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Zeroing In: More trouble brewing at Plymouth Public Library?

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Orrson, Costello successful defend titles at YMCA’s 32nd annual 3 Mile Run ‘Bernie’s Memorial’

<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Venesky</p><p>tvenesky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Steve Oleksy checks Scott Wilson into the boards during a Bears-Penguins game last season. Oleksy signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh organization that will take him to the other side of the rivalry. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_pensbears041.jpg</photo0><caption0>Steve Oleksy checks Scott Wilson into the boards during a Bears-Penguins game last season. Oleksy signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh organization that will take him to the other side of the rivalry. </caption0></div></div>
<p>When Steve Oleksy joined the Hershey Bears in 2012, he wasn&#8217;t aware of the rivalry against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.</p><p>That changed quickly when the teams met each other in the preseason.</p><p>&#8220;I had a few battles, one with (Dominik) Uher, right away and that set the tone for the next three years. I got a full understanding of the rivalry that preseason and I understood what it takes to play against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton,&#8221; Oleksy said.</p><p>Now the physical blueliner will gain an understanding of what it&#8217;s like to play for the Penguins.</p><p>Oleksy, 29, signed a one-year, two-way contract with Pittsburgh on Thursday. One of the main &#8220;villains&#8221; during the long-standing rivalry between the Bears and Penguins, several of Oleksy&#8217;s former Hershey teammates joked that he&#8217;s joining the &#8220;dark side.&#8221;</p><p>The way Oleksy sees it, he&#8217;s joining an organization that&#8217;s well-respected and one that he&#8217;s very familiar with after facing both the AHL Penguins and Pittsburgh so many times over the last three years.</p><p>&#8220;A lot of people are asking me if I know any of the guys,&#8221; Oleksy said. &#8220;I played against them so much over the years it seems like I do, even though we haven&#8217;t met yet.&#8221;</p><p>Known for his physical play and strong defense, Oleksy brings a leadership element to the Pittsburgh organization as well. He was Hershey&#8217;s captain last season and is now entering his seventh season as a pro. Oleksy has also worked his way up through the ECHL and IHL early in his career and has logged 62 NHL games with Washington.</p><p>Over the last three seasons, Oleksy appeared in 153 games with Hershey and logged 337 penalty minutes. A lot of those minutes were earned during the frequent battles against the Penguins, including several fights against Uher and Bobby Farnham.</p><p>So what&#8217;s it going to be like for Oleksy to walk into the locker room this season and sit with Uher and Farnham?</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s going to be nice to see them in the same room. It&#8217;s hockey and there&#8217;s a mutual respect for the way we play,&#8221; Oleksy said. &#8220;You have to put the past behind you and, if anything, guys like us usually become good friends because of the respect level.&#8221;</p><p>Last season with Hershey, Oleksy tied his career high with 15 points in 68 games. He registered four goals, 147 penalty minutes and was a plus-13.</p><p>Oleksy said it&#8217;s his physical edge that has opened doors for him in hockey and it&#8217;s a style he won&#8217;t neglect, along with playing strong defense.</p><p>Still, as a Penguin, there will be some changes this season.</p><p>&#8220;After three years with Hershey, it&#8217;s going to be different sitting on the other bench at the Giant Center,&#8221; Oleksy said. &#8220;But I&#8217;m very familiar with how the Pittsburgh organization plays because I&#8217;ve seen them so much with Washington and Hershey over the years. They always competed and played the right way no matter who was in the lineup.&#8221;</p><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky</shirttailMeta></div>

Steve Oleksy excited to become teammates with rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins