Hershey

Let the good times begin.That was the word from Baltimore Skipjacks coach Rob Lairyesterday, as he sent his team through its final workout in preparation for tonight's American Hockey League season opener against the Hershey Bears at the Baltimore Arena."

Goalie Olaf Kolzig stopped 26 shots and defenseman Mark Ferner scored two goals, leading the Baltimore Skipjacks to a 4-1 American Hockey League victory over the Hershey Bears before 5,606 at the Baltimore Arena last night.The victory, Baltimore's second in its past three games, enabled the Skipjacks to regain a tie for first place in the Southern Division with the idle Rochester Americans.Kolzig, who called it a "character win," made several point-blank stops, as he dived, kicked, gloved and blocked shots with his stick and blocker pad. The only goal he allowed was on a short-handed breakaway by Guy Phillips.

HERSHEY, Pa. -- The Hershey Bears continued their season-long domination of the Skipjacks last night before a record-breaking sellout crowd of 7,559 at the Hersheypark Arena.The Bears, who belabored two Baltimore goalies, ripped the Skipjacks, 8-2, to win the season series, 10-3-3, and were unbeaten against the Skipjacks in Hershey, 7-0-1. Seven of the ++ 16 games were decided by one goal.The sellout gave Hershey 232,700 for the season, beating the old single-season record of 231,758 set in 1990.

HERSHEY, Pa. -- The Hershey Bears are the type of team you can't give a break.Riddled by injuries, flu and call-ups to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Bears were a team ripe to be beaten last night before 5,875 at the Hersheypark Arena.The Baltimore Skipjacks, however, failed to take advantage of Hershey's weaknesses. The Bears used Baltimore penalties and mistakes to their advantage in scoring a 3-1 AHL Southern Division victory."We were the definite underdogs coming into the game," said Hershey coach Mike Eaves.

The Skipjacks' Keith Jones seems intent on making a habit of being cruel to Bears.The 23-year-old right wing from Ontario scored two goals, both on power plays, in the Skipjacks' 4-2 victory over the Hershey Bears last night before 2,867 at the Baltimore Arena. His goals -- the last two of the game -- came late in the first period and 5:10 into the second.Jones scored four goals in last Tuesday's 7-5 exhibition win over the Bears at the Arena in the Skipjacks' final tuneup for the season opener.

Tim Tookey's goal at 13 minutes, 22 seconds of the third period broke a tie and gave the Hershey Bears a 3-2 victory over the Baltimore Skipjacks in an American Hockey League game before 3,156 at the Baltimore Arena last night.Players on both teams appeared as if their minds were on other things, as they muddled through an error-filled contest that drew boos from the fans.The loss was the second in a row and third in the past four games for the Skipjacks, who lead the season series, 4-2. The defeat dropped Baltimore out of first place in the Southern Division, as the Adirondack Red Wings, who beat the Cape Breton Oilers, 6-4, moved one point in front of the Jacks.

The Skipjacks losing streak is beginning to get monotonous. No matter how well they play, the losses keep piling up.Last night, before 4,633 at the Baltimore Arena, the Hershey Bears scored two short-handed goals in the third period to pull out a 5-4 AHL Southern Division victory.The loss was the seventh in the row for the Skipjacks, and their winless streak ballooned to nine (0-8-1). The loss kept Baltimore in last place in the division.The win was the third in a row for Hershey, which is 6-3-0 in the past nine games.

HERSHEY, Pa. -- Just when the Skipjacks thought they were turning the tide in their rivalry with Hershey, the Bears reverted to their testy old ways.Since beating Hershey twice in the first week of the season, the Skipjacks have dropped two straight. They lost to the Bears, 2-1, last night before 4,905 at Hersheypark Arena, their fourth straight defeat.The Skipjacks (7-13-5, 19 points) thereby dropped out of a tie for third with the Bears (9-13-3, 21 points) in the American Hockey League's Southern Division.

HERSHEY, Pa. -- The Hershey Bears treated a pre-holiday crowd of 7,250, their largest of the season, to a 5-2 victory over the Skipjacks last night.The Skipjacks thereby lost their hold on second place in the American Hockey League's Southern Division. The Rochester Americans climbed into second behind the division-leading Binghamton Rangers by defeating St. John's, 5-3.It was the third of 14 games between Hershey and Baltimore this season. The Skipjacks lead the series, 2-1-0.The Bears took a 3-2 lead into the final period and added two more goals while successfully killing the clock and holding the Skipjacks' weak offense in check.

The Hershey Bears scored three third-period goals last night at the Arena to defeat the Skipjacks, 4-2.The victory was the second in a row for Hershey over the Skipjacks and evened the season series at 2-2-1. The win also cut Baltimore's AHL Southern Division lead to four points over second-place Hershey.Len Barrie's slap shot from the left circle with 14 minutes, 14 seconds remaining in the third period, broke a 2-2 tie. Al Conroy won a faceoff in the right circle and the puck went back to Darren Rumble at the point.