening period. His shot from the right circle beat goaltender Tyler Weiman five-hole, thanks to a nice screen in front by newcomer Scott Barney. The 6′4″ 225 pound winger made a habit of causing traffic in front of the River Rats net on several occasions tonight, giving the Bears something to look forward to down the stretch run to the playoffs.

Albany scored the next two goals in the second period to take the lead following a Ryan Bayda point blank shot on the power play and a Tim Conboy wrister from the point. The Rats would take that advantage into the final period where they were looking for their second straight win over the Bears after snapping their 19 game losing streak earlier this month in Hershey.

It was not to be this time as Kip Brennan notched his second goal of the season just 3:12 in. With the game tied heading into the final minutes, Matt Hendricks was able to draw a key holding penalty on Kyle Cumiskey giving the Bears a power play. Kyle Wilson would capitalize on the man advantage. He received a pass from the point off the stick of Alexandre Giroux and roofed it over Weiman into the top right corner from directly in front of the net. Wilson’s 14th of the season would end up being the game winner as Mike Green would add an empty netter from his own blue line with just 6 seconds remaining to give the Bears the 4-2 victory.

The win improved Hershey’s record to 36-13-5-5, giving them 82 points and moving them within 1 point of the 1st place Norfolk Admirals who were idle tonight. The Bears find themselves on a role winning 4 of their last 5 heading in clear day tomorrow, where playoff rosters need to be set by 3:00 PM. They could still make a few moves before then as Frederic Cassivi will most likely be sent down, at least on paper, in order to be eligible for Hershey’s Calder Cup run.

Game Notes:

Jamie Hunt, Donny Grover, Pete Vandermeer, and Chad Wiseman were scratched…. In John Walton’s pre-game report head coach Bruce Boudreau said that the team can expect to name a captain soon after Nycholat will officially not be back following his trade to Ottawa…. Nolan Schaefer will not be back with the team after he was traded by San Jose to Pittsburgh at the NHL trade deadline…. Maxime Daigneault had 30 saves to improve his record to 16-4-0 on the year.

Hedlund and Barney In, Helbling and Johansson Out

Hershey Bears (35-13-5-5, 80 points)

at

Albany River Rats (26-25-2-2, 56 points)

Television: B2Networks

Radio: Bears Network (100.1 FM, 1490-AM, 960-AM)

Gametime: 7:00 PM ET

Hershey's roster will have some new faces when they travel to the Times Union Center in Albany to take on the River Rats Wednesday night. Gone are defenseman Timo Helbling, who was part of the Capitals' trade of Danius Zubrus to Buffalo, and Jonas Johansson, who was sent to the Grand Rapids Griffins on loan in exchange for Scott Barney (Pictured). The Bears will also acquired Andy Hedlund as part of the Capitals trade with the Ottawa Senators that involved former Hershey captain Lawrence Nycholat.
(Photo Courtesy of www.moosehockey.com)

Barney, a 6'4" 225 pound forward who will turn 28-years old next month, is a former 30-goal scorer in the AHL and has spent time in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings and the Atlanta Thrashers. In 40 games this season with the Griffins he has 4 goals and 8 assists to go along with 26 penalty minutes and a -1 defensive rating.

The 28-year old Hedlund has spent his entire season so far with the Binghamton Senators, where he played against the Bears as recently as this past Sunday's game at the Giant Center. In 56 games this season he has accumulated 6 goals and 21 assists to go along with 84 penalty minutes and a -6 defensive rating. The 6'2" 216 pound defenseman should provide Hershey with the veteran leadership they have lacked since losing Nycholat to the NHL in December.

Barney's career statistics from The Internet Hockey Database:

			Regular Season					Playoffs
Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1995-96	Peterborough Petes	OHL	60	22	24	46	52	24	6	8	14	38
1997-98	Peterborough Petes	OHL	62	44	32	76	60	4	1	0	1	6
1998-99	Peterborough Petes	OHL	44	41	26	67	80	5	4	1	5	4
2000-01	Did Not Play	Ind	Statistics Unavailable
2002-03	Manchester Monarchs	AHL	57	13	5	18	74	--	--	--	--	--
2003-04	Manchester Monarchs	AHL	44	20	14	34	28	6	2	3	5	8
2005-06	Chicago Wolves	AHL	53	32	19	51	54	--	--	--	--	--
2006-07	Grand Rapids Griffins*	AHL	40	4	8	12	26
2006-07	Hershey Bears	AHL	Stats Unavailable
	NHL Totals		27	5	6	11	4

Hedlund's career statistics from The Internet Hockey Database:

			Regular Season					Playoffs
Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1997-98	Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks	USHL	56	4	12	16	135	4	0	4	4	0
2000-01	Minnesota State U - Mankato	NCAA	38	6	6	12	64
2001-02	Trenton Titans	ECHL	2	0	0	0	0	6	0	0	0	6
2002-03	Binghamton Senators	AHL	59	1	7	8	48	10	0	0	0	0
2004-05	Binghamton Senators	AHL	75	2	13	15	103	6	0	2	2	25
2006-07	Binghamton Senators*	AHL	56	6	21	27	84
2006-07	Hershey Bears	AHL	Stats Unavailable