12/29/2017
Hershey Bears (14-16-0-3) at Springfield Thunderbirds (13-18-1-1)
Friday, December 29, 2017, 7:00 p.m
MassMutual Center
REFEREES: Olivier Gouin (54), Peter MacDougall (45)
LINESMEN: Glen Cooke (6), Kyle Richetelle (47)
The Bears are coming off of a 3-1 defeat to the hands of the Bridgeport Soundtigers to start off the week Wednesday night in Bridgeport. The Bears play their final game on the road in 2017 this evening versus the Springfield Thunderbirds. Hershey and Springfield last met November twenty second at the GC in Hershey Pennsylvania. Springfield won that match up 2-1, giving the Thunderbirds their first win over Hershey in eight games since entering the league.
Tonight’s game marks the return of forward Nathan Walker to the Bears lineup after being assigned from Washington. The fan favorite in Hershey has played in 202 career AHL games all with the Bears, scoring 79 points in those games. Nathan Walker will be back in his original number 12 as Jeremy Langlois will change to number 13, worn by Jakub Vrana last year in the chocolate and white.
After the game tonight in Springfield the Bears head back to Hershey to take on the the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins Saturday at the Giant Center.
