Hershey Bears facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hershey Bears
City	Hershey, Pennsylvania
League	American Hockey League
Conference	Eastern
Division	Atlantic
Founded	1932 (T-SHL/EAHL); 1938 (IAHL/AHL)
Home arena	Giant Center (2002–present)
Colors	Chocolate, tan, cocoa, white
Owner(s)	Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company
General manager	Bryan Helmer (de facto - VP of Hockey Operations)
Head coach	Todd Nelson
Captain	Aaron Ness
Media	The Patriot-News WFVY WHTM-TV (ABC27) WHP-TV (CBS21) WGAL-TV (NBC8) WPMT-TV (FOX43) AHL.TV (Internet)
Affiliate(s)	Washington Capitals (NHL) South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL)
Franchise history
1932–1933†	Hershey B'ars (T-SHL)
1933–1934†	Hershey Chocolate B'ars (EAHL)
1934–1936†	Hershey B'ars (EAHL)
1936–1938†	Hershey Bears (EAHL)
1938–1939†	Hershey Cubs (EAHL)
† —Non-AHL franchises operated by the Hershey Hockey Club
1938–present	Hershey Bears (IAHL, AHL)
Championships
Regular season titles	9 (1942–43, 1957–58, 1980–81, 1985–86, 1987–88, 2006–07, 2009–10, 2020–21, 2023–24)
Division Championships	19 (1938–39, 1943–44, 1946–47, 1951–52, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1975–76, 1980–81, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1993–94, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2020–21, 2023–24)
Conference Championships	25 (1940–41, 1941–42, 1944–45, 1946–47, 1948–49, 1953–54, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1968–69, 1973–74, 1975–76, 1979–80, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1996–97, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2015–16, 2022–23, 2023–24)
Calder Cups	13 (1946–47, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1968–69, 1973–74, 1979–80, 1987–88, 1996–97, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2022–23, 2023–24)
Current uniform
Current season

The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team from Hershey, Pennsylvania. This town is famous for its chocolate! The Bears have been part of the American Hockey League (AHL) since the 1938–39 season. This makes them the oldest team in the league that has continuously played in the same city.

The Bears are the main development team for the Washington Capitals of the NHL. This partnership started in the 2005-06 season. Since 2002–03, the Bears play their home games at Giant Center. Before that, they played at Hersheypark Arena from 1938 to 2002. The Bears have won the Calder Cup 13 times. This is more than any other team in the AHL! They won their most recent championship in 2024.

The "Hershey Hockey Club" was started in 1932 by chocolate maker Milton S. Hershey. He wanted to bring professional hockey to Hershey. This club, now called the Hershey Bears Hockey Club, is part of the Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company.

Hockey legend Gordie Howe, also known as "Mr. Hockey," once said, "Everybody who is anybody in hockey has played in Hershey." This shows how important the team is in the hockey world.

Team History: The Bears' Journey

How Hershey Hockey Began

Hershey Ice Palace 1932 amateur hockey program

The story of Hershey hockey started with amateur games in 1931. The first official game in Hershey was on February 18, 1931. It was played at the Hershey Ice Palace.

Because these games were so popular, Milton Hershey decided to bring professional hockey to the town. He created the Hershey Hockey Club in 1932. This club is one of the oldest professional ice hockey organizations in North America. Only a few NHL teams are older.

The first team was the amateur Hershey B'ars. They played in the Tri-State Hockey League. After one season, the league became the Eastern Amateur Hockey League. Hershey's team was called the "Chocolate B'ars" for a year, then "B'ars" again. In 1936, they became the "Hershey Bears." This name stuck because people thought "B'ars" sounded too much like an advertisement.

On December 19, 1936, the EAHL Bears moved to the new Hersheypark Arena. This arena was much bigger than their old rink. The Bears played over 2,280 games there until 2002. Now, Hersheypark Arena is only used for practice.

The Bears won the EAHL championship in 1937. They even played in an international tournament in Toronto.

The 1932–33 Hershey B'ars at the Ice Palace, Hershey's first professional hockey team

Joining the IAHL (Later the AHL)

Newspaper clipping about the Hershey Bears joining the IAHL in 1938

In 1938, two hockey leagues, the Can-Am and IHL, merged to form the International-American Hockey League (IAHL). This league later became the American Hockey League (AHL) in 1940. The Hershey Bears Hockey Club was given a spot in this new league.

The Bears were very good in their first IAHL season, winning their division. However, they lost in the playoffs.

