Bears-Firebirds back on tap for 2024 Calder Cup Finals | TheAHL.com

For the first time in 33 years, two teams will meet in the Calder Cup Finals for the second consecutive year as The Hershey Bears square against Coachella Valley Firebirds starting Friday night at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pa.

Last year’s championship series is widely considered the best Finals in league history, culminating in the Bears becoming the first AHL team to ever win the Calder Cup with a sudden-death overtime goal in Game 7.

The Eastern Conference champions are in the finals for the 25th time in franchise history and for the seventh time since becoming the Washington Capitals franchise in 2005. Under the head coach. Todd NelsonHershey is bidding for the 10th repeat in league history (Buffalo 1943-44, Cleveland 1953-54, Hershey 1958-59, Springfield 1960-61-62, Rochester 1965-66, Nova Scotia 1976-1978, Maine 79, Springfield 1990-91, Hershey 2009-10).

It is led by a former Stanley Cup winning head coach Dan BylsmaThe Firebirds – the NHL’s Seattle Kraken – are the fourth club in league history to reach the Calder Cup Finals in their first two seasons (Syracuse 1937-38, Nova Scotia 1972-73, Maine 1978-79).

The last playoff game occurred in 1991, when the Springfield Indians defeated the Rochester Americans again for their second consecutive championship.

2024 Calder Cup Finals Hershey Bears vs. Coachella Valley Firebirds
Game 1	Friday, June 14	Coachella Valley at Hershey, 7:00 p.m
Game 2	Sun., June 16	Coachella Valley at Hershey, 5:00
Game 3	Tuesday, June 18	Hershey at Coachella Valley, 10:00
Game 4	Thursday, June 20	Hershey at Coachella Valley, 10:00
*Game 5	Saturday, June 22	Hershey at Coachella Valley, 9 p.m
*Game 6	Monday, June 24	Coachella Valley at Hershey, 7:00 p.m
*Game 7	Wednesday, June 26	Coachella Valley at Hershey, 7:00 p.m
		*if necessary… All times in Mpumalanga