Hershey Bears Defenseman Jon McDonald Scores on Wild Bank Shot

HERSHEY, PA — Hershey Bears defenseman Jon McDonald scored a memorable goal on February 21, 2026, against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, marking his fifth career AHL goal. The goal came after a neutral zone faceoff won by Grant Cruikshank, followed by an innocent dump-in by McDonald into the offensive zone.

The puck took an unusual bounce off a stanchion along the corner boards and deflected into the net, catching Phantoms goaltender Carson Bjarnason off guard. McDonald celebrated with his teammates, visibly pleased with the fortunate play.

The goal, scored at 2:17 of the first period, gave the Bears a 1-0 lead in front of a capacity crowd at the Giant Center. This came after a 4-1 loss to the Phantoms the previous night.

McDonald, known for his physical play, has recorded 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists) in 73 games for the Bears over the past two seasons. He also contributed to a 3-1 victory over the Rochester Americans on January 23, 2026, assisting on Grant Cruikshank’s shorthanded goal, alongside Matt Strome.

Cruikshank’s Shorthanded Goal

Grant Cruikshank has been a key offensive contributor for the Bears, leading the league with four shorthanded goals this season, including the goal against the Americans. This is the most shorthanded goals by a Bear since Chris Bourque recorded five in the 2011-12 campaign. Cruikshank’s goal was also Hershey’s league-leading eighth shorthanded marker of the season.

Recent Games

While the Bears secured a 3-1 win against the Rochester Americans, they later faced a 6-4 loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on February 21, 2026, despite a comeback attempt that tied the game at 4-4 in the second period. McDonald’s goal against the Phantoms was his second of the season.

The Bears’ record against the Phantoms is currently 4-4-1-0.

Sources: Russian Machine Never Breaks, The Sentinel, Hershey Bears Official Website