Bears & Caps Re-up; Woods & French remain

BEARS AND WASHINGTON CAPITALS ANNOUNCE AFFILIATION EXTENSION FOURTH SEASON
OF PARTNERSHIP COMING IN 2008-09, HEAD COACH BOB WOODS AND ASSISTANT COACH MARK
FRENCH TO RETURN

The HERSHEY BEARS announced Wednesday in conjunction with the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals an affiliation extension, continuing the successful partnership between the two clubs. The announcement was made jointly today by BEARS President/GM Doug Yingst and Washington Capitals VP/General Manager George McPhee.

The new agreement partners HERSHEY and Washington through the 2009-10 season, with an option to be mutually agreed upon by both sides for an additional year. Washington and HERSHEY began the current affiliation in April of 2005, and the BEARS promptly won the 2006 Calder Cup Championship in the first season of the agreement. HERSHEY returned to postseason play in 2007, advancing again to the Calder Cup Final with the club also participating in the Calder Cup Playoffs in 2008. In all, 13 players played for both Washington and HERSHEY in 2007-08, and the Capitals won the 2008 Southeast Division championship under former BEARS bench boss Bruce Boudreau.

The BEARS also announced today that head coach Bob Woods and assistant coach Mark French will return next season. Woods assumed the head coaching duties on November 22 when Boudreau was named head coach of the Washington Capitals. French was named as assistant coach on January 2 of last season.

Update on European Signings (East Divison & A Few Former Bears)

Posted 17/5/2008: Lou Dickenson (F) From Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL) to KooKoo Kouvola Added By: Davide Tuniz, Status: Confirmed

Posted 17/5/2008: John Grahame (G)From Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) to Avangard Omsk Added By: Davide Tuniz, Status: Confirmed

Posted 17/5/2008: Jamie Johnson (F) From Albany River Rats (AHL) to TPS Turku Added By: Davide Tuniz, Status: Confirmed

Posted 15/5/2008: Lars Jonsson (D) From Philadelphia Phamtoms (AHL) to Brynäs IF Added By: Henrik Lundqvist, Status: Confirmed

Posted 12/5/2008: Andreas Karlsson (F) From Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) to Västra Frölunda Indians HC Added By: Henrik Lundqvist, Status: Confirmed

Posted 14/5/2008: Scott Kelman (F) From Dayton Bombers (ECHL) to Coventry Blaze Added By: Davide Tuniz, Status: Confirmed

Posted 20/4/2008: Jakub Klepis (F) From HC Slavia Praha to Avangard Omsk Added By: Davide Tuniz, Status: Confirmed

Posted 3/5/2008: Jason Morgan (F) From Hershey Bears (AHL) to Södertälje SK Added By: Fredrik Pålsson, Status: Confirmed

Posted 14/5/2008: Alain Nasreddine (D) From Wilkes Barre/Scranton (AHL) to Nürnberg Ice Tigers Added By: Davide Tuniz, Status: Confirmed

Posted 6/5/2008: Jan Platil (D) From Amur Tigers Khabarovsk to Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) Added By: Davide Tuniz, Status: Confirmed

Posted 13/5/2008: Joey Tenute (F) From San Antonio Rampage (AHL) to Jokerit Helsinki Added By: Davide Tuniz, Status: Confirmed



* All info courtesy of Eurhockey.net

And The Winner Is?

Bruce Boudreau has been nominated for the Jack Adams Award. This award is presented to the coach who has "contributed the most to his team's success." Members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association were required to submit their ballots at the conclusion of the regular season. Other nominees are Mike Babcock of the Detroit Red Wings and Guy Carbonneau of the Montreal Canadiens.

You will have to wait until June 12th to find out, but as you can see the Caps are well represented.

Nicklas Backstrom has been nominated for the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year). Members of the Professional Hockey Writer's Association vote for this award. Other nominees are Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, both of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Alexander Ovechkin has been nominated for the Hart Trophy and the Lester B. Pearson Trophy. The Hart is awarded to the player judged "the most valuable to his team." Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote for this award and were required to submit their ballots at the conclusion of the regular season. The Pearson is given to the most outstanding player as voted on by the NHLPA. Other nominees for both are Jarome Iginla of Calgart and Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Alexander Ovechkin has already won the Art Ross Trophy and the Maurice Richard Trophy. The Art Ross Trophy given to the player who leads the League in scoring points at the end of the regular season. The Maurice Richard Trophy is given to the NHL's top goal scorer.

How Did the Pens Celebrate Their Win?

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins captain Nathan Smith
was charged with public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, open lewdness and indecent exposure for his role in a streaking incident early Sunday morning, according to
Scranton police.

According to police documents, Smith said he was acting on a bet when he ran naked into the street on the 100 block of
Adams Avenue at 2:29 a.m.

Smith issued a statement Monday apologizing for "an embarrassing and regrettable decision." The team issued a statement promising "private disciplinary action of our own."

Police documents also indicated that Penguins winger Ryan Stone was taken into custody for public drunkenness when a group of Smith's friends did not disperse when asked to by officers.

More details in tomorrow's editions of The Citizens'
Voice and Times-Tribune.

- Penguins Insider

Bears v. Pens Game 5 Pics

Rays Move On To South Division Finals

The South Carolina Stringrays will move on to the South Division Finals and face the Columbia Inferno. With the Bears being knocked out of the AHL playoffs, the Rays will be adding Steve Pinizzotto, Andrew Gordon, Patrick McNeill, and Grant McNeill to their roster.

Come Next Season, Norfolk Will Have A New Bench Boss

The AHL saw its second coaching casualty of the spring on Friday in a
complete house-cleaning in Norfolk, a move that could be the first of many in the reconstruction of the Tampa Bay Lightning's organizational picture.

Tampa Bay announced that the Norfolk coaching search will not commence until the conclusion of the proposed sale of the Lightning to OK Hockey.

AHL With Patrick Williams