The Hershey Bears open up the Atlantic Division Finals against the Charlotte Checkers on Friday night. And they’re getting some reinforcements from the Washington Capitals.
Ethan Bear, Clay Stevenson, and Mitchell Gibson were assigned to the Bears on Friday afternoon. The Capitals made the transactions the day after they were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The most significant add to Hershey’s playoff roster is Bear, who was the team MVP and their leading point-scorer this season. The first pairing defenseman had 46 points (10g, 36a) in 62 games, becoming only the second rearguard in Hershey’s 87-year history to lead the team in scoring. Hershey played the entire Atlantic Division Semifinals without Bear who was in DC as insurance after Martin Fehervary was lost for the season due to injury.
Stevenson, Hershey’s backup, made his first career AHL postseason start in Game 4 against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, helped lead the team to a 6-4 victory that day and push the series to a decisive fifth game. Bears head coach Todd Nelson indicated that Stevenson could see more starts in this year’s playoff run, especially in Charlotte where he’s had vast success this season. Stevenson posted a 18-8-4 record during the regular season with a 2.94 goals-against average, an .888 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Gibson, who spent most of the season with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays, played in one game for Hershey, shutting out the Springfield Thunderbirds on October 26. The 25-year-old netminder was 12-1-0 for the Stingrays this season, posting a 1.75 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage.
Other players like Ryan Leonard, Ethen Frank, and Dylan McIlrath are ineligible to be sent to the Bears because they were not on the Hershey’s playoff roster at the NHL trade deadline.
Here’s the press release from the Hershey Bears:
CAPITALS LOAN BEAR, STEVENSON, AND GIBSON TO HERSHEY
Hershey adds trio from Washington ahead of Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Finals tonight
(Hershey, PA – May 16, 2025) – The Washington Capitals, the National Hockey League affiliate of the Hershey Bears, have loaned defenseman Ethan Bear and goaltenders Clay Stevenson and Mitch Gibson to Hershey. The announcement was made by Washington senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick.
Bear, 27, recorded 46 points (10g, 36a) in 62 games – all career highs in his AHL tenure – with Hershey to lead the Chocolate and White in scoring. He was only the second defenseman in the club’s 87 seasons of AHL competition to pace Hershey in scoring, joining Rollie McLenahan (60 points, 1949-50). His +33 rating ranked second in the AHL, and he was named to the AHL Second All-Star Team. He was named Hershey’s Team MVP and won the club’s Milton Garland Memorial Award as the team’s best defenseman.
Hershey posted a record of 10-0-0-0 this season when Bear scored a goal, and the club’s record of 28-4-3-0 when he gets at least a point represents the most wins associated with an individual Bears player’s offensive contributions. Bear represented Hershey at the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic in Palm Desert, California, scoring a goal in the All-Star Challenge to help the Atlantic Division reach the championship round, where they fell 2-1 in the shootout to the Central Division.
Stevenson, 26, made his NHL debut with the Capitals on April 17 at Pittsburgh, stopping 33 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Penguins.
He went 18-8-4 with a 2.94 goals-against average, an .888 save percentage, and two shutouts in 33 games with Hershey this season. He has appeared in one playoff game with the Bears, earning his first Calder Cup Playoffs win on May 9 at Lehigh Valley.
Gibson, 25, went 12-1-0 in 14 games for South Carolina (ECHL) this season, posting a 1.75 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. He went 1-3 in four playoff games for the Stingrays with a 3.40 goals-against average and a .870 save percentage.
The Phoenixville, Pennsylvania native appeared in one game with Hershey this season, stopping 26 shots to earn a win at Springfield on Oct. 26. He is 3-0-0 in his AHL career with Hershey with a 1.94 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage.
