Hershey Bears to face Lake Erie Monsters in the 2016 Calder Cup Finals

[doniceage]

The Hershey Bears have won the Richard F. Canning Trophy as the American Hockey League’s Eastern Conference champions for 2015-16, claiming the title with a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Marlies in Game 5 of their best-of-seven series at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto today.

The Bears advance to the Calder Cup Finals for the 23rd time in franchise history, where they will face the Western Conference champion Lake Erie Monsters. Games 1 and 2 of the series will be Wednesday and Friday in Hershey, Pa.; the complete schedule will be announced Tuesday morning.

2016 Calder Cup Finals (best-of-seven)
Hershey Bears vs. Lake Erie Monsters
Game 1 – Wed., June 1 – Lake Erie at Hershey, 7:00
Game 2 – Fri., June 3 – Lake Erie at Hershey, 7:00
Game 3 – TBD – Hershey at Lake Erie
Game 4 – TBD – Hershey at Lake Erie
*Game 5 – TBD – Hershey at Lake Erie
*Game 6 – Tue., June 14 – Lake Erie at Hershey, 7:00
*Game 7 – Fri., June 17 – Lake Erie at Hershey, 7:00
*if necessary... All times Eastern

The Bears are heading to the Calder Cup Finals for the fifth time in 11 seasons since becoming the top affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals. Under head coach Troy Mann, the Bears won the Atlantic Division title during the regular season with a record of 43-21-5-7 (98 points) before defeating the Portland Pirates (3-2) in the division semifinals, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (4-3) in the division finals and the Marlies (4-1) in the conference finals.

The 2016 Calder Cup Finals will be a fitting end to the AHL’s 80th-anniversary season as it will feature the two cities with the most championships in league history. Hershey has won the Calder Cup 11 times since joining the league in 1938; the Cleveland Barons won nine titles during their AHL tenure from 1936-72.

Established in 1990, the AHL’s Eastern Conference championship trophy honors Richard F. Canning, who served the AHL for more than 50 years during his career, including a term as league president from 1958-61. Mr. Canning is recognized as the author of the AHL’s constitution, by-laws and regulations.

[creasecollector]

Should be a good series. Wish my Toronto Marlies made it though Darn !

[flemingc04]

Lake Erie has a phenomenal team. Should be a good series.

Was really hoping for the Toronto Marlies as well. Went to game 4 on Friday and saw William Nylander get a hat-trick. Unfortunately that win only made the series 3-1 and the hole had already been dug....and here I though Toronto would win in 5 or 6.

[scottkoz20]

those games in Cleveland will be interesting as the Q will also have Gms 3-5 of the NBA Finals.

The ice conditions are going to be a factor IMO