Nate Smith turned a Hershey lead into a Charlotte advantage, then completed a hat trick as the Checkers pulled away at Giant Center. The Bears opened their 89th season by striking first and later tying the game at two, but Charlotte scored three times in the third period to secure a 5-2 win.
How the Game Played Out
The opening stretch was scoreless for three minutes before Hershey broke through. Bratzinski put a shot on goal, and Josh Dunne buried the rebound for the first goal of the season, giving the Bears a 1-0 lead. The play connected Bratzinski’s shot with a finish from Dunne and gave the home side the early start it wanted.
Charlotte answered through Smith, who beat Cal Petersen with a one-timer to make it 1-1. The Checkers then took the lead after a turnover involving Ryan Chesley. Smith collected the puck and scored again, putting Charlotte ahead 2-1. Hershey nearly found an answer on a shorthanded chance, with Cruikshank driving toward the middle and forcing a save from Black, but the Bears’ next breakthrough came later.
Jacob McDonald tied the game at two with a late second-period wrist shot from the right point. The puck found its way through on the glove side for McDonald’s first goal as a Bear, restoring the tie after Smith’s pair had put Charlotte in front. That goal gave Hershey a foothold heading into the third, with the home opener still level.
The decisive swing came in the third. After Cal Petersen made a big save on Welby Kin, Charlotte kept pressing. A deflection from Subringel’s point shot gave Smith his third goal of the night and put the Checkers back in front. Charlotte extended its lead when Angus Crookshank’s shot was redirected by Jack Devine, the first Charlotte goal not scored by Smith. With Hershey needing two, the Bears faced a late push, but Will Bitetto added an empty-net goal to complete the 5-2 result.
What the Result Means
Charlotte leaves Hershey with a season-opening win built on a timely response and a three-goal third period. Smith’s three goals supplied the central storyline, while Devine’s redirect added insurance before Bitetto finished the scoring. For the Checkers, the game showed how quickly a close contest could turn once they regained the lead.
Hershey had its own promising moments: Dunne opened the scoring, McDonald’s first goal as a Bear tied it late in the second, and the team created a shorthanded opportunity. But after Charlotte moved ahead in the third, the Bears could not close the gap. The broadcast noted that Hershey would play again tomorrow at 3:00, giving the Bears an immediate chance to respond on home ice.
Watch the Highlights
The highlights capture the full arc of the opener, from Dunne’s rebound goal to Smith’s hat trick and Charlotte’s late finish. Watch the video above for the goals, saves and key sequences from Giant Center.
Final Score: Hershey Bears 2, Charlotte Checkers 5.
Final Score: Hershey Bears 2, Charlotte Checkers 5.
Source: Hershey Bears game highlights + Highlightly match data