Hershey Hockey Club program and guide (1938–39)

Coach Ralph "Cooney" Weiland led the Bears during the war years. They won regular-season titles in 1942–43 and 1943–44. In 1947, the Bears won their first Calder Cup championship! They beat the Cleveland Barons and then the Pittsburgh Hornets to win the cup.

Arnie Kullman joined the Bears in 1948. He played his entire 12-year career in Hershey. He scored 629 points for the team. Only two other players have scored more points for the Bears.

The 1950s and 1960s: New Stars and More Cups

Arnie Kullman (1948–60)

From 1950 to 1956, former Boston Bruins players coached the Bears. In 1953–54, George "Red" Sullivan became the second Bear to win the scoring title. He also became the first Bear to be named the league's MVP (Most Valuable Player). His 89 assists that season are still an AHL record!

A famous hockey personality, Don "Grapes" Cherry, also played briefly for the Bears in the 1950s. He later became a well-known coach and TV commentator.

In 1956, Frank Mathers joined the Bears. He became a player-coach, general manager, and club president. Mathers stayed with the Bears for 35 years! Under his leadership, the team won over 1,500 games and six Calder Cups. He is a very important figure in Bears history.

Mathers led the Bears to back-to-back Calder Cup wins in 1958 and 1959. In 1958, they won both the regular season and the playoffs. In 1959, they finished with a .500 record but still managed to win the Calder Cup.

From left to right: Don Cherry, Frank Mathers, and Mike Nykoluk. All joined the Bears in the 1950s

In 1958, Mike Nykoluk joined the team. He played for 14 years and became the Bears' all-time leader in games played (972). His jersey number eight was the first to be retired by the Bears.

The Bears won another Calder Cup in 1969. They defeated the Quebec Aces in five games. Gil Gilbert led the league in scoring with 100 points that season.

The 1970s and 1980s: More Championships and Records

In 1973, Frank Mathers stopped coaching to focus on being the general manager. Chuck Hamilton, a former Bears player, became the new coach. In his first season, he led the team to their fifth Calder Cup title in 1974! They only lost two games in the entire playoffs.

Hershey won their sixth Calder Cup in 1980. This was under player/coach Doug Gibson. Even though the team had a losing record in the regular season, they surprised everyone by winning the championship.

In 1980–81, the Bears had their best regular season yet. They scored 357 goals, which is still a team record! Mark Lofthouse became the fifth Bear to win the AHL scoring title. He also set a team record with eight points in one game.

Bears locker room at HersheyPark Arena

A young player named Tim Tookey joined the Bears in 1980. He played for the team in three different periods. He became the second all-time leading scorer for the Bears.

In 1985, John Paddock became the coach. Under him, the Bears won two regular-season titles and their seventh Calder Cup in 1988.

HersheyPark Arena

In 1985–86, Ross Fitzpatrick scored 50 goals. Rookie goalie Ron Hextall set a team record with three shutouts in a row. Hextall was named AHL Rookie of the Year and best goalie. He later became a star in the NHL.

In 1986–87, Tim Tookey set a single-season record for a Hershey player with 124 points. This also made him the league's MVP.

The 1987–88 season was special. The Bears celebrated 50 years as a professional hockey club. They won a league record 50 regular-season games. They also swept all three playoff series, winning the Calder Cup with a perfect 12-0 record! This was an amazing achievement.

Ron Hextall was the AHL Rookie of the Year as a Bear in 1985–86.

Modern Era: Recent Successes

The Washington Capitals became the Bears' NHL parent club again in 2005. The Bears have played in 22 Calder Cup Finals, which is a league record. They won back-to-back Calder Cups in 2009 and 2010. They became the first AHL team to win a Calder Cup series after being down 0–2.

On December 20, 2006, the Bears played their 5,000th regular-season game. They won 7–4 against the Albany River Rats. On May 2, 2007, they played their 500th Calder Cup playoff game.

In 2010, the Bears set a new club record with 12 straight wins. They also set an AHL record with 24 consecutive home victories.

2006 Calder Cup Championship

In 2006, the Hershey Bears, led by new coach Bruce Boudreau, made it back to the playoffs. They won their first two series easily. In the Eastern Conference finals, they faced the Portland Pirates. The Bears won a tough Game 7 in overtime to advance. On June 15, 2006, the Bears won their ninth Calder Cup by defeating the Milwaukee Admirals. This tied them with the Cleveland Barons for the most AHL playoff titles.

Tenth and Eleventh Championships

The next season, the Bears had an amazing record but lost in the finals. Coach Boudreau moved to the Capitals. The Bears bounced back in 2009. They swept the Philadelphia Phantoms in the first round. They then came back from a 3–2 deficit to win the second round. They defeated the Manitoba Moose to win their record tenth Calder Cup.

