The 2022-23 hockey season for the Washington Capitals organization was unsuccessful, but there is a trophy at the end for the franchise's AHL affiliate the Hershey Bears.
In Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals on Wednesday night, the Bears defeated the Coachella Valley Firebirds 3-2 in overtime to capture the franchise’s 12th title, an AHL record.
Mike Vecchione scored the goal to clinch the title 16:19 into overtime to get Hershey the title. It is their fourth Calder Cup since they became the Capitals' affiliate again in 2005. The team won titles in 2006, 2009, and 2010.
There were several players who appeared for the Bears in the deciding Game 7 who also appeared in games with the Caps this season, including: Connor McMichael (2019 first-round pick); Aliaksei Protas (2019 third-round pick); Vincent Iorio (2021 second-round pick); Lucas Johansen (2016 first-round pick); Beck Malenstyn (2016 fifth-round pick); Joe Snively (a Herndon, Virginia native).
Protas, who had an assist on the game-winner, played 32 games for the Capitals this past campaign with 15 points (four goals, 11 assists). Hendrix Lapierre, Wshington's 2020 first-round pick, had the goal to level the game at 2-2 in the second period after McMichael got the Bears on the board after going down 2-0.
Hershey netminder Hunter Shepard made 45 saves and took home the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as Calder Cup Playoffs MVP.
This is the second stint the Capitals and Bears affiliation after a seven-year run (1977 to 1984) which included Hershey’s 1980 Calder Cup.
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