Hershey Bears Add Sonny Milano Ahead of Matchup With Rockford IceHogs

The Bears look to build on a much-needed home win as they head to Rockford for the first time since 2018-19.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Hershey Bears will take on the Rockford IceHogs on Friday night, with puck drop at 8 p.m. ET. Hershey is coming off a 6-3 home win over the Utica Comets on Wednesday, snapping a seven-game home winless streak. The Bears have also added forward Sonny Milano to the roster after he cleared waivers and was loaned from the Washington Capitals. Milano previously played five games for Hershey in the 2022-23 season. The Bears will be looking to earn their first-ever win at the BMO Center in Rockford, where they are 0-2-0-0 all-time.

Why it matters

This game is an important one for the Bears as they look to build momentum and secure a playoff spot. Hershey currently has a magic number of 35 points to clinch a postseason berth. The addition of Sonny Milano also gives the team a boost as they take on a Rockford squad that leads the AHL in penalty minutes per game and has struggled on the penalty kill.

The details

Hershey is coming off a strong performance against Utica, with Brett Leason scoring twice in the first period and Kaden Bohlsen and Ilya Protas scoring 12 seconds apart in the second to blow the game open. Coach Derek King was pleased with his team's start and wants to carry that momentum into Rockford. The Bears have never won at the BMO Center, going 0-2-0-0 all-time there, but they did beat Rockford twice at home earlier this season. The IceHogs present some special teams challenges, leading the AHL in penalty minutes per game and ranking 19th in the league on the penalty kill, though they have also allowed a league-worst 12 shorthanded goals.

  • Hershey snapped a seven-game home winless skid with a 6-3 win over the Utica Comets on Wednesday.
  • Sonny Milano was loaned to Hershey by the Washington Capitals on Thursday after clearing waivers.
  • Friday's game will be the first trip to Rockford for the Bears since the 2018-19 season.
  • Hershey's magic number to clinch a playoff berth is 35 points.

The players

Sonny Milano

A forward who was loaned to the Hershey Bears by the Washington Capitals after clearing waivers. Milano spent time with the Bears in the 2022-23 season, posting two goals and an assist in five games.

Derek King

The head coach of the Hershey Bears. This will be his first return to Rockford as a visiting coach after leaving the Chicago Blackhawks organization to take over behind the bench in Hershey.

Brett Leason

A Hershey Bears forward who scored twice in the first period and finished with three points in the team's 6-3 win over the Utica Comets on Wednesday.

Grant Cruikshank

A Rockford IceHogs forward who leads the AHL this season with four shorthanded goals.

Andrew Cristall

A Hershey Bears rookie who became the first Bears rookie to record 30 assists since Travis Boyd had 32 in the 2015-16 season.

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What they’re saying

“I think we had a plan that we wanted to come out and jump on them, and we got a goal right off the bat, and I think that just gave us some momentum and some energy.”

— Derek King, Head Coach, Hershey Bears (fox43.com)

“A lot of the games we've been just playing from behind. We scored early, and that got us the lead, playing with some confidence. It was nice playing with the lead for a change and to give the fans what they deserve.”

— Brett Leason, Forward, Hershey Bears (fox43.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.