HERSHEY, Pa.— The Hershey Bears are one of the deepest teams in the American Hockey League, meaning many of their talented and accomplished black aces may never see the ice during the playoffs. But behind the scenes, they are working hard and making the most of the experience.
andres crystal, the Washington Capitals‘ second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, was traded to the Bears in late April after his junior season in the WHL ended. Cristall’s Kelowna Rockets were eliminated by Zac Funk’s Prince George Cougars in the second round of the WHL playoffs.
During the regular season, Cristall set new career highs in goals (40), assists (71) and points (111), recording two hat tricks and achieving a milestone seven-point game. The winger prospect finished fifth in the WHL in scoring and tied for 13th in goals, averaging 1.79 points per game during his age 18 season. The only thing that didn’t go well for Cristall individually was a prized spot on Canada’s U20 World Junior Championship team.
Since arriving at Hershey, Cristall has impressed and showcased his tantalizing talent.
“He’s a smart, skilled player,” Hershey Bears head coach Todd Nelson told RMNB. “I think it’s a good experience for him to start professional hockey. He is learning every day. When he does the competitive exercises, you can see that he is still young, but he will only get stronger. He’s just a young player. And you see that all the time the guys who come from junior will have to adapt. But he’s been really good. Like I said, he has a skill set that is special. He is going to be a very good hockey player.”
Cristall typically takes the Early Skate with other black aces and extras, jumping onto the Giant Center or Hersheypark Arena ice sheet before the main team. As players remain prepared for a potential opportunity in the AHL playoffs, they are also receiving guidance.
Bryan Helmer, Hershey’s vice president of hockey operations, took the ice during the team’s on-ice sessions alongside Brooks Orpik and Jim Slater, a member of the Washington Capitals’ player development department who works primarily with forwards. Slater played 584 NHL games with the Winnipeg Jets and was especially good at the neutral spot as a center.
Cristall is present for Hershey’s home playoff games (RMNB saw him in Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Finals) and does not travel for road playoff games. He has also spent a lot of time with fellow Capitals second-rounder Vincent Iorio, who has already played 9 games in the NHL despite being only 21 years old.
“I think (the Black Aces) can get a lot out of (the experience),” Bears veteran defenseman Aaron Ness said. “You know the guys who did it last year are now playing in the playoffs for us, right? So I think you learn, watch and practice every day. They’re getting better: on the ice, off the ice, in the gym, everywhere. And everyone has had incredible attitudes. They are great players and you never know, right? They are preparing, maintaining and ready when called upon. I think that’s the most important mindset is to just stay prepared and prepared because it can take a long time. But there’s a great attitude from start to finish all the time, a great group of guys and it’s fun to skate with them every day.”
Recently, Cristall spoke with RMNB at the Giant Center about his experience in Hershey, his incredible season with the Kelowna Rockets, his favorite moments in his first Capitals training camp and his long friendship with Connor Bedard.
RMNB Q&A with Andrew Cristall
The questions have been lightly edited for clarity.
Tell me about your time in Hershey since you arrived. What have you been doing here? How are you using this experience to your advantage to develop yourself?
Andrés Cristall: “Yeah, I think I got here maybe April 22, so I’ve been here for a while. It’s been unreal until now. It’s been super incredible. Everyone has been super welcoming. But yeah, a typical day for me, I come to the rink and practice, work out, hang out with the guys and stuff, and then I usually come back and hang out with some of the guys and just fool around.”
Who do you work closely with while here at Hershey? Do you have a mentor?
Andrés Cristall: “Yes, I mean a lot of the guys. A guy I knew before I came was Vinny, Vincent Iorio and he’s been super good inviting me over to his house and sometimes making me dinner and just hanging out. So he’s been great. “Everyone has been very welcoming too.”
What do you think you’ve learned from the experience so far?
Andrés Cristall: “I think the one thing I learned is how well to take care of your body. Before practice, players always stretch and make sure they are ready to get on the ice and prepare. “It doesn’t matter if it’s just a quick skate or a longer one, they are always preparing and treating their body well.”
How would you rate your 2023-24 season with the Kelowna Rockets? A lot of Capitals fans on social media were really excited about your play this season.
Andrés Cristall: “Yes, I thought it went very well. I thought our team improved as well, so it was a very good step for us. Getting past the first round was a big goal for us to go a little further in the playoffs. Personally, I felt confident throughout the year and felt great. I hope to bring that momentum and carry it into next season and be here.”
What were the best moments of your season?
