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Toronto, ON. - The Hershey Bears continue the 2026-27 season, presented by Penn State Health, with their lone visit of the season to Toronto to take on the defending Calder Cup champions.
Hershey Bears (6-2-0-0) at Toronto Marlies (5-3-1-0)
Oct. 30, 2026 | 7 p.m. | Coca-Cola Coliseum
Referees: Austin Rook (48), James Kraft (89)
Linespersons: Nick Arcan (22), Brian Birkhoff (94)
Broadcast Information:
Voice of the Bears Zack Fisch, former Bears captain Garrett Mitchell, and FOX43 sports director Todd Sadowski on the call
TELEVISION: WPMT FOX43
RADIO: WFVY 100.1-FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM
WATCH LIVE: AHLTV on FloHockey
LISTEN LIVE: Fox Sports 1460-AM Stream
Radio pre-game coverage begins at 6:30 p.m.; TV coverage begins at 7 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT:
The Bears built a 3-0 lead against the Rochester Americans on Wednesday, then held off the Americans for an eventual 3-2 win, as Lynden Lakovic, Peter Sikora, and Louie Belpedio scored for Hershey. The Marlies have been idle since Sunday, when they were blanked 3-0 by Rockford at home. Toronto was limited to just 16 shots on goal, including two in the first period.
FACING THE CHAMPS:
Tonight's contest offers Hershey's first look at the defending Calder Cup champions, as the Marlies defeated the Chicago Wolves four games to one in last spring's Calder Cup Finals. In last season's series, each club earned a win as the road team. Since the Toronto Maple Leafs relocated their AHL affiliate to Toronto in 2005, the Bears have posted a lifetime 17-11-3-2 record against the Marlies. After leading the franchise to its second Calder Cup last season, John Gruden was elevated to Jim Hiller's staff with the parent Maple Leafs; Steve Sullivan is in his first season as Marlies head coach. Bears legend and AHL Hall-of-Famer Chris Bourque is in his first season as Toronto's assistant general manager. The two teams will face each other in Hershey in January.
TORONTO TIES:
Several Bears previously played for the Marlies organization: Grant Cruikshank played 22 games over parts of two seasons with Toronto before joining Hershey in the 2024-25 season; Joey Anderson split time with the Marlies and Maple Leafs from 2020-23; and Justin Holl played from 2015-18 with the Marlies, winning a Calder Cup in his final year before graduating to the Maple Leafs, where he played until 2023. Bears head coach Derek King served as an assistant and associate coach with Toronto from 2009-15, helping the Marlies reach the 2012 Calder Cup Finals.
HELLO MY OLD FRIEND:
Tonight's matchup could feature a former Bear on the ice for Toronto. 2023 and 2024 Calder Cup champion Henrik Rybinski began his pro career with the Chocolate and White for four seasons from 2022-26, recording 99 points (30g, 69a) in 222 games.
BEARS BITES:
Bears forward Matt Strome is expected to make his season debut tonight...Louie Belpedio skated in his 500th pro game on Wednesday, and will reach his 500th AHL game with 16 more games played...Josh Dunne needs one point for his 100th AHL point...Cal Petersen is tied for the league lead with four wins...Lynden Lakovic is tied for third in rookie scoring with eight points (3g, 5a)…Marlies captain Logan Shaw is tied for third in league scoring with 13 points (3g, 10a).
ON THIS DATE IN BEARS HISTORY:
Oct. 30, 1968 - Bob Leiter recorded three goals on three successive shots for a natural hat trick in a span of 4:55 during the first period of Hershey's 9-3 romp over the Springfield Kings. Leiter assisted on a Bud DeBrody goal in the third period and Colin McCormick made 41 saves for the Bears.