By: Joshua Gearhart

In the final meeting of the 2025-26 season, the Hershey Bears fell to the Cleveland Monsters, 3-2, in overtime. Despite the loss, the Bears have dominated the Monsters since the 2021-22 season, owning a 15-2-1-2 record in head-to-head play. Additionally, the Bears have won the regular-season series against the Monsters for the seventh consecutive season. 

Credit: Hershey Bears

The first period was marred by 23 total penalty minutes, but the Bears wasted no time lighting the lamp at 1:37 of the first period.

“Anytime you’re able to score the first goal, it helps,” coach Derek King said. “It gives us a little confidence. It was a tight game. I don’t think we played our best hockey, but that’s a fast and skilled team. They play hard, so for us to get three of four points this weekend, we’ll take that and get some rest.”

Ivan Miroshnichenko continued his dominance over the monsters with the games first tally. His sixth goal of the season was assisted by Bogdan Trineyev (8) and Leon Muggli (2). Miroshnichenko has now recorded five points (3g, 2a) in four games against Cleveland this season. 

“Miro has played a 200-foot game for us so far this year,” coach King said. “Whether he’s scoring or not, you can count on him to be reliable defensively, and he’ll hit some bodies on the forecheck.”

After an earlier desperation save by Mitch Gibson, Luca Del Bel Belluz made the most of his second chance opportunity, sending the puck top shelf on the power-play. The tying goal was scored at 11:25 of the first period and was assisted by Jordan Dumais (10) and Luca Pinelli (14).

The game took a feisty turn at 14:14 of the first period when Dalton Smith and Caleb MacDonald dropped the mitts. After this fight, Dalton Smith officially accumulated 1,000 AHL penalty minutes.

“I think the enforcer role is still an important part of the game,” Dalton Smith said. “Especially with our group, we have a lot of young guys, so my job is to make sure nobody takes liberties with them. If something happens, they know I’ve got their back.”

Hershey regained the lead at 16:16 of the second period, courtesy of a wrap-around goal from Ilya Protas. With his team-leading 14th goal of the season, Protas has now recorded 26 points (14g, 12a) to tie with fellow rookie Andrew Cristall (5g, 21a) for the team scoring lead.

“We’ll take the goals however we can,” coach King said. “Obviously, we want to be patient when we’re below the goal line and hold onto pucks a little more. Right now, goals are hard to come by, so we’ll take those lucky bounces.”

Mitch Gibson faced a plethora of dangerous chances throughout the second period, but was able to keep the Bears in front of the Monsters. Starting at 17:26, Hunter McKown’s quality scoring opportunity was turned aside, and Gibson was able to sprawl across the crease and deny Roman Ahcan on the rebound. To top off the stellar sequence, Gibson stood tall as Carson Ceuleman was denied on a breakaway opportunity. 

“I don’t know if he wanted any more breakaways, but that’s what our goalies have been doing for most of the season,” coach King said. “They’ve both been keeping us in games and giving us a chance to win, and that’s what Gibson did tonight. It’s too bad one went in on him in overtime, but I can’t say enough about how well he’s played for us.”

The aggression and tenacity ramped up throughout the second period, and Eriks Mateiko was the unfortunate victim of a lower-body injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

“You miss him and the value he brings to that third line,” coach King said. “He plays hard defensively, and he’s really taken on that penalty-killing role, so we’ll have to see what’s going on with him and how long he’ll be out.”

At 01:29 into the third period, Tate Singleton evened the game with his fifth goal of the season. Jack Williams (11) was awarded the lone assist. Hershey would fail to respond within regulation, and after assisting on the tying goal, Jack Williams sealed the game for the Monsters at 2:57 of the overtime period.

“I think a lot of the mistakes we made were just mental mistakes from being tired,” coach King said. “We’ve got some guys that are not used to playing this kind of hockey, this grind, day-in, day-out, and the scheduling. I really just want these guys to be smart and rest, and then have a nice little practice and get ready for Hartford.”

Tonight’s Takeaways:

• Mitch Gibson continues to impress after recording 33 saves on 36 shots, the second-most saves he has made in a single game with the Bears. In his AHL debut against the Charlotte Checkers, Gibson earned his first AHL shutout and still leads the Bears in that category. The former South Carolina Stingray has a 2.01 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage, both of which lead the team.

• The Bears’ power-play unit continues to struggle, and tonight was no different, as the Bears failed to convert on five power-play opportunities. The Bears have an 18.6% power-play percentage, ranking 17th in the league. This season, Hershey has 19 power-play goals and has allowed 21 goals while on the man advantage.

• Hershey’s top line continues to produce against the Monsters. Protas has posted six points (3g, 3a) against the Monsters, while Miroshnichenko has now recorded five points (3g, 2a).
  

Looking Ahead:

The Bears face the Hartford Wolfpack at Giant Center on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 7 p.m., headlined by Dollar Dog Night presented by Berks. Click here to purchase tickets.