The Hershey Bears announced the re-signing of Matthew Strome, the younger brother of Dylan Strome exactly one month after they captured their 13th Calder Cup. It is a two year AHL contract that runs through the 2025-26 season. The announcment was made by Bryan Helmer the vice president of hockey operations.
The 25 year old scored the game winning goal in overtime of the Calder Cup Finals vs. the Coachella Valley Firebirds in an epic Game 7 in Chocolatetown. He had a career year with the Bears as he recorded 20 points in 50 games with seven goals and 13 assists. He also contributed to the league's best penalty kill.
Calder Cup run
In the Calder Cup run, the younger Strome brother added five points in 15 games with two goals and three assists. It was the second straight year the Bears won the Calder Cup and they also defeated the Firebirds last year as well.
In 2022-23 the winger recorded five points in 34 games with a goal and four assists. The Bears went 23-8-2-1 when he was in the lineup that season. He was a black ace as an extra during that Calder Cup run but got the inspiration he needed to help the Bears do it again.
Strome, Matthew that is, is listed as six foot four and 206 pounds and has skated in 175 career games with the Bears, recording 48 points with 16 goals and 32 assists. He was originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft at 106th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers. This video of the game winner comes from Zach Fisch, the voice of the Bears, who had the call and it'll give you chills.
The Bears will open the season at Giant Center on Oct. 12 against the Cleveland Monsters in what will be a rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals. The puck will drop and the banner goes up at 7 p.m.