Another Banner Year for Helmer

Another Banner Year for Helmer

Hershey Bears captain, Bryan Helmer, may never see his name and number hanging from the rafters of Giant Center like Mike Nykoluk and Ralph Keller, each of whom captained the Bears to a Calder Cup Championship; but in his two year tenure at the helm, Helmer has accomplished something that neither of them will ever accomplish: leading his club to back-to-back titles.

With a strong cast from the 2009 Cup winning team returning for the 2009-10 season, the Bears were heavily favored to repeat, but Helmer said that he did not feel the heat to repeat, thanks to the returning players, and specifically to a player returning after a three-year absence, Boyd Kane.

“I didn’t feel the pressure at all," said Helmer. “When you bring in a guy like Kane, who is a proven winner, that obviously helps a whole bunch. Keith (Aucoin), Chris Bourque and Andrew Joudrey were all big helps too, because they are all good leaders in the dressing room. We had so many guys that stepped up as leaders and it made my job really easy.”

From the podium at Giant Center last week during Hershey’s championship celebration, Helmer also took the time to publicly thank some of his other helpers, the faithful fans who pack Giant Center every night, and who set another attendance record this 
past season.

“One thing that we said all along every game is, ‘let’s do it for our fans’. Every single time we said that because you guys are unbelievable. Give yourselves a hand.”

Although he is the ultimate “team” player during the season, it didn’t take him long to snap into “selfish” mode after thanking the fans, repeating last year’s public lobbying to Bears President/GM Doug Yingst for another contract.

“Two years ago, Doug, I’m so glad you signed me," said Helmer. "I’m glad you signed me last year and I’d like to play here for one more year.”

The young-at-heart Helmer, who just completed his 17th professional season in fine fashion, finished the campaign with a +/- rating of +12, second in the league, but also finished the season with the warning light illuminated on his gas gauge.

“It’s funny, I was talking to Manner (Bears assistant coach, Troy Mann) on the bench there towards the end of the game of the game six. I told him I was very tired. I probably would have had enough energy left to play one more game, but I’m glad we got it over when we did.”

As a result of being involved in pro hockey for nearly two decades, Helmer has seen many changes on-ice with the advent of new equipment. Those changes also apply off of the ice, with new training methods always being sought by players looking to stay “a step ahead”, even those who will soon to be 38 years of age, like Helmer who will soon start training for what he hopes will be his 18th season in the pro ranks.

“When I was younger, I used to a lot of heavy lifting, and now I’m just trying to do a lot of quick feet stuff and keep myself going. I think as you get older, you tend to lose a step here and there, and I’m just trying to maintain it," he said. "I’ve been doing a skating treadmill for the past few years, and it’s helped me out a lot and I’ll do it again this summer.”

Retirement is in the not-too-distant future for Helmer, but if he has his way, he would like to postpone that thought for at least another year and pursue chance to attain a “three-peat” in the best city in the American Hockey League.

“It kinda hard to top that (back-to-back titles); maybe I should retire while I’m on top," joked Helmer. "But seriously, I’d love to play one more year and finish my career here. It’s a great hockey town. I’ve got some individual goals I’d like to reach and I’d love to have a chance to make it three in a row.”

**Photo courtesy of JUSTSPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY**

Questions As The Hershey Bears Take To The Road In Their Quest For The Calder Cup

By virtue of their second straight loss on home ice against the Lake Erie Monsters on Friday night, the Hershey Bears are heading to Quicken Loans Arena in a 2-0 hole, and with a lot of questions facing the club’s coaching staff.

Icing the same personnel in the lineup as they did in game one, the forward lines were shuffled in game two, and the results were mixed as once again the club was limited to one even strength strike from a  forward. Does that lack of even strength production mean that veteran Sean Collins finds his way back into the lineup? Riley Barber, who took Collins’ place in the lineup is scoreless in the series but has flung 8 shots on net at Forsberg in the previous 2 games, is one such potential player that Collins could replace, or a more seasoned forward may also be asked to step aside in order for Collins to be reinserted into the lineup.

