The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Ethen Frank from the Hershey Bears of the AHL and have loaned Ivan Miroshnichenko to Hershey, the team announced prior to their optional skate at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. Frank has recorded 28 points in 35 games in the American Hockey League this season with Hershey with 20 goals and eight assists.
Frank was also selected to the Atlantic Division Roster for the 2025 AHL All Star Classic on Wednesday and leads the Bears while ranking second in the AHL in goals. Listed at five foot 11 and 188 pounds, he also ranks tied for first on the Bears in points. The two time Calder Cup champion with Hershey recorded 47 points with 29 goals and 18 assists in 64 regular season games with the Bears in 2023-24.
The native out of Papillion, Nebraska led the Bears in goals, power play goals with 13 and game winning goals with nine while ranked fourth on the team in points. Frank also ranked tied for second in the AHL in game winning goals, tied for fourth in power play goals and tied for eighth in goals.
In 18 playoff games, Frank registered 17 points with 10 goals and seven assists as Hershey captured their second straight Calder Cup championship. Frank finished the Calder Cup Playoffs ranked tied for first among all skaters ingoals and power play goals with four while tied for third in points.
In his first professional season in 2022-23, Frank recorded 49 points with 30 goals and 19 assists in 57 games with Hershey. Frank led the Bears in goals, power play goals with nine, and shots with 186 and ranked third on the team in points. Frank's 30 goals led AHL rookies, while his 49 points ranked tied for fourth among first year players and he became the fifth player in Hershey franchise history to be named to the AHL All Rookie Team. Frank added six points with two goals and four assists in 16 playoff games, helping the Bears capture the Calder Cup that year as well.
Frank could make his long anticipated NHL debut tonight against the Montreal Canadiens. The Caps are skating in an optional as we wrote this. Frank was originally signed by Hershey to an AHL contract in the 2022-23 season following the completion of his collegiate career at Western Michigan University. On March 2, 2023, Frank signed a one year, two way contract with the Caps for the 2023-24 season.
If Frank does indeed make his NHL debut tonight he will bring more youth and speed to a lineup that's already one of the tops in the NHL. Having Alex Ovechkin back and chasing history is an added treat for Frank himself as it is for everybody who suits up for the Caps. He also has a clutch gene as we saw the last two summers. Puck drop is tonight at 7 p.m. on Monumental Sports Network.