The Bears playing against the Norfolk Admirals during the 2009 preseason

For the 2009–10 season, Mark French became the new head coach. The Bears had a fantastic season. They won a franchise-record 12 games in a row. They also had a 24-game winning streak at the Giant Center. They finished with 60 wins, breaking the old AHL record. The Bears rallied from a 2–0 deficit again. They won their 11th Calder Cup against the Texas Stars. This was their second championship in a row!

Recent Seasons and Back-to-Back Wins

The Bears made the playoffs in 2011, 2012, and 2013, but were eliminated early. They missed the playoffs in 2014. In the 2015–16 season, they reached the Calder Cup finals but were swept by the Lake Erie Monsters. Chris Bourque won the league MVP award and was the top scorer that season.

The Bears failed to make the playoffs in 2018. They made it in 2019 but were quickly eliminated.

AHL Outdoor Classic Games

Hersheypark Stadium hosted the AHL Outdoor Classic in 2013. The Bears played their rivals, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Penguins won 2–1 in front of over 17,000 fans.

In 2018, Hershey hosted the Outdoor Classic again. The Bears played the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The Phantoms won 5–2 in front of over 13,000 fans.

2020s and More Championships

After the 2020-21 season, the Bears had the best record in the AHL. However, no playoffs were held that year. In the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs, the Bears won the championship! They came back from being down 2-0 in the finals to beat the Coachella Valley Firebirds in seven games.

Following the 2023-24 season, the Bears set a league record for most wins in a 72-game season (53). They also set a franchise record for total points (111). They went on to win their 13th Calder Cup, beating the Coachella Valley Firebirds again in six games. This was another amazing back-to-back championship win!

Team Information

Logos and Uniforms

The Hershey Bears' colors are dark brown, medium brown, tan, and white. These colors are a nod to The Hershey Company and its famous chocolate. The main logo shows a brown bear roaring, standing on a hockey stick.

Before 2002, the Bears had simpler uniforms with chocolate brown and white. Their old logo was a skating bear silhouette. When they moved to the Giant Center in 2002, they changed their colors to burgundy, black, gold, and silver. Their logo then featured a maroon bear swatting a puck.

Coco with a special St. Patrick's Day jersey

In 2007, the AHL teams got new uniforms. The Bears went back to an "old school" look. Their white home jersey had "Bears" written diagonally in black. Their maroon away jersey had "Hershey" in white.

In 2012, the Bears updated their uniforms again. The home jersey is white with chocolate brown and tan stripes. The away jersey is chocolate brown with white shoulders. They also have a third jersey with "Hershey" written in a cursive style.

Their current uniforms are similar to the 2012–13 jerseys. They now feature the Capitals eagle logo on one shoulder.

Mascot

The official mascot of the Bears is a brown bear named "Coco." He wears a Bears jersey, helmet, and skates. Coco first appeared on October 14, 1978.

Teddy Bear Toss: A Fun Tradition

Since 2001, the Hershey Bears host a special charity event called the Teddy bear toss. It usually happens around Christmas time. Fans throw teddy bears onto the ice after the Bears score their first goal. All the teddy bears are then collected and given to children in need.

Teddy Bear Toss Numbers

The Hershey Bears have broken the World Record for the Teddy Bear Toss several times. In 2024, they collected an amazing 74,599 teddy bears!

Season-by-Season Record

This table shows the Bears' performance in their most recent seasons. For a full history, see List of Hershey Bears seasons.

Players

Current Roster

Updated November 12, 2024.

Retired Numbers

From left to right: Frank Mathers, Mike Nykoluk, and Willie Marshall, some of the players to have their numbers retired (3, 8, and 16, respectively)

The Hershey Bears have honored several great players by retiring their jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team can wear that number again.

Team Captains

Here is a list of players who have served as captain for the Hershey Bears. The captain is a leader on the team.

Hockey Hall of Fame Members

These former Bears players and staff have been honored in the Hockey Hall of Fame for their great achievements in hockey.

• Emile Francis (goaltender, 1943-44), honored 1982 (as a builder)
• Frank Mathers (defenseman/coach, 1956–1962; coach, 1962–73; general manager/president, 1973–1991), honored 1992 (as a builder)
• Craig Patrick (defenseman, 1977-78), honored 2001 (as a builder)
• Walter "Babe" Pratt (defenseman, 1946-48), honored 1966 (as a player)
• Jim Rutherford (goaltender, 1971-72), honored 2019 (as a builder)
• Ralph "Cooney" Weiland (coach, 1941–1945), honored 1971 (as a player)

AHL Hall of Fame Members

These individuals have been inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame for their contributions to the American Hockey League.