The Bears’ defensive corps continues to chip in on the offensive side, with a rearguard showing up in the score sheet on all four of their goals in the series (1g, 3a), but they have also contributed costly turnovers in each game that directly led to goals (Ryan Stanton late in game one with the Bears only trailing by a goal at that time, and Erik Burgdoerfer early in the second period in game two that gave the Monsters a 2-0 lead at the time). Does that mean that veteran defenseman Mike Moore will make his first appearance of the playoffs as the Bears attempt to muzzle the Monsters’ potent attack that has seen them victimize the Bears for an empty net goal, in addition to their eight other lamp lighters?

Goaltender Justin Peters has been solid and often spectacular during his 18 consecutive starts for the Bears, but has allowed at least 1 goal of 5-of-the-6 periods in this series. The club’s defensive struggles, which have seen him face numerous breakaway and odd-man attempts in the series, have affected his play, and his numbers as well. Do the Bears dare to put Dan Ellis, who split the goaltending duties with Peters for most of the regular season, and actually opened the playoffs in goal for the club,  back between the pipes?

The Bears played a penalty free game in game one, but allowed two power play goals in three opportunities to the Monsters in game two. One of the power play goals came on a questionable call against Aaron Ness in the early seconds of the third period, but the other resulted from a bit of over exuberance from Chris Bourque early in the first period. Can the Bears make an adjustment on their penalty kill, and can they keep their composure as the pressure to win mounts as they take to the road?  

Which Anton Forsberg is the goaltender the Bears are facing?  Is he the goaltender who looked virtually unbeatable as he shutout the Bears for over 73 consecutive minutes before a 5-on-3 power play goal by Zach Sill broke that streak in game 2? Or, is he the one who was victimized for three goals in game two, tying his post-season mark for most goals allowed in a game, including two glove side goals within two minutes late in the third period as the Bears applied persistent pressure?

Bears by the number for game one of Calder Cup Finals

2...number of Hershey players with goals in each series: Chris Bourque, and Jakub Vrana.

5...number of consecutive games that Carter Camper scored a goal at Giant Center.

6...number of Hershey players who have scored their 7 game winning goals at Giant Center: Travis Boyd (2), Camper, Sean Collins, Liam O’Brien, Zach Sill, and Ryan Stanton.

9...number of Hershey players who have scored their 11 game winning goals: Riley Barber, Boyd (2), Camper, Collins, O’Brien, Sill (2), Stanton, Vrana, and Nathan Walker.

10...number of Hershey players who lit the lamp in the Toronto series: Chris Bourque, Ryan Bourque, Camper (2), Christian Djoos (2), Dustin Gazley, O’Brien (2), Sill (3), Chandler Stephenson, Vrana (3), and Walker.

15...number of Hershey players with points in each series: Chris Bourque, Ryan Bourque, Madison Bowey, Boyd, Camper, Collins, Djoos, Gazley, Garrett Mitchell, Aaron Ness, O’Brien, Sill, Stephenson, Vrana, and Walker.

17...number of Hershey players who had points in Toronto series: Barber, Chris Bourque (3), Ryan Bourque, Bowey (2), Boyd (2), Erik Burgdoerfer (2), Camper (6), Collins, Djoos (4), Gazley (4), Mitchell, Ness (3), O’Brien (2), Sill (3), Stephenson (2), Vrana (4), Walker (3).

76...career AHL playoff assists for Chris Bourque. Darren Haydar is the all-time leader with 80.

118...career AHL playoff game number for Chris Bourque. He will move into a 5th place tie with former Bears teammate Alexandre Giroux at the onset of tonight’s game on the AHL’s all-time playoff games played list.

Random Stats:

After going 3-for-9 in the beginning of the Toronto series, the Bears finished the series 0-for-their last-7.

In 9 of the 15 games that the Bears have scored a goal, they have at least 3 different goal getters.

All 19 of Hershey’s skaters who have played in the playoffs has registered at least a point.