Hershey Bears edge Coachella Valley to win thrilling Calder Cup championship

Credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

The 2023-24 professional hockey season has come to a close.

With the 3-2 overtime winner over the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Hershey Bears have clinched the AHL’s Calder Cup championship for the 12th time in franchise history.

It’s Hershey’s first win since 2010, with their 12th title leading the league. No other active team has more than Rochester’s six, with no other team having more than the Chicago Wolves’ three.

Mike Vecchione scored the championship clincher for the Bears, earning him his first Calder Cup in his sixth AHL campaign.

The Firebirds started the game hot, getting an early goal from Ryker Evans at 4:41. Mac McCormick then scored just 24 seconds into the second frame, giving Coachella Valley the edge in hopes of winning the title in just their first season.

But two of Hershey’s top guns got them back in the game. With 6:08 left to go, Connor McMichael scored on the power play to make it a one-goal game. About three minutes later, Hendrix Lapierre tied it up after tipping in a shot, tying things up at two.

Nobody could find the back of the net in the third, meaning extra time would be needed for the first time in a Calder Cup Game 7 since 2001. It was there where Vacchione knocked in a rebound past Joey Daccord, dramatically quieting the Acrisure Arena crowd.

Hunter Shepard, who took over the crease from Zach Fucale for the playoff run, earned AHL playoff MVP honors. The 27-year-old recorded three shutouts and a .914 save percentage during his 20-game run, which was capped off by a 45-save effort.

Hershey is the long-time AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals, while the Firebirds were in their inaugural season after linking up with the Seattle Kraken.

Hershey beat the Charlotte Checkers in the Atlantic Division semifinals for the team’s first series victory of the 2023 playoffs. They then shut out Hartford in three games before topping the Americans 4-2 in the Eastern Conference finals.

Coachella Valley started things off with a 2-1 series victory over Tucson before narrowly nudging Colorado in the Pacific Division semifinals. They then went on to beat Calgary 3-2 in the Pacific Division finals before finally getting some breathing room in a 4-2 Western Conference finals bout against Milwaukee.