HERSHEY, Pa. -- Hockey in Chocolate Town looked a little bit different on Monday.
Washington Capitals fans and Philadelphia Flyers fans alike filed into GIANT Center, home of the Capitals’ AHL affiliate - the Hershey Bears – to catch the NHLers face off in a preseason matchup.
A sea of red, orange and brown jerseys (for the Bears) filled the 10,500-seat arena and saw the Capitals come out victorious, 5-2.
“I love the family atmosphere that the Bears always have, and it’s great to see both sets of teams,” said Gwen Wilson, a local fan wearing her Bears jersey. “Seems like it’s fairly balanced between the Bears fans and the (Flyers’ AHL affiliate) Phantoms fans, so a lot of both colors.”
Her husband, Gary, compared the atmosphere to a normal Bears game – except for one big difference.
“Too much orange around here,” Gary joked. “But it’s a packed house. A lot of (Bears games) usually are. It’s loud, I think it feels pretty similar.”
Capitals fans Jacob Martin – who drove two hours to catch the game in Hershey – went so far to compare the GIANT Center’s atmosphere to Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.
“It’s been incredible,” Martin said. “Atmosphere is incredible. Stadium: amazing. It’s just like Capital One.
“Especially with all the Flyers fans here, it feels like a competitive environment,” he added.
Each team got cheers from their respective fans throughout the game, with both fanbases in full force from the opening faceoff.
Every goal, hit, and close play produced a nearly 50-50 reaction from the split crowd.
“What’s cool about this place is it’s really close to an NHL atmosphere,” said Ronnie, a local Flyers fan-turned Bears fan, rocking a Philly jersey and a Hershey hat. “I was getting that in Philly, and you can feel it here.”
Ronnie and his partner, Sydney, are Hershey Park season pass holders, and were in the process of looking at becoming Bears season ticket holders during the game.
Sydney said they make it to as many Bears games as they can, including the Calder Cup Final games in 2023 and 2024.
“It’s pretty close to a playoff Bears game,” Sydney said about Monday’s matchup. “The intensity and the crowd, anyway.”
Bears and Capitals fan Logan Kelly called the atmosphere “electric” and enjoyed watching some former Bears players like Dylan McIlrath and Clay Stevenson take the ice again at GIANT Center.
“It’s cool to see them play here,” he said. “I kind of miss them on the Bears.”
Then after a moment Kelly said what is on the mind of all hockey fans during every preseason.
“I just want Opening Day to come,” he said.
