The Hershey Bears today announced the return of a key cog from a glorious past: Graham Mink will be back in a Bears’ sweater for the 2009-09 season. Mink played a huge role in the Bears’ 2006 Calder Cup championship. From the Bears’ press release:
“Mink, 29, returns to HERSHEY after two seasons with the Worcester Sharks (AHL). In his two years in Massachusetts, he scored 55 goals and 118 points in 132 games played. Despite the laudable personal statistics, the Sharks only played in six postseason games in that span.
“It feels like I’m coming home” Mink said. ”We had so much success the year I was there, (in Hershey) and when you leave and don’t have that success, it makes you want it all the more. Being a part of a championship team is an honor, and it’s something that meant so much to me. It’s something you strive for and something you want.”
“Mink’s season in Hershey was one of the best statistical seasons of his career, as he compiled 21 goals and 40 points in just 43 regular season games. He shone brightest in the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs however, scoring eight goals and assisting on 13 others for 21 points in 21 games played. Perhaps the biggest goal of his professional life came in Game 7 of the 2006 Eastern Conference Finals against the Portland Pirates when he scored in the closing moments to tie the game and force sudden death overtime. With Eric Fehr’s eventual OT winner, the game put the Bears back in the Calder Cup Finals for the first time in nine seasons.
“Any given year, there are four or five teams that can win it all, and I want Hershey to be one of those teams this year” Mink said. “It’s an honor to play for the HERSHEY BEARS, and I can’t wait for the season to start.”
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Nice pickup for Hershey. Will bring some ruggedness to the lineup and hopefully be a nice compliment for the skilled forwards like Perreault/Bouchard.
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