Inside the matchup: Coachella Valley Firebirds vs. Hershey Bears

Gary Estwick, Nashville Tennessean
·3 min read
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The Coachella Valley Firebirds followed a winning recipe to reach the Calder Cup Finals, which start Thursday against the Hershey Bears at Acrisure Arena.

Start with Max McCormick, a veteran forward who in his first season in the Coachella Valley led the Firebirds with 67 points (28 goals, 39 assists).

Mix in a trinity of 25-goal scorers — Kole Lind (30), Tye Kartye (28) and Jesper Frödén (25).

Add Dan Bylsma, the former head coach of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins (2009 Stanley Cup winner) and Buffalo Sabres. Also, community involvement and first-time hockey fans that are excited about a cool sport in the desert.

Coachella Valley Firebirds' forward Tye Kartye (#12) scores his team's third goal of the night during game 6 of the matchup against the Milwaukee Admirals at Acrisure Arena on June 5, 2023.
Coachella Valley Firebirds' forward Tye Kartye (#12) scores his team's third goal of the night during game 6 of the matchup against the Milwaukee Admirals at Acrisure Arena on June 5, 2023.

Don’t forget about Fuego, the fiery and friendly team mascot. Stir during the regular season and serve in the playoffs.

And now, the Firebirds are aiming to win the best-of-seven series which starts at home.

The schedule

Thursday, June 8: Hershey at Coachella Valley, 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 10: Hershey at Coachella Valley, 7 p.m.

Tuesday., June 13: Coachella Valley at Hershey, 4 p.m.

Thursday., June 15: Coachella Valley at Hershey, 4 p.m.

x-Saturday, June 17: Coachella Valley at Hershey, 4 p.m.

x-Monday, June 19: Hershey at Coachella Valley, 7 p.m.

x-Wednesday, June 21: Hershey at Coachella Valley, 7 p.m.

x-if necessary

Of note: The Firebirds will enjoy home-ice advantage during this series due to their higher regular-season point total. The Firebirds finished the regular season with 103 points; the Bears posted 97 points.

Out with the old?

The 2023 Calder Cup Finals features the Bears, the AHL’s oldest and most decorated franchise, and the Firebirds, the league’s newest addition who debuted in October.

The Bears have won 11 Calder Cups, while appearing in 23 finals. Meanwhile, the Firebirds have competed on the ice for nine months.

Coachella Valley Firebirds Ryker Evans (#41) scans the ice, looking for an open teammate to pass the puck during game 6 of the matchup against the Milwaukee Admirals at Acrisure Arena on June 5, 2023.
Coachella Valley Firebirds Ryker Evans (#41) scans the ice, looking for an open teammate to pass the puck during game 6 of the matchup against the Milwaukee Admirals at Acrisure Arena on June 5, 2023.

The Firebirds’ success during the playoffs may increase the sport’s westward reach. After all, the franchise is the AHL’s first team west of Texas to reach the finals since the Texas Stars’ inaugural season of 2009-10.

A finals win would make the Firebirds the league's second first-year expansion franchise to win the Cup during its inaugural season. Only the Maine Mariners (1977-78) have achieved this feat, dating back to the league’s debut in 1936.

Offense versus defense

The Bears excelled during the regular season at stopping opponents from scoring, allowing just 184 goals, second only to the Calgary Wranglers. During the playoffs, the Bears have allowed 25 goals in 13 appearances, thanks in part to goaltender Hunter Shepard. He's allowed more than two goals in just two of his 14 playoff experiences, while posting two shutouts against Rochester in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Coachella Valley Firebirds Jesper Froden (#28) showcases his speed and agility as he skates down the ice with the puck during game 6 of the matchup against the Milwaukee Admirals at Acrisure Arena on June 5, 2023
Coachella Valley Firebirds Jesper Froden (#28) showcases his speed and agility as he skates down the ice with the puck during game 6 of the matchup against the Milwaukee Admirals at Acrisure Arena on June 5, 2023

Meanwhile, four Firebirds have scored 67 goals during the playoffs. During the regular season, the Firebirds scored 257 goals, second-best in the league — only the Texas Stars (265) scored more.

Status unknown

Center Mike Sgarbossa led the Bears in scoring during the regular season with 58 points. But Sgarbossa hasn’t played for more than one month since the Atlantic Division Semifinals against the Charlotte Checkers.

His status for the series against the Firebirds is unknown.

During his AHL career, Sgarbossa has logged 530 regular season games.

With his status unknown, the Bears will have to rely on Aliaksei Protas for offense. He's totaled 12 points during the playoffs, including a team-tying five goals. Mason Morelli has also scored five goals during the postseason.

Saving the best for the finals

Any Bears game plan has to start with Kartye. The AHL’s rookie of the year enjoyed standout performances during the Firebirds’ series win against Milwaukee Admirals in six games. During Monday’s 4-3 win, Kartye scored twice. And during the opening game of the Western Conference Finals, Kartye scored on a powerplay in the first period.

Tickets

Tickets for all four potential home games (1, 2, 6, 7) are on sale now on the team’s website or at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets start at $29.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: AHL Calder Cup Finals: Coachella Valley Firebirds vs. Hershey Bears