HERSHEY 8, WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON 4
Graham Mink netted a hat trick and a five-point night in his return to a Hershey uniform as the Bears used a potent power play to defeat host Wilkes-Barre/Scranton by an 8-4 final on Wednesday at the Wachovia Arena in both teams’ season opener.
Mink, a member of Hershey’s 2006 Calder Cup title team who played the last two seasons for Worcester, scored a power play goal in each period to lead the Bears’ attack.
Three-time AHL All-Star Keith Aucoin also finished with five points (1-4-5) in his Bears debut, scoring the game’s first goal just 1:36 into the first period and then assisting on all three of Mink’s markers.
Chris Bourque and Alexandre Giroux posted a goal and two helpers, Andrew Gordon added a goal and an assist, and Mathieu Perreault rounded out the Bears’ scoring.
Hershey finished 5-for-7 on the power play, while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton went 3-for-10.
Ryan Stone scored twice and added and an assist for the Penguins, and Connor James and Jonathan Filewich followed up with single goals in the third period, with Filewich’s coming at the 19:59 mark.
Hershey goaltender Daren Machesney earned the victory with 21 saves in net.
