The Hershey Bears will host the Hartford Wolf Pack on Nov. 4, 2026, at 7 p.m. at GIANT Center in the teams’ first meeting of the 2026-27 season. The American Hockey League matchup features Hershey at 6-4-0-0 and Hartford at 6-6-1-0, while the Washington Capitals have loaned defenseman Dylan McIlrath to the Bears.
Hershey Bears Prepare for Hartford Wolf Pack
Hershey enters the game after a 5-0 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Bears recorded 43 shots on goal, including 19 in the third period, but Penguins goaltender Taylor Gauthier stopped every shot in the shutout.
The Hartford Wolf Pack defeated the Springfield Thunderbirds 4-2 in their previous game. Glenn Gawdin scored twice, and Spencer Martin made 21 saves for Hartford.
The 2026-27 season series has been expanded to six games after Hershey and Hartford met four times last season. The Bears went 1-1-2-0 in those games and hold a 24-19-0-3-2 lifetime home record against the Wolf Pack.
Dylan McIlrath Returns to Hershey
The Washington Capitals loaned Dylan McIlrath to the Hershey Bears on Monday after he appeared in four games during the 2026-27 season with Hershey’s NHL affiliate. McIlrath previously played for Hershey from 2021 through 2024 and captained the club to Calder Cup championships in 2023 and 2024.
McIlrath has 32 points, including seven goals and 25 assists, and 301 penalty minutes in 192 career games with Hershey. He also has six points, including one goal and five assists, in 19 regular-season games against Hartford after previously playing for the Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whale franchise between 2010-15 and 2016-17.
Bogdan Trineyev Nears 200th Game Milestone
Bogdan Trineyev was expected to play his 200th American Hockey League regular-season game, all with Hershey. He made his AHL regular-season debut near the end of the 2022-23 season and helped the Bears win the 2024 Calder Cup.
Trineyev entered the game with 88 points, including 44 goals and 44 assists, in 199 career games with Hershey. He also had seven points, including two goals and five assists, in 11 career games against Hartford.
Players to Watch and Game Information
Andrew Cristall and Ilya Protas shared Hershey’s scoring lead against Hartford with eight points each, including five goals and three assists apiece. Cristall also scored the first hat trick of his career in Hershey’s 8-1 win at Hartford on April 4.
Lynden Lakovic was tied for eighth in league rookie scoring with eight points, including three goals and five assists. Jacob MacDonald was tied for fourth among league defensemen with 29 shots on goal.
Several Hartford players also have Hershey ties. Vincent Iorio played for the Bears from 2022-25 and won two Calder Cups. Justin Nachbaur played for Hershey during part of the previous two seasons. Associate coach Bob Woods won Calder Cups with the Bears as a player in 1997, as an assistant coach in 2006, and as head coach in 2009.
The game was scheduled as Milton Hershey School Takeover Night. The first 5,000 fans were to receive a wrapped chocolate bar courtesy of Milton Hershey School. Milton Hershey School Scout Troop 75 planned to collect nonperishable items for the Hershey Food Bank.
Radio pregame coverage was set to begin at 6:30 p.m., with television coverage starting at 7 p.m. The game was scheduled to air on Antenna TV and stream live on AHLTV on FloHockey. Radio coverage was listed on WFVY 100.1-FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM, SportsRadio 98.9-FM, WOYK 1350-AM and in-arena on 88.9-FM.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
The Hershey Bears entered the matchup looking to respond after producing 43 shots in a shutout loss. McIlrath’s return added a significant Hershey and Hartford connection to the preview, while Trineyev’s scheduled 200th AHL regular-season game offered another notable storyline.
Hershey’s previous results against Hartford set up a competitive six-game season series. The Bears’ ability to turn their shot volume into goals was the central question entering the first meeting.
Source: Original report
