'Atmosphere is more pumped' as fans turn out to watch Hershey open up the AHL playoffs
HERSHEY – One of the most dedicated fan bases in central Pennsylvania had its own kind of holiday Wednesday night. It was the opening playoff game for the Hershey Bears in the Calder Cup Tournament.
But just like certain Christmases are a bit more special than others, there is something different about this year’s postseason. Everything is different when your team is the defending champion.
Of course, it helps when the Bears aren’t just defending a title but playing like they can win another one as well. Hershey began its pursuit of the 13th Calder Cup in Bears history with a 2-1 win over Lehigh Valley in Game 1 of the best-of-5 Atlantic Division semifinals.
Fans were showing their loyalty well before faceoff on Wednesday night. A couple hundred fans were lined up outside of Giant Center more than two hours before game time – over 30 minutes before the doors even opened.
Among those patiently waiting for Hershey’s title defense to begin were Shawn, 47, and Mikaela McCarty, 18, of Palmyra. They have been attending Bears games for the last five years.
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“I feel like the energy is better this year,” Mikaela said of following the Bears as they have defended their title.
That sentiment was shared by Ann Ober, 55, of Manheim, who has been coming to Bears games for over 10 years.
“I think there’s more pep,” Ober said. “The atmosphere is more pumped here.”
Those who work for the Bears feel it, too.
“The atmosphere and buzz at Giant Center hits a whole different level come playoff time,” said Zack Fisch, the Bears’ Senior Manager of Hockey Communications and Broadcasting. “Playoff games and championship caliber hockey is expected in Hershey, and with the history and tradition the team has, the fan base really rallies for these games that mean the most.”
It did not take long for the crowd of 8,038 to express their excitement on Wednesday, as Hendrix Lapierre brought the crowd to its feet with a goal just 3:29 into the game for a 1-0 lead. The mood settled a bit after that, with no goals or even penalties until midway through the second period. But Henrik Rybinski energized the crowd again with his first career playoff goal for a 2-0 lead with 2:43 left in the second.
Though the loudest cheers may have come for the goals, the player to receive the most applause overall was goalie Hunter Shepard, who stopped 30 of the 31 shots he faced. That included a glove save with 1:05 left and a pad stop with 50 seconds to go when the Phantoms pulled the goalie for an extra attacker, in search of the tying goal.
But while the Bears may have had more to cheer about in the last 12 months than usual, from last year’s Game 7 win over Coachella Valley in the 2023 championship series to a first-place regular season finish this spring, they have always had a loyal following. Hershey, as a minor-league market, may not compare to the major league towns in terms of size, but it appeals to the local demographic because of the smaller, tight-knit atmosphere.
“I think it’s actually a little bit more exciting,” Shawn McCarty said. “It’s more like a family. It’s closer to home. I also prefer college football over pro football.”
Still, success has bred a little extra passion this season.
“We've enjoyed our best attendance since the 2015-16 campaign, and you can feel the impact the Bears have in central PA more than ever,” Fisch said. “The crowds for games have been great and why the Bears had the best home record in the league this season, but it extends beyond that. We have more fans at practices than ever, you're stopped in the community by fans who recognize you, and everywhere you go someone has a Bears sticker on their car or is wearing Bears' gear.”
The Bears will host Game 2 on Saturday and will travel to Lehigh Valley next Wednesday for Game 3. Game 4, if necessary, will also be at Lehigh Valley on May 11, with Game 5 back at Giant Center on May 12.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Hershey Bears open up Calder Cup championship defense with playoff win
