HERSHEY, Pa. — Editor's note: The above video is from the June 24 Calder Cup on-ice celebration.
The Hershey Bears' 2024-25 regular season schedule is out.
The team begins its Calder Cup title defense in 93 days on October 12 versus Cleveland.
The championship banner will be raised that night before the 7 p.m. faceoff with the Monsters. Hershey and Cleveland will play the next day, in a rematch of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals.
Hershey will face a Western Conference opponent in the regular season for the second straight year. The Chicago Wolves visit GIANT Center for two games on October 19 and 20. It's the Wolves' first trip to Chocolatetown since 2006.
The Bears will travel to the Windy City for back-to-back games on March 15 and 16.
It's breakfast with the Bears in Bridgeport on Tuesday, November 12 at 10:30 a.m.
The Chocolate and White will make two trips north of the border this season. The Bears visit the Toronto Marlies on November 20. They return to Canada in January for three games, one in Laval, Québec on January 22 and two in Belleville, Ontario on January 24 and 25.
Hershey faces Atlantic Division rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 12 times, more than any other opponent on the schedule. Lehigh Valley is second with 10 games.
The Bears will see the Charlotte Checkers eight times and the Bridgeport Islanders six times.
Hershey's busiest month is March when the team will play 14 games in 31 days. Of the 14 games, Hershey will play 10 straight on the road from March 7 - March 29. It will be the longest stretch away from home in franchise history.
Hershey's slowest month is February with only six games, three at home and three on the road.
The Bears will also play eight straight games in Chocolatetown from December 14 - January 7. It is the club’s longest homestand of the season, matching a franchise record. Hershey previously played eight consecutive home games from October 19 - November 9, 1985.
Hershey has two sets of three games in three days. They'll happen in October and April.
The Bears face the AHL's Atlantic Division 48 times, the North Division 20 times, and the Central Division four times.
The FOX43 television schedule, preseason schedule, and promotional schedule for the 2024-25 season will be announced at a later date.