Clay Stevenson is Ready To Handle Calder Cup Workload & Lead Hershey in the Net
“I’ve put myself in the position to be in that role and the confidence in myself,” Clay Stevenson
For the past three years, the Calder Cup Playoffs have been Hunter Shepard's time. He was the starting goaltender for the Hershey Bears, starting every game in the back-to-back title-winning seasons and seven of the eight games in the 2025 playoffs. Shepard wasn’t great in the regular season and never established himself as an NHL-caliber goaltender but in a big game and on a big stage, he would deliver for the Bears.
Clay Stevenson is following in his footsteps. He’s now the starter for the Bears and the goaltender they will lean on in hopes of a deep playoff run. The Bridgeport Islanders entered Game One with a great offense and one that could generate quality scoring chances.
They averaged 3. 04 goals per game during the 2025-26 season and 3. 62 goals per game in their final eight games.
Yet, Stevenson shut the door. “It felt great. I was able to make some clean good saves and not leave too much junk around,” the Bears goaltender noted after an 18-save shutout performance.
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