Hershey Bears Ice Hockey Preview: Jonny Brodzinski Leads Rematch With Springfield Thunderbirds as the teams conclude a two-game set at MassMutual Center on Nov. 7, 2026. The 6:05 p.m. American Hockey League matchup follows Springfield’s 4-2 victory in the previous game.
Hershey entered the rematch with a 7-5-0-0 record, while the Springfield Thunderbirds held a 4-4-2-1 mark. The Bears were 14-7-2-1 all time at MassMutual Center against Springfield.
Jonny Brodzinski Leads Hershey’s Offensive Storyline
Hershey forward Jonny Brodzinski recorded his second multi-goal game of the 2026-27 season in the previous loss to Springfield. All four of Brodzinski’s goals that season had come in multi-goal performances, and he was the only Hershey player with multiple multi-goal games.
Brodzinski had 26 points, including 12 goals and 14 assists, in 22 career AHL games against Springfield. Lynden Lakovic recorded two assists in the previous meeting.
Springfield Won the Previous Meeting
Hershey built a 2-0 first-period lead before Springfield scored three goals in the second period. Otto Stenberg scored on the power play, Oskar Sundqvist added a shorthanded goal and Calle Rosén scored at 4-on-4 for the Thunderbirds.
Nathan Walker later scored a shorthanded empty-net goal in the third period to complete the 4-2 result. Sundqvist had three shorthanded goals for Springfield and 14 points, including six goals and eight assists, in 15 career games against Hershey.
Game Information
The matchup was scheduled for the 90th anniversary of the first games in American Hockey League history. All 32 AHL teams were scheduled to play on Nov. 7, 2026.
Radio pregame coverage was scheduled to begin at 5:35 p.m., with Zack Fisch on the call. Following the game, Hershey was scheduled to play four consecutive home games before finishing November with two games in Charlotte.
The Hershey Bears’ official game preview listed the matchup as the second half of the teams’ two-game set in Springfield.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
The rematch gave the Hershey Bears an opportunity to respond after Springfield scored three second-period goals in the previous game. Brodzinski’s production against the Thunderbirds provided a verified offensive storyline entering the matchup, while Hershey’s record at MassMutual Center added relevant historical context.
Source: Original report
