Manitobans going head-to-head in AHL Calder Cup final
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/06/2024 (795 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
There’s some significant Manitoba flavour on both rosters as the AHL Calder Cup final begins on Friday night in Chocolatetown.
The Hershey Bears needed overtime in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final, but outlasted the Cleveland Monsters 3-2 on Wednesday night at GIANT Center in Pennsylvania to set up a rematch with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Hershey captured the 2023 Calder Cup with an overtime win in Game 7, rallying from a 2-0 series deficit to win the 12th American Hockey League title in franchise history.
The Bears have Winnipegger Dylan McIlrath logging big minutes on the blue line, while forward Ryan Hofer of Headingley suited up in 40 games (notching four goals and eight points) during the American Hockey League season but has yet to play in the post-season.
Jeffrey T. Barnes / The Associated Press Files Winnipegger Chris Driedger has a 10-2 record between the pipes for the Coachella Valley Firebirds in this year’s playoffs.
Rounding out the local connections for the Bears is former Manitoba Moose forward Alex Limoges, who has three goals and six points in 14 playoff games after finishing second in team scoring during the regular season.
As for the Firebirds, they’ve been led by goalie Chris Driedger, a Winnipegger who has been a force for the farm team of the Seattle Kraken.
Driedger, who has 67 NHL games on his resume to go with five more in the Stanley Cup playoffs, has posted a 10-2 record with a 2.31 goals-against average and .927 save percentage through the first three rounds.
A pending unrestricted free agent, Driedger also had an excellent regular season as the Firebirds starter, going 24-7-7 with a 2.26 goals-against average and .917 save percentage in 39 appearances.
The Firebirds head coach is Dan Bylsma, a former member of the 1.0 Jets and he’s been promoted to bench boss of the Kraken for next season.
Mark J. Terrill / The Associated Press Files Winnipegger Dylan McIlrath (right) is logging big minutes on the Hershey Bears blue line.
— staff