2023–24 Hershey Bears season

The 2023–24 Hershey Bears season was the franchise's 86th season in the American Hockey League (AHL), starting on October 14, 2023, and ending during the Calder Cup playoffs. They play their home games at Giant Center.

2023–24 Hershey Bears
Eastern Conference champions
Atlantic Division champions
League	1st AHL
Division	1st Atlantic
Conference	1st Eastern
2023–24 record	53–14–0–5 (111 pts)
Home record	29–7–0-0
Road record	24–7–0-5
Goals for	229
Goals against	151
Team information
General manager	Bryan Helmer (de facto - VP of Hockey Operations)
Coach	Todd Nelson
Assistant coach	Patrick Wellar Nick Bootland
Captain	Dylan McIlrath
Alternate captains	Aaron Ness Mike Vecchione
Arena	Giant Center
Average attendance	9,439
Team leaders
Goals	Ethen Frank (29)
Assists	Joe Snively (45)
Points	Joe Snively (59)
Penalty minutes	Dylan McIlrath (100)
Wins	Hunter Shepard (27)
Goals against average	Hunter Shepard (2.26)

On April 2, 2024, the Bears clinched a playoff berth for the third consecutive season following a 1–0 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In that same game, they clinched their division.

The Bears finished the season as Atlantic Division winners, their second in team history, and Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy, winners for the fourth time in franchise history with a record-setting 111 points from 53 wins, 15 losses, 0 overtime losses, and 5 shootout losses, with their 53 wins also serving as a new AHL record under a 72 game season.

Standings

 y–  indicates team has clinched division and a playoff spot
 x–  indicates team has clinched a playoff spot
 e–  indicates team has been eliminated from playoff contention

Division

Eastern Confrence	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	Pts%	GF	GA
y–Hershey Bears (WSH)	72	53	14	0	5	111	.771	229	151
x–Providence Bruins (BOS)	72	42	21	6	3	93	.646	239	208
x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)	72	39	24	8	1	87	.604	211	194
x–Charlotte Checkers (FLA)	72	39	26	7	0	85	.590	217	203
x–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)	72	34	28	7	3	78	.542	204	219
x–Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI)	72	32	31	6	3	73	.507	191	217
e–Springfield Thunderbirds (STL)	72	30	37	3	2	65	.451	226	244
e–Bridgeport Islanders (NYI)	72	25	38	7	2	59	.410	162	222

Conference

Atlantic Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	Pts%	GF	GA
y–Hershey Bears (WSH)	72	53	14	0	5	111	.771	229	151
x–Providence Bruins (BOS)	72	42	21	6	3	93	.646	239	208
y–Cleveland Monsters (CBJ)	72	40	24	5	3	88	.611	233	238
x–Rochester Americans (BUF)	72	39	23	7	3	88	.611	234	239
x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)	72	39	24	8	1	87	.604	211	194
x–Syracuse Crunch (TBL)	72	39	24	4	5	87	.604	220	203
x–Charlotte Checkers (FLA)	72	39	26	7	0	85	.590	217	203
x–Belleville Senators (OTT)	72	38	28	3	3	82	.569	209	211
x–Toronto Marlies (TOR)	72	34	26	10	2	80	.556	249	220
x–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)	72	34	28	7	3	78	.542	204	219
e–Utica Comets (NJD)	72	32	29	5	6	75	.521	221	226
x–Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI)	72	32	31	6	3	73	.507	191	217
e–Laval Rocket (MTL)	72	33	31	6	2	74	.514	235	242
e–Springfield Thunderbirds (STL)	72	30	37	3	2	65	.451	226	244
e–Bridgeport Islanders (NYI)	72	25	38	7	2	59	.410	162	222

Playoffs

Main article: 2024 Calder Cup playoffs

Game log

2024 Game Log – Playoffs
Eastern Conference First Round vs. (A6) Lehigh Valley Phantoms: Bears won 3–1 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Starting Goalie Attendance Series Recap 1 May 1 Lehigh Valley 1–6 Hershey Shepard 8,038 1–0 Recap 2 May 4 Lehigh Valley 2–4 Hershey Shepard 10,520 2–0 Recap 3 May 8 Hershey 0–2 Lehigh Valley Shepard 6,240 2–1 Recap 4 May 11 Hershey 5–3 Lehigh Valley Shepard 7,089 3–1 Recap
Eastern Conference Second Round vs. (A5) Hartford Wolf Pack: Bears won 3–0 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Starting Goalie Attendance Series Recap 1 May 16 Hartford 1–6 Hershey Shepard 8,384 1–0 Recap 2 May 18 Hartford 2–4 Hershey Shepard 10,714 2–0 Recap 3 May 22 Hershey 4–1 Hartford Shepard 3,954 3–0 Recap
Eastern Conference Finals vs. (N1) Cleveland Monsters: Bears won 4–3 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Starting Goalie Attendance Series Recap 1 May 30 Cleveland 4–5 Hershey OT Shepard 9,229 0–1 Recap 2 June 1 Cleveland 2–3 Hershey OT Shepard 10,562 0–2 Recap 3 June 4 Hershey 6–2 Cleveland Shepard 14,675 0–3 Recap 4 June 6 Hershey 2–3 Cleveland Shepard 12,814 3–1 Recap 5 June 8 Hershey 1–5 Cleveland Shepard 13,159 3–2 Recap 6 June 10 Cleveland 3–2 Hershey OT Shepard 9,511 3–3 Recap 7 June 12 Cleveland 2–3 Hershey OT Shepard 10,520 4–3 Recap
Calder Cup Finals vs. (P1) Coachella Valley Firebirds: Series tied 2–2 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Starting Goalie Attendance Series Recap 1 June 14 Coachella Valley 4–3 Hershey Shepard 10,154 0–1 Recap 2 June 16 Coachella Valley 2–5 Hershey Shepard 10,507 1–1 Recap 3 June 18 Hershey 2-6 Coachella Valley Shepard 9.034 1-2 Recap 4 June 20 Hershey 3-2 Coachella Valley Shepard 10,087 2-2 Recap 5 June 22 Hershey Coachella Valley 6 June 24 Coachella Valley Hershey 7 June 26 Coachella Valley Hershey
Legend:        = Win        = Loss