Friday Feature: Strome Feels At Home In Hershey

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HERSHEY, Pa. - For many American Hockey League (AHL) players, coming off an NHL entry-level contract and hitting free agency brings all kinds of unknowns.

For Matthew Strome, signing a one-year AHL contract with the Hershey Bears in the late summer of 2022 meant jumping ship to a rival team after spending the first three years of his pro hockey career in the Philadelphia Flyers organization.

He certainly didn't know it then, but a slight change of scenery appears to be all Strome needed to carve out a full-time role in the AHL - something he was largely unable to do during his tenure with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

It didn't happen overnight.

In fact, Strome was limited to just 34 regular season games with the Bears last season as a depth player that started to get his looks when mid-season injuries and callups arose like they always do in the AHL.

But as Strome began to see regular playing time, Hershey Bears head coach Todd Nelson recognized - and became more confident - in giving Strome tougher assignments with his ice time including on the penalty kill and matching him up against the opposition's top offensive scorers.

"I know what I'm getting out of Stromer every game," Nelson told InsideAHLHockey.com earlier this season. "He's going to play his game, play the system to a tee and bring a lot of structure to our hockey team. He's been great."

Unfortunately for Strome, the Bears' depth and reinforcements from the Washington Capitals leading into the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs prevented Strome from appearing in any playoff games last spring.

But that didn't stop Hershey from making sure to bring back Strome on a similar one-year AHL contract for this season.

"The coach trusts me. That's the biggest thing you can ask for in pro hockey," Strome told InsideAHLHockey.com earlier this season. "I'm finally getting that trust, being out there for penalty kills, late in games. It's just awesome - it really gets my confidence up."

That confidence in himself has given Strome quite a boost.

Entering the weekend, he's already reached career highs in goals (6), assists (13) and points (19) in just 43 games played this season - in 20 fewer games than when he recorded 5G-11A in 63 games with Lehigh Valley in his final season with the Flyers organization before coming to Hershey.

Strome has also formed a formidable duo in the bottom six with fellow linemate Riley Sutter, as they're usually 'the first two over the boards' when Hershey is on the penalty kill.

The two have become close both on and off the ice, as Strome explained they often hangout and get dinner together away from the rink.

"He's one of the guys on the team that's always positive no matter if he's in the lineup or not," Sutter explained of Strome's strong character and being a great teammate. "Guys like that are the reason why teams tick, and obviously he's been playing really well when he's in the lineup."

With Hershey having already wrapped up the Atlantic Division regular season title, the Bears will once again be a favorite in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs when they begin later this month.

And with his renewed confidence in his game, Strome hopes to get into postseason action this spring as the fifth year pro has yet to experience playoff hockey at the pro level.

"The past couple years, I've kind of been in and out of the lineup - and I was this year - but when I play I'm playing in big situations," Strome explained, adding, "It's nice to know that the coaches trust me, and I think that goes a long way."

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