Josh Dunne scored the game-winner, Petr Sikora got his first career AHL goal and Garin Bjorklund made 27 saves as Hershey bounced back from Saturday’s loss. October 4, 2026.

Charlotte Checkers 2, Hershey Bears 3 Giant Center, Hershey, PA

This wasn’t a pretty win. The Bears went 0-for-6 on the power play and were outshot in all three periods, and a night like that usually costs a team. It didn’t, because Garin Bjorklund held up his end and Andrew Cristall answered his coach’s call for a bounce-back game. Cristall was moved down to a new third line with Petr Sikora and Spencer Smallman, and he set up both first-period goals. Coming off a 5-2 loss to the same team on Saturday, the Bears needed this one, and they kept the opening weekend from going 0-2.

How It Happened

First Period: Hershey had a power play early and couldn’t score. At 10:29, Andrew Cristall set up Eriks Mateiko for his first goal of the season and a 1-0 lead. The Bears got two more power plays and didn’t score on those either. With 17 seconds left in the period, Cristall sent a pass across the rink to Sikora, who one-timed it in for his first career AHL goal. Smallman picked up the second assist, and Hershey took a 2-0 lead to the room.

Second Period: There was no scoring, but plenty of penalties. Jacob MacDonald took two roughing minors at 1:44 against one for Angus Crookshank, which gave Charlotte its first power play. Hershey killed it off, and also killed off Sam Bitten’s slashing minor later in the period. Charlotte outshot the Bears 7-6 in the period, and Bjorklund kept the shutout going.

Third Period: The Checkers kept coming. John Beecher ended the shutout at 8:35 on a wraparound, assisted by Marek Alscher, to make it 2-1. Hershey had the answer 1:46 later, when Jonny Brodzinski set up Josh Dunne at 10:21 for what proved to be the game-winner. David Gucciardi was called for roughing at 15:04, and seven seconds later Jack Devine one-timed a shot off the faceoff to score on the power play and cut it to 3-2. Charlotte outshot Hershey 13-9 in the period and pulled Tyler Muszelik for an extra attacker late, but Bjorklund and the Bears held on. “[Charlotte’s] a good hockey team over there,” head coach Derek King said. “So I thought we did a real good job of not giving them a lot of zone time.”

Goaltending

Garin Bjorklund made 27 saves on 29 shots (.931) in 60:00 for Hershey. It was his first start of the season, his first career appearance against Charlotte, and his first win for Hershey since February 27, 2026, at Rockford. Tyler Muszelik took the loss in his pro debut, stopping 20 of 23 (.870) in 57:33.

Special Teams

Charlotte: 1-for-3 PP | Hershey: 0-for-6 PP | Penalties: Charlotte 14 min (7 infractions), Hershey 8 min (4 infractions)

Three Stars

⭐ Josh Dunne (HER) — Game-winning goal, 1 shot

⭐⭐ Andrew Cristall (HER) — 2 assists, 3 shots

⭐⭐⭐ Garin Bjorklund (HER) — 27 saves on 29 shots (.931)

Team Statistics

Shots by Period

Scoring Summary

First Period

• 10:29 HER — Eriks Mateiko (1) — Assists: Andrew Cristall (2)
• 19:43 HER — Petr Sikora (1) — Assists: Andrew Cristall (3), Spencer Smallman (1)

Second Period

• No Goals Scored

Third Period

• 8:35 CLT — John Beecher (1) — Assists: Marek Alscher (1)
• 10:21 HER — Josh Dunne (2) — Assists: Jonny Brodzinski (2)
• 15:11 CLT — Jack Devine (2) (PP) — Assists: Tobias Björnfot (1), Cole Reinhardt (1)

AHL Note — Prospect/Roster Flags

• Petr Sikora (Washington Capitals prospect): He scored his first career AHL goal in his second North American pro game. Washington drafted him in the sixth round in 2024 and signed him to a three-year entry-level contract in May 2026.
• Andrew Cristall (Washington Capitals prospect): The second-year pro was moved to the third line and had 2 assists. He has 3 assists through two games against Charlotte.
• Eriks Mateiko (Washington Capitals 2024 third-round pick): He scored his first goal of the season.
• Lynden Lakovic (Washington Capitals 2025 first-round pick, 27th overall): He played his second pro game and had 2 shots.
• Neither team’s recap noted any Capitals callups or assignments around this game.

Key Notes

• Sikora’s first career AHL goal came in his second North American pro game. He and Theodor Niederbach both made their North American pro debuts on Saturday.
• Hershey won despite going 0-for-6 on the power play and being outshot 29-23. Charlotte outshot the Bears in all three periods.
• The Bears’ power play is 0-for-8 through two games, and Charlotte’s penalty kill is 8-for-8 to start the season. Devine’s goal was Charlotte’s first power-play goal of the season.
• Cristall’s bounce-back: King said Cristall “was a little down” after Saturday’s loss and knew he had more to give. Sunday, on a new line with Sikora and Smallman, he assisted on both first-period goals. Cristall said Sikora has “been unbelievable,” calling him “a dog on a bone.”
• It was Bjorklund’s first win for Hershey since February 27, 2026, at Rockford.
• Dunne has scored in both games of the season. His Saturday goal came in his Bears debut and was his 100th professional point.
• Tyler Muszelik made his pro debut in goal for Charlotte, the Florida Panthers’ affiliate. Devine has scored in both of Charlotte’s games, and the Checkers have scored five third-period goals in two games.
• Both teams are 1-1-0-0 after Charlotte won Saturday’s opener 5-2 behind a Nate Smith hat trick.
• Brothers Sam Bitten (Hershey) and Will Bitten (Charlotte) played against each other as pros for the second straight night.
• Hershey’s Dark Nights Takeover had players in glow-in-the-dark jerseys, which were auctioned after the game.

Up Next

Charlotte Checkers: Saturday, October 10, 7:05 PM ET at the Providence Bruins (away)

Hershey Bears: Saturday, October 10, 7:00 PM ET vs. the Texas Stars (home). It’s the first time Hershey has hosted Texas in the regular season. The game is B-E-A-R-Sapalooza Country Night, and the first 6,000 fans get a straw cowboy hat.