HERSHEY, Pa. — The Hershey Bears hit the ice for the first time since their 2023 Calder Cup championship. Some faces remain the same, while other new ones hope to fill the void left by some.
The Bears' early morning practice kicked off at 10 a.m. Monday. Head Coach Todd Nelson oversaw the group as they get back to the basics and prepare for another long season.
"There were a lot of congratulations from people I haven't heard from in a long time," said Nelson. "We have another really talented group and it is going to be hard to make this team and get playing time but we are talented and look forward to everyone's best shot."
FOX43 caught up with Mike Vecchione, his full interview with Andrew Kalista can be found below:
Coach Nelson's full interview can be found below:
This is an important season for second-year Bear Ethen Frank. Last year's AHL Rookie Of The Year is looking forward to improving in year two.
"I'm always hard on myself and want to get better," said Frank. "We just want to make it as comfortable as possible for everyone who is new and try and repeat what we did last year."
The Hershey Bears have 12 days until the puck drops for the first time this season. Practice resumes Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. They open up the season at home against Belleville, puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
