Tuesday, June 17, 1997

Hershey Bears win Calder Cup

Bears' McHugh named Calder Cup MVP

The Hershey Bears claimed the 8th Calder Cup Championship in the 59 year history of the franchise Friday night, defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs 4-1 in Game 5 played at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton. The Bears defeated the Bulldogs in the best-of-seven series 4-1, winning their first Calder Cup since 1988.
Making their League record 18th appearance in the Calder Cup Finals, the Bears now rank second all-time with eight Calder Cups. The Cleveland Barons won an AHL record nine Calder Cups between 1939 and 1964.
The Bears became the first AHL development team of the Colorado Avalanche organization to win a Calder Cup.
Special teams were a key in the series. The Bears converted 11 of 34 power play opportunities in the series (32.4%), including a franchise record tying five power play goals in Game 2, while the Bulldogs were held to a 3 of 23 conversion rate with the man advantage (13.0%).

ROAD TO THE CALDER CUP

Conference Quarterfinals: defeated Kentucky 3-1
Conference Semifinals: defeated Philadelphia 4-3
Calder Cup Final: defeated Hamilton 4-1

BEARS MCHUGH EARNS BUTTERFIELD AWARD: Hershey Bears left wing Mike McHugh was named the recipient of the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Bears' captain led the team in plus-minus with a +9 rating and tied teammate Blair Atcheynum for the AHL lead with 4 game-winning and 2 overtime goals.
The 31 year old Bowdoin, MA native collected 5 points in the Calder Cup Final series, including a hat trick and game winning overtime goal in Game 2 of the Final. McHugh collected 9g-7a-16pts in 23 games in the 1997 Calder Cup Playoffs after finishing the regular season third in Bears scoring with 23g-45a-68pts in 77 games.
Past winners of the Butterfield Trophy include current Florida Panthers center Brian Skrudland (1985), Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Jeff Hackett (1990), Washington Capitals goaltender Olaf Kolzig (1994), Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Corey Schwab (co-winner, 1995), New Jersey Devils goaltender Mike Dunham (co-winner, 1995), and Buffalo Sabres winger Dixon Ward (1996).
CALDER CUP ATTENDANCE CAPS RECORD-BREAKING SEASON: The 1997 Calder Cup Playoffs entertained an AHL record 415,712 fans in 76 games, a record average of 5,470 per game and a 23.5% increase over last season's playoffs. The American Hockey League surpassed its previous total playoff attendance record on May 21, only five games into the Conference Finals.
Inclusive of an AHL record attendance of 3,802,829 during the regular season, the League surpassed the 4 million mark for the first time ever, totaling 4,218,541 fans.
The Calder Cup Final series drew 35,601 Bears and Bulldogs fans in five games, an average of 7,120 per game. In Game 5 at Hamilton's Copps Coliseum, 8,490 fans were present to see the Bears claim the Calder Cup.
The Bulldogs finished third in playoff attendance average with 6,906, trailing the Philadelphia Phantoms (11,522) and Kentucky Thoroughblades (6,962), and twice recording sellout crowds in excess of 8,900.
AHL CALDER CUP FINAL AVAILABLE TO 4.9 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS: Through a partnership with the American Hockey League, Hershey Bears, Hamilton Bulldogs, New England Sports Network, Fox Sports Pittsburgh, Empire Sports Network, Hamilton Ch. 14, and UPN-15, Games 3, 4, and 5 of the Calder Cup Final were available to over 4.9 million households. Viewers in Hamilton, Ontario, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, western and central New York, and western Maryland were able to catch AHL Calder Cup action from Copps Coliseum in Hamilton.
ATCHEYNUM CLAIMS SECOND CALDER CUP RING: Hershey Bears right wing Blair Atcheynum earned his second Calder Cup Championship with the Bears' victory. As a member of Springfield in 1990-91, Atcheynum won his first Championship as they defeated the Rochester Americans in six games. A veteran of 38 Calder Cup games, Atcheynum tied for 6th in AHL scoring during the 1997 Calder Cup Playoffs with 6g-11a-17pts in 13 games. For all other members of the Bears squad, it was their first Calder Cup victory.
BEARS DEFENSIVE TRIO CONTRIBUTE OFFENSIVELY: Hershey Bears' defensemen Pascal Trepanier, Richard Brennan, and Eric Messier combined to record 24.7% of the Bears point total, totaling 48 points (11g,37a). Trepanier finished third in team scoring with 6g-13a-19pts in 23 games and led all Calder Cup players with 110 shots on goal. Brennan was fourth in club scoring with 2g-16a-18pts in 23 games and was second in the League with 72 shots on goal. Messier, recently featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated during his Stanley Cup Playoff stint with the Colorado Avalanche, recorded 3g-8a-11pts in 9 games.
LABBE SETS CALDER CUP PLAYOFF RECORD: Hershey Bears goaltender Jean-Francois Labbe participated in 23 games and registered 1,364 minutes played, establishing Calder Cup Playoff records previously held by Stephane Beauregard of Moncton in 1994. Beauregard had played in 21 games totaling 1,304 minutes played.
AHL FANS WIN TRIP TO CALDER CUP FINALS: Robert Lynn of Hershey, winner of the AHL's "Only the Best Survive" Calder Cup Promotion, attended Game 4 of the Calder Cup Final between the Hershey Bears and Hamilton Bulldogs at Copps Coliseum, compliments of the American Hockey League. The AHL provided airfare, hotel accommodations, and tickets for Robert and his wife, Patricia.
Earlier this season, each AHL team awarded one fan tickets to all playoff games held in their respective arenas. The name of each winner was then entered into a sweepstakes to win a trip for two to the Calder Cup Finals, compliments of the AHL.