After leading the Hershey Bears with 30 goals as a rookie, Ethen Frank He primarily fought during the team’s Calder Cup championship in 2023. The Nebraska native was held scoreless in the first 11 AHL playoff games of his career and finished healthy and eliminated on four different occasions.
Now, a year older and wiser, Frank’s luck has changed. In six postseason games so far, the 26-year-old winger is tied with Ivan Miroshnichenko for the team lead in goals (5) and is second behind the Bears in points (7), trailing only Hendrix Lapierre (8). . He is one of six AHL players to have scored five or more goals.
After a shutout loss in Game 3 in the Atlantic Division Semifinals and head coach Todd Nelson saying that “our best players have to be our best players,” Frank scored in three straight games and made some history in the process.
Frank is the first Hershey player in 50 years. half a century – to score three consecutive game-winning goals in the playoffs, joining only Jim Pearson in 1974 (4/19 in BAL, 4/20 vs. BAL, 4/27 vs. PRO). Frank also scored four total goals in his first six games, tying four others for the most in franchise postseason history.
According to the bears:
With his fourth winning goal of the 2024 playoffs last night, @efrank_98 He has tied the franchise record for most game-winning goals in a playoff year, joining Alexandre Giroux and Graham Mink (2009), Blair Atcheynum (1997) and Jim Pearson (1974). pic.twitter.com/Z2oAMYvQVU
– Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) May 19, 2024
Frank is also the second player in team history to record three wins in three consecutive playoff games (5/11 in LV, 5/16 vs. HFD, 5/18 vs. HFD), joining Pearson in 1974 (4 / 19 in BAL, 4/20 vs. BAL, 4/27 vs. pic.twitter.com/nqSE3l90w8
– Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) May 19, 2024
Frank has seen success both on the five-on-five, skating with Hendrix Lapierre and Joe Snively on the team’s first line, and on the power play, where he is a member of the team’s first unit and sets up shop in the serve circle. left neutral. .
“I’ve been trying to work on some things mentally during the playoffs,” Frank told RMNB early in the playoffs. “I know it’s a different animal and being in my second year, I feel like I need to up my game. I think it’s going pretty well.
“I’m just trying not to repeat last year and my inconsistent play. I’m just trying to come out with a different mindset, working hard, winning battles and being a little annoying with my speed. Good things will come with hard work and I know the two linemates I’ve been playing with are very skilled and intelligent players, so they make it pretty easy for me.”
Frank’s four winning games came in the last two weeks: two against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the Atlantic Division semifinals and two against the Hartford Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division Finals. Two came at 5v5 and the others came on the power play.
Victory goal no. 1
May 4 vs. Lehigh Valley – Hershey wins 5-1
In the first period, Frank scored the Bears’ second goal of the night in Game 2 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals.
Victory goal no. 2
May 11 at Lehigh Valley: Hershey wins 5-3
Frank’s second period goal was the Bears’ fourth goal of the night and eliminated the Phantoms in Game 4 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals.
Victory goal no. 3
May 16 vs. Hartford Wolf Pack – Hershey wins 6-1
Frank’s second-period goal was the Bears’ second goal of the night in Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Finals.
Victory goal no. 4
May 18 vs. Hartford Wolf Pack – Hershey wins 4-2
Frank’s third-period goal was the Bears’ third tally of the night in Game 2 of the Atlantic Division Finals.
To put Frank’s accomplishment in perspective, the Hershey Bears have won 12 Calder Cups during their 86 years as a franchise, making many playoff runs. But this season is one for the record books and Frank is another player who has etched his name in them.
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