PALM DESERT, Calif. — June 21, 2023, that's the date the Hershey Bears beat the Coachella Valley Firebirds in overtime of Game 7 in the Calder Cup Finals to win the AHL championship.
Less than a year later, they're back at Acrisure Arena.
“It was pretty weird, not gonna lie," admitted Bears Center Riley Sutter. "Even just bussing in from the airport, the déjà vu was pretty weird, but it’s a new year and a new team so we’re excited to get things going here.”
“The last time I walked down the ramp that we came in, we had a trophy so a lot of good memories coming back in here," smiled Bears Captain Dylan McIlrath. "Also a lot of anxious memories too knowing that the first two games, there were no fun times here. Yeah, a little mixed emotions but definitely walking back in the locker room was a nice feeling.”
The Bears struggled in the 2023 Calder Cup Finals in this building, losing the first three games in the Firebirds home in games that weren't really close.
They beat them in the one that really mattered, however, to cement their place in history.
Now, that title is behind them and a new challenge is staring them in the face with three straight games in the desert and the 2024 series tied 1-1.
"It really is rare," stated Bears Head Coach Todd Nelson. "This is a first for me, two franchises meet twice in a year in the finals, that’s a very rare thing. Just says a lot about both organizations.”
FOX43 will broadcast every game of the 2024 Calder Cup Finals. Game 3 is Tuesday at 7 p.m. pacific, 10 p.m. Eastern Standard time.