Keith Aucoin and Alexandre Giroux comprise two-thirds of Hershey’s most offensively productive line and sit atop the league in scoring with 61 points and 55 points, respectively. The prolific duo share similar careers—each with nearly a decade in the AHL—punctuated by part-time NHL stints.
With the East Division action looming this weekend, Aucoin and Giroux took time to reflect on former teams, the upcoming three-in-three and the Bears’ whirlwind season.
The Binghamton Senators come to Giant Center Sunday night for their third of four visits this season. Giroux spent two years in the Senators organization early in his career. However, unbeknownst to many in Bears Nation, Aucoin also has ties to Binghamton. Prior to the inception of the Sens franchise, a young Aucoin got his start with the UHL’s Broome County Icemen.
“I played my first years there [Binghamton], so it was a learning place for playing in the pro game,” Aucoin said.
“It was a learning experience for me, and I developed my game and became a better player. I figured out what I had to do to get to the next level.”
Giroux largely credits Binghamton for his development, as well.
“Every time I play against them I think about it. It’s always fun to play against them and play your best and show them that they should’ve kept you. I played in Hartford, too, so every time we play them or Binghamton I always feel that I have to prove myself,” he said.
Despite a 15-point cushion, both Giroux and Aucoin are intent on adding some distance between the Bears and the rest of the division this weekend. With Friday’s trip to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and home games against Albany and Binghamton on Saturday and Sunday, this weekend offers plenty of opportunity.
According to Aucoin, “It’s big. Anytime you play division rivals, I think it’s huge separating yourselves from the rest of the division, especially with a team coming to get us even more now than at the beginning of the year. We have to be ready for every game.”
For Giroux this weekend will be tough. “We’re on a roll right now,” he said.
“We need these points really badly, and they do too. It’s going to be tough games, and we need to be ready for the challenge.”
Pacing the entire league with 70 points in 45 games, the Bears have already broken a number of franchise records this season: longest winning streak (12 games, from Dec. 12 to Jan. 13), longest home winning streak (14 games and counting, from Nov. 29 to present), largest regular-season crowd (10,844 vs. Manitoba Jan. 23) and most shots on goal in a single period (27 shots, Oct. 17). However, Aucoin cautioned about the toll record chasing can take on the team.
“If you’re going to break records it’s really good to get it out of the way as early as possible so you’re not worried about it, like anywhere during that stretch of breaking 11 games. It kind of wears on you because everyone is talking about it.”
Shattered records aside, everyone is talking about this team. On pace to become the best-ever team in Hershey’s 72-year history, it would appear that the Bears are already in contention for an 11th AHL title. With Calder Cup number 10 in the rear view mirror and much of the 2009 championship team still intact, the boys in the Chocolate and White look poised to defend the Cup.
“It’s really tough [to defend the Cup],” Giroux said.
“Last year was a long season. You go home in June, and you don’t have as much time to get ready for the season. Then you come back and do it all over again.”
Looking to continue the club’s domination through the second half of the season, Aucoin said, “I think it’s fun. It’s my first time being a defending champion. We have a pretty good team this year; we could even be a little bit better than we were last year the way we’re playing. I think the young guys got a lot better than they were last year. I didn’t realize how much further they had to get—how much stronger and faster.
“Every team comes at you hard and wants to beat the defending champion.”
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