Well, the Bears have faced their first playoff lose. The game was one filled with heart and passion. For Portland to be a first place team I was not at all impressed, I’ll give their goalie, Jani Hurne, credit he made some great saves, but other than that I all saw was a Portland team that was playing down right dirty. Hershey pressed on to a second overtime until the referee Chris Ciamaga decided to actually call something. And that something was just a little tug Boyd Kane made on one of the Pirates that would basically hand the Pirates a win on a silver platter. Chris Ciamaga was a horrible referee and let many things go without being punished both for the Bears and the Pirates. In my opinion he had become tired and decided to call a penalty that he knew would end the game and maybe hand him another game to referee at.



Needless to say that I am disappointed, but not at the Bears because they did one heck of a job, but instead in the lack of class shown by both Chris Ciamaga and the Portland Pirates. For a first place team with 114 points, I have no idea how they achieved that feat.



Although it was a lose, I have to say that Dave Steckel once again did an amazing job in getting him 7th and 8th goals of the playoffs. After getting injured in the 2nd period on a blocked shot and prevailed returning in the 2nd overtime and almost winning the game for Hershey. Freddy also once again had a wonderful night stopping some of the most amazing saves and showing his true talent.