The Hershey Bears are the 2022-23 Calder Cup champions.

Led by Winnipeg product Dylan McIlrath, the American Hockey League's oldest team took care of business against its newest club, the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Wednesday night. 

Scoring the Game 7 overtime winner was Mike Vecchione, as he hammered home a loose puck in a net-front scramble with just 3:41 left to play in the extra frame, handing Hershey the 3-2, come-from-behind victory.

Having not won a Calder Cup since earning back-to-back league titles in 2008-09 and 2009-10, the celebration was everything you would expect from the final hockey game played in any professional or junior 2022-23 hockey season. 

As a matter of fact, the season actually stretched all the way to June 22, as the game officially ended after midnight at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, CA. 

Leading the way was the Winnipegger, McIlrath. 

Having signed a two-year contract in July of 2021 with the Washington Capitals, the rugged blueliner spent the majority of his time with Hershey over the past two seasons. He did skate in six games for the Capitals this year, collecting his first NHL point since 2017, while picking up seven penalty minutes in the process. 

But it was with the Bears where he did most of his damage. Named captain for the 2022-23 season, the now 31-year-old suited up for 60 games with Hershey, registering 13 points and 102 penalty minutes on the year. He scored, picked up an assist and collected 44 minutes in penalties in his club's 20 playoff games. 

And in the early morning hours of Thursday he raised the Calder Cup high for the second time, but first with Hershey. 

The last time he felt that feeling was in the spring of 2017, when his Grand Rapids Griffins finished atop the AHL. That season was about as much of a whirlwind for McIlrath as one could imagine. Thanks to trades, waiver claims and minors assignments, he actually suited up for five different teams that season. 

It's safe to say that this championship feels a bit different for the 600-game pro.

"It's unbelievable," McIlrath said immediately after the game in an on-ice interview with Fox 43's Todd Sadowski.

"I've been fortunate enough to win one. I was traded there at the deadline so I got to know those guys real quick and that was special. But to do it with this group and be here for two years with most of them, it's a surreal feeling, I can't even put it into words."

After falling behind 2-0 to Coachella on the road in Game 7, one might have ruled the Bears out for any sort of late-game heroics. But Hershey was hungry for its 12th league championship and got the job done when it mattered most. 

"We knew we were capable of it," McIlrath added post-game. "We obviously hadn't shown much of it in this building yet. Getting that first one got us some confidence and then playing Hershey Bears hockey, like you said. We've been doing it all year, coming from behind. Two goals, that didn't mean anything to us. I'm just so proud of this group."

Currently sizing his second Calder Cup championship ring, the next order of business for the Winnipegger is to sort out his contract - whether that is with Washington once again, or elsewhere. 

According to Puck Pedia, McIlrath has an estimated career earnings of $7.7 million over his 10 years and six contracts.