HERSHEY, Pa. -- Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery knows a thing or two about winning in Hershey.
The former Hershey Bears coach was back at GIANT Center on Monday, leading his Capitals to a 5-2 preseason victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Carbery spent three seasons as head coach of the AHL's Bears from 2018-2021, putting together a 104-50-9-8 record during his tenure, including an league-best 24-7-2 record in his final season. His last season behind the Bears’ bench culminated in earning the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL's most outstanding coach.
“Any time you come back here, driving in on the bus, flying in, walking into this building – I get goosebumps,” Carbery said after Monday’s game. “I spent three years as a coach, but essentially five years with my family in this town and seeing the familiar faces.”
Seven current Capitals players spent time with the Bears organization, with six earning a Calder Cup championship in Hershey.
Ethen Frank, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Aliaksei Protas, Dylan McIlrath, Clay Stevenson, and Bogdan Trineyev all won championships with the Bears. Ilya Protas played in Hershey last season.
All seven former Bears logged minutes for the Capitals during Monday’s exhibition.
“This building, organization, community, mean a lot to a lot of guys who played tonight,” Carbery said. “They won championships here, won Calder Cups. They called this place home. They had so many memorable moments out on that ice, so to come here again this year and play well in front of the home fans … I’m proud of the guys because it means a lot to a lot of people who were here today.”
Monday marked the second consecutive season and fourth year overall that the Capitals played a preseason game at GIANT Center. Last year, the Capitals beat the Flyers, 5-1.
