Bears’ Carey named CCM/AHL Player of the Week

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Hershey Bears forward Paul Carey has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Mar. 19, 2017.

In three games last week, Carey scored six goals and added two assists for eight points while helping the Bears leap-frog into third place in the Atlantic Division.

With the Bears beginning the weekend in a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots in the Atlantic, Carey notched a goal and an assist to help Hershey to a 4-3 overtime win over Hartford on Friday night. In Saturday’s rematch with the Wolf Pack, Carey posted the first four-goal game by a Bears skater in more than seven years, pacing Hershey to a 6-4 victory. And on Sunday in Bridgeport, Carey scored again before assisting on the game-winner with 1:23 left in regulation as the Bears edged the Sound Tigers, 3-1, for their third win in less than 48 hours and fifth straight overall.

Carey, who had a 19-game scoring streak earlier in the season, is currently on an eight-game run (8-5-13) and ranks fifth in the AHL with 55 points (24 goals, 31 assists) in 54 games for Hershey, establishing career highs in goals, assists and points in 2016-17. The fifth-year pro from Boston, Mass., has played 286 career AHL games, totaling 79 goals and 103 assists for 182 points. Carey was a 2007 draft choice by the Colorado Avalanche and has one goal and one assist in 30 career NHL contests with Washington and Colorado, including four games with the Capitals this season.

In recognition of his achievement, Carey will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Bears home game.