HERSHEY, Pa. (WHTM) – Hockey Fights Cancer Night at the Hershey Bears was already a special night, but what happened on the ice was something everyone in attendance won’t forget.

The Nov. 12 game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms was “Hockey Fights Cancer Night.” During pregame warmups Bears players wore special Hockey Fights Cancer themed jerseys with lavender ribbons and trim, as well as an “I Fight For” patch on the front. Fans were also encouraged to wear lavender.

Scoring the Bears lone goal in the 4-1 loss was forward Ivan Miroshnichenko, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma last year.

The 19-year-old Russian received treatment in Germany and was later made a first round pick by the Washington Capitals in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Miroshnichenko went on to sign a three year entry-level deal with Washington, the NHL affiliate of the Bears. In 13 games he’s scored three goals and tallied four assists for Hershey.

The “Hockey Fights Cancer” jerseys worn by players in the pregame warmups were auctioned off after the game to support Hershey Bears Cares with beneficiaries that includes the Penn State Cancer Institute.

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Why Mike Vernon’s Hall of Fame induction muddies the greatest Detroit Red Wings team of all

A funny thing happened on the way to the Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Toronto last Monday: A fight broke out over Detroit Red Wings history.

Y’see, the induction of goaltender Mike Vernon — who won the Stanley Cup with the Wings in 1997 as part of a 19-season career — prompted the question, via an email from former Freep Sports boss Gene Myers, of which Wings squad is the greatest ever. (He knows, he just figured we could use a distraction from Michigan and Michigan State football. Bless him.)

By points? That’s the 1995-96 Wings — featuring Vernon in 32 appearances — who racked up 131 points, a total second in NHL history until last season’s Boston Bruins took over No. 1 with 135. (The ’95-96 Wings’ .799 points percentage is also best in franchise history, edging out the ’05-06 Wings at .756 the ’94-95 Wings at .729 and the ’50-51 Wings at .721 — just so we can adjust for the NHL’s ever-shifting number of games and labor disputes.)