HERSHEY, Pa. — FOX43 was honored by the American Hockey League Sunday with the James H. Ellery Memorial Award.
Jason Chaimovitch, Vice President of Communications for the AHL, presented the award to FOX43 Sports Director Todd Sadowski and Executive Producer Ed Albert on the ice before the Bears and Checkers faced off.
The James H. Ellery Memorial Award is presented annually in recognition of outstanding media coverage of the American Hockey League. It was first presented in 1964-65 and honors the late Jim Ellery, who served the AHL for 17 years as league secretary and publicity director until his death in 1964.
Under the leadership of station president and general manager Chris Topf, FOX43 has been the flagship television partner of the Hershey Bears for the last three seasons. In 2022-23, led by sports director Todd Sadowski and featuring reporters Andrew Kalista, Lyndsay Barna and Evan Brooks along with executive producer Ed Albert, the station partnered with Great Save Productions to broadcast 10 regular-season games from Giant Center – including the Bears’ renowned Teddy Bear Toss game. And for the first time, FOX43 added road broadcasts to its schedule, airing games from Cleveland, Lehigh Valley and Toronto.
On the ice, Charlotte started fast. Mackie Samoskevich scored just 1:11 into the game.
Patrick Giles made it 2-0 about 2 minutes later.
Hendrix Lapierre got Hershey's lone goal on the night, scoring shorthanded at 12:42.
Samoskevich added an insurance marker in the 3rd period to secure a 3-1 victory for the Checkers.
The defeat marked Hershey’s first home loss since Nov. 12, snapping a five-game win streak on home ice. The loss also prevented Hershey from reaching its 20th win of the season in only its 25th game, which would have established a new club mark for the Chocolate and White. The Bears still have a chance to match the franchise record (set by the 2008-09 Bears; 20-5-0-1) with a win on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at home against Providence.
After the game, the Bears auctioned off their Ugly Sweaters worn in the game. The money will go to Hershey Bears Cares charitable causes.