Former Little Caps player signs with Bears
A former player in the Washington Capitals youth hockey program, the “Little Caps” has joined the Hershey Bears. Sam Anas has signed an AHL contract for this upcoming season. The 29 year old is one of the top players in the AHL.
Last year the native of Potomac, Maryland recorded 64 points with 20 goals and 44 assists in 75 games, leading the Springfield Thunderbirds in scoring. In addition to to serving as the club leader in assists and points, he posted a team best 20 power play assists and led the club with three shootout goals.
Anas’ 64 points were the most by a Springfield player since the Thunderbirds joined the AHL in 2016. Listed as five foot eight and 157 pounds, Anas served as an alternate captain for Springfield last season and helped the Thunderbirds to an appearance in the Calder Cup Finals.
Anas recorded 15 points with four goals and 11 assists in 18 postseason games for Springfield, striking for four mutli point games in the playoffs. He was named the recipient of the league’s Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award as the AHL player that best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, determination, and dedication to hockey.
Anas participated in the Capitals 2013 Development Camp and was teammates in high school with former Bear and current Cap Joe Snively at Landon School. The two helped the Landon Bears to an undefeated 25-0-1 season and a Mid Atlantic Prep Hockey League title in 2011. Anas was named the league’s player of the year as he posted 72 points with 46 goals and 26 assists.
Anas recorded 23 points in the shortened 2020-21 season with four goals and 19 assists in 23 games for the Utica Comets while also spending time on the St. Louis Blues taxi squad.
The season before that saw Anas become the AHL’s scoring champion with the Iowa Wild. He had 70 points with 20 goals and 50 assists in just 63 games for Iowa, earning AHL First All Star Team honors.
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The Bears open up the season under a new head coach on Saturday October 15 against the Utica Comets at 7 p.m. from Giant Center in Hershey.