• Willie Marshall, C, 1956–63, Elected 2006
• Frank Mathers, D, 1956–62; Coach, 1956–73 and 1984–85; President/GM 1973–91. Elected 2006
• Mike Nykoluk, C, 1958–72, Elected 2007
• Gilles Mayer, G, 1956–59, Elected 2007
• Tim Tookey, C, 1980–81, 1985–87, and 1989–95, Elected 2008
• Bruce Boudreau, Coach, 2005–07, Elected 2009
• Mitch Lamoureux, C, 1986–89, 1993–95, and 1997–99, Elected 2011
• John Paddock Coach, 1985–89, Elected 2011
• John Stevens, D, 1986–90, Elected 2012
• Frederic Cassivi, G 1999–02 and 2005–08, Elected 2015
• Bryan Helmer, D, 2008–10, Elected 2017
• Doug Yingst, Executive, 1982–2016, Elected 2017
• Don Biggs, C, 1987–90, Elected 2018
• Keith Aucoin, C, 2008–12, Elected 2022
• David Creighton, C, 1948–49 and 1950–52, Elected 2022
• Dennis Bonvie, C, 2003-05, Elected 2024
• Gerry Ehman, C, 1958-59, Elected 2024
• Dunc Fisher, RW, 1952-60, Elected 2025

Hershey Bears Hockey Club Hall of Fame Members

Since 2012, the Hershey Bears have honored people who made a big difference to hockey in Hershey. These people helped the Hershey Bears franchise become successful. Their Hall of Fame is at the Giant Center.

Individual Award Winners

Many Hershey Bears players and coaches have won important awards in the AHL. Here are some of them:

Les Cunningham Award (League MVP)

• George Sullivan: 1953–54
• Mike Nykoluk: 1966–67
• Tim Tookey: 1986–87
• Jean-Francois Labbe: 1996–97
• Alexandre Giroux: 2008–09
• Keith Aucoin: 2009–10
• Chris Bourque: 2015–16

John B. Sollenberger Trophy (Leading Point Scorer)

• George Sullivan: 1953–54
• Willie Marshall: 1957–58
• Jeannot Gilbert: 1968–69
• Jean-Guy Gratton: 1975–76
• Mark Lofthouse: 1980–81
• Tim Tookey: 1986–87
• Christian Matte: 1999–00
• Alexandre Giroux: 2008–09
• Keith Aucoin: 2009–10
• Chris Bourque: 2011–12, 2015–16

Jack A Butterfield Trophy (Playoffs MVP)

• Tim Tookey: 1985–86
• Wendell Young: 1987–88
• Mike McHugh: 1996–97
• Frederic Cassivi: 2005–06
• Michal Neuvirth: 2008–09
• Chris Bourque: 2009–10
• Hunter Shepard: 2022–23
• Hendrix Lapierre: 2023–24

Willie Marshall Award (Leading Goal Scorer)

• Alexandre Giroux: 2008–09, 2009–10

Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award (Rookie of the Year)

• Ron Hextall: 1985–86

Eddie Shore Award (Best Defenseman)

• Marc Reaume: 1962–63
• Dave Fenyves: 1987–88, 1988–89

Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award (Best Goaltender)

• Wendell Young: 1987–88
• Frederic Chabot: 1993–94
• Jean-Francois Labbe: 1996–97
• Hunter Shepard: 2023–24

Hap Holmes Memorial Award (Goalies with Lowest Goals Against Average)

• Bob Perreault: 1958–59
• Andre Gill: 1966–67
• Jean-Francois Labbe: 1996–97
• Hunter Shepard and Clay Stevenson: 2023–24

Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award (Coach of the Year)

• Frank Mathers: 1968–69
• Chuck Hamilton: 1975–76
• Doug Gibson: 1979–80
• John Paddock: 1987–88 (shared award with Mike Milbury)
• Spencer Carbery: 2020–21
• Todd Nelson: 2023–24

Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award (Sportsmanship, Determination, and Dedication to Hockey)

• Tony Cassolato: 1980–81
• Tim Tookey: 1993–94
• Mitch Lamoureux: 1998–99

AHL First Team All-Star

AHL Second Team All-Star

Head Coaches

Here are the coaches who have led the Hershey Bears throughout their history. The asterisk (*) shows how many Calder Cups they won as coach.