Hershey Bears Aim for Fourth Straight Victory, Season Series Win Against Cleveland Monsters
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The Hershey Bears are poised to continue their winning streak and secure the season series victory against the Cleveland Monsters in a highly anticipated matchup on January 11, 2026, at the GIANT Center. Coming off a 3-2 win against the Monsters, the Bears (17-14-1-0) seek a fourth consecutive win, while the Monsters (16-12-4-1) look to even the score in the final head-to-head contest of the 2025-26 season.
Bears Riding High After Recent Success
Hershey enters tonight’s game with momentum on their side, having earned a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Cleveland on Thursday. Grant Cruikshank’s shorthanded goal proved to be the difference-maker, delighting a sold-out crowd of 10,554 fans. Louie Belpedio and Bogdan Trineyev also contributed offensively, while goaltender Clay Stevenson secured his second straight win with 26 saves. Despite going 0-for-2 on the power play, the Bears demonstrated resilience and capitalized on a key opportunity.
Belpedio’s Breakout Performance
Hershey defender Louie Belpedio is currently enjoying a hot streak, having scored in consecutive games. He has registered points in three straight contests (2 goals, 2 assists) and has tallied three goals over his past five games. With 18 points (5 goals, 13 assists) in 30 games this season, Belpedio is on track to surpass his career-high of 30 points set with the Laval Rocket in 2021-22. A team leader, Belpedio currently leads Hershey in first goals this season with three, and his improved shooting percentage of 9.8% is a significant jump from last season’s 4.8%. He is just three goals shy of reaching 50 in his AHL career.
Dominance Over Cleveland Continues
The Hershey Bears have consistently outperformed the Cleveland Monsters in recent years. Since the 2021-22 campaign, the Bears boast a 15-2-0-2 record against Cleveland, including a 6-1-0-2 record at home. A win tonight would mark the sixth consecutive season the Bears have won the regular-season series against the Monsters, excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season. The all-time record between the two franchises stands at 22-10-0-4 in favor of Hershey.
Key Players to Watch
Hershey’s top line, comprised of Ivan Miroshnichenko, Ilya Protas, and Bogdan Trineyev, has been particularly effective against the Monsters. Protas leads the trio with five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in the season series, while Trineyev (3 goals, 1 assist) and Miroshnichenko (2 goals, 2 assists) have each recorded four points. Miroshnichenko has been a consistent threat, amassing 10 points (6 goals, 4 assists) in seven games against Cleveland over the past two seasons, and has seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) in his last seven games overall.
Tonight’s Game Details & Broadcast Information
The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the GIANT Center, with Liam Maaskant (45) and Jack Young (24) serving as referees, and Tommy George (61) and Josh Cleary (45) as linespersons. Fans attending the game can enjoy several promotions, including a David A. Smith Team Photo Night (first 6,000 fans) and an autograph session with the team following the game. The Bears will also be wearing their 1938-inspired throwback jerseys as part of the American Hockey League’s 90th anniversary celebration.
Fans can tune in to the game on WFVY-100.1-FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM, and in-arena on 88.9 FM. Live streaming options are available on AHLTV on FloHockey, Froggy Valley 100.1-FM Stream, and Fox Sports 1460-AM Stream, with radio pre-game coverage beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Bears Bites: Notable Achievements and Milestones
Several Bears players reached significant milestones in recent games. Defender Corey Schueneman recorded his 100th career AHL assist, while captain Aaron Ness played in his 460th game with the Chocolate and White, surpassing Chuck Hamilton for 19th in franchise history. Goaltender Clay Stevenson earned his 54th career Hershey victory, moving past Marc D’Amour for 18th in the club record book. Additionally, Dalton Smith is just four penalty minutes away from reaching 1,000 in his AHL career. The Bears currently rank among the league leaders in shorthanded goals, with six, trailing only the San Diego Gulls and Syracuse Crunch (7). Hershey is currently enjoying a three-game home winning streak, their longest since February 11-March 2, 2025, and hold a 4-4-1-0 record against North Division opponents this season.
Looking Back: A Flashback to Bears History
On January 11, 2006, Tomas Fleischmann scored the game-winning goal and added an assist, while Kirk Daubenspeck made 22 saves in a 3-0 shutout victory against the Springfield Falcons. Chris Bourque and Louis Robitaille also scored for Hershey in a game that marked the final professional appearance for Daubenspeck.
