Not long after the new millennium began, the BEARS made a monumental move. HERSHEY dropped the curtain on a legendary run at HERSHEYPARK Arena in 2002, and moved into their brand new 65 million dollar facility known as GIANT Center. The building, equipped with 10,500 seats, 40 luxury suites and amenities never even dreamed of back during the construction of the “old barn”. It took a couple of seasons for the BEARS to bring a lengthy postseason run back to central PA, but in 2005, the pieces began to fall into place. Bruce Boudreau was named coach on July 14, 2005 in a press conference at GIANT Center, and a new and prolific era of BEARS hockey was underway. HERSHEY marched through the 2006 postseason under Boudreau, dispatching the Norfolk Admirals in four straight games, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in four more, the Portland Pirates in seven thrilling games, and finally the Milwaukee Admirals in six. HERSHEY won the club’s ninth Calder Cup championship in 2006, and followed that up with an Eastern Conference championship in 2007. Despite falling just short in a bid to win back-to-back titles, the BEARS posted the league’s best overall record in 2006-07, and set a franchise record for most wins in a season with 51. The future does indeed look bright for the American Hockey League’s longest running and most successful franchise.
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