Andrés Cristall: “Honestly, the win in the first round, the sixth game at home, was incredible. It was a really close match. In fact, they would have had their backs against the wall and we played really well. I was able to score, so it was a really nice feeling to do it at home. But that was a very important moment of the year.”
Do you prefer scoring goals or being an assistant?
Andrés Cristall: “Yeah, to be honest, I think it’s both. Anything I can do to help put the puck in the net, I’ll do it. So if I see the pass, I will definitely make the pass instead of shooting it for no reason. So yeah, I think they’re both pretty much the same.”
You mentioned your skating as something you really wanted to improve. How have you tried to do it?
Andrés Cristall: “Yeah, I worked with Wendy Marco at Development Camp and it was really good for me to work with her, and then I came home in the summer and worked with a skating coach named Barb Aidelbaum. I worked with her all summer and took some exercises that she had for me and tried to apply them throughout the year and stuff like that. I will work with her again and I think she helped me a lot.”
Pun intended, did you feel like you made progress this year?
Andrés Cristall: (laughs) “Yes, definitely. I think so. I thought I definitely had an extra step, especially off the line and just my acceleration. “I’m still working on getting more speed and (making) my stride a little longer, but I definitely think I took a step forward this year.”
What was it like being around a superstar like Alex Ovechkin in training camp? Did you have any moments that stood out then? I remember you forgot your shoes before a preseason game.
Andrés Cristall: “It was an amazing experience. I can’t really put it into words. (Laughs) I never really expected to be in that position as a kid. It was great learning from all those guys like Ovi, Oshie, all the guys there. Backstrom when he was there. It was great for me to be a part of and they were all so welcoming. Yeah, that was a fun moment. I think I forgot my shoes from the car. I ran back and Ovi said, ‘Slow down.’ The game’s not going anywhere. part. So yeah, it was a pretty fun time.”
So excited for tonight that he forgot his shoes in the car 😂#ALL CKeynote USAS | @kia pic.twitter.com/gi8NOvLQZP
– Washington Capitals (@Capitales) September 28, 2023
Did you have a ‘Welcome to the NHL’ moment at training camp?
Andrés Cristall: “Yes, I think there were a couple. One time I was on the ice at the end of practice, just stretching, and Oshie was going down and shooting one of the goalies there. And he (was) scoring every time and I was like, ‘Wow, it’s crazy to see him do this in person.’ “So it was crazy.”
When we all talked to Connor Bedard at the NHL Rookie Showcase last September, he told us about you: “Washington has a great player and you should be very excited about him” and Andrew is “probably the smartest hockey player I’ve ever met.” play with.” Your thoughts?
Andrés Cristall: “Yeah, no, I mean, it’s really nice for him to say it. Definitely inflating my tires a little. I’m aware of. But yeah, no, it’s been a lot of fun growing up with him and playing and competing, so yeah, he’s a great guy.”
What I’ve discovered as an adult is that when I’m surrounded by people more experienced and talented than me, it constantly challenges me to be a better person and get the most out of myself. Have you had a similar experience being with Connor? Do you feel like that has helped you grow as a player?
Andrés Cristall: “Yes absolutely. I think if you surround yourself with the type of players (that are) where you want to be, it will help you get there. And being able to skate with him all summer and see what he does and compete against him as well and compare yourself to see in what you need to improve, it has been very beneficial for my development growing up.”
This is perhaps the most important question I have to ask. Are you joining your roller hockey team in the NSIHL again this summer?
Andrés Cristall: (laughs) “Yeah, we’re still in talks right now.”
Now I imagine big contractual discussions.
Andrés Cristall: (still laughing) “Contract negotiations with the league? No, but I think Connor is at the World Championships right now and not everyone is ready to come back to Vancouver yet, so. “Once we all get back there, I think we’ll have a discussion and try to join the league again because it’s a lot of fun.”
The name of your roller hockey team is Great Guys, but would you personally consider yourself a great guy?
Andrés Cristall: “Yes, I mean I would like to think so. I think to be on that team you have to qualify a little. I think so, yes.”
What are your goals for next year? You just missed out on Canada’s World Junior Championship team.
Andrés Cristall: “Yeah, I think that’s obviously a really big goal. I want to be part of that team and be sure to participate in that conversation. And then going into next year, I want to have a good training camp and force them to make a tough decision about me and try to work as hard as I can and see what happens.”
Would you say you’re getting into that place where you’re probably ready to be a full-time AHL player next year, but you have to be in the NHL or junior?
Andrés Cristall: “I think no matter what you can develop, you know where you are. If that’s in the WHL, there’s a lot of things I can do to get better and things I can work on to be ready to make that jump next year. But yes, wherever I am, I will be happy.”
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