Bears defeat Firebirds in Recreation 7 OT to win AHL’s Calder Cup

PALM DESERT, Calif. (AP) — Michael Vecchione scored off a rebound at 16:19 of time beyond regulation to present the Hershey Bears their twelfth American Hockey League title, 3-2 over the enlargement Coachella Valley Firebirds in Recreation 7 of the Calder Cup last Wednesday night time.

Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre scored for Hershey within the second interval because the Washington Capitals’ prime affiliate overcame a 2-0 deficit to tie it. Hunter Shepard made 45 saves for the Bears.

Hershey coach Todd Nelson received his second Calder Cup after guiding Grand Rapids to the 2017 title. He joined Bun Cook dinner and John Paddock as the one head coaches to win Calder Cups with two groups.

Defenseman Ryker Evans and captain Max McCormick scored for Coachella Valley and Joey Daccord made 35 saves. Seattle’s prime farm membership, the Firebirds had been the primary to achieve the ultimate of their first season because the 2010 Texas Stars.

Evans opened the scoring at 4:41 of the primary interval, beating Shepard with a wrist shot off Andrew Poturalski’s move from behind the objective.

McCormick made it 2-0 24 seconds into the second taking a cross-ice feed from Kole Lind and beating Shepard by means of the legs from shut vary for his 14th objective of the playoffs. Evans additionally assisted.

With McCormick off for tripping, Hershey lower it to 2-1 on an influence play on McMichael’s objective with 6:08 left within the second. Mason Morelli received the puck throughout the crease for McMichael to jam in. Lapierre tied it with 2:51 remaining within the interval, tipping Vincent Iorio’s lengthy shot previous Daccord.