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	Vacant
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	20 (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, 2024–25)
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. They play in the American Hockey League (AHL). The Bears have been part of the AHL since the 1938–39 season. This makes them the longest-running team in the league to stay in their original city.

The Bears help train players for the Washington Capitals of the NHL. This partnership started in the 2005–06 season. Since 2002, the Bears have played their home games at Giant Center. This arena is very close to Hersheypark Arena, their home from 1938 to 2002. The Bears have won the Calder Cup 13 times. This is more than any other AHL team. They won their most recent championship in 2024.

Milton S. Hershey, who made Hershey chocolate, started the "Hershey Hockey Club" in 1932. This club managed professional hockey teams in Hershey. Today, it's called the Hershey Bears Hockey Club. It is part of the Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company. This company handles entertainment and hospitality for the Hershey Trust Company.

Hockey legend Gordie Howe once said, "Everybody who is anybody in hockey has played in Hershey." He was known as "Mr. Hockey" and was added to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972. Even though he didn't play there himself, his words show how important Hershey is in hockey history.

Team History: The Hershey Bears Story

How Hershey Hockey Began

Hershey Ice Palace 1932 amateur hockey program

The story of hockey in Hershey started with college teams playing games in early 1931. The first official game was on February 18, 1931, at the Hershey Ice Palace. Later that year, a player named Lloyd S. Blinco joined a team playing there. He stayed with Hershey hockey for 50 years as a player, coach, and manager.

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

The first team was the amateur Hershey B'ars. They played in the Tri-State Hockey League. After one season, the league changed to the Eastern Amateur Hockey League (EAHL). The team was called the "Chocolate B'ars" for a year, then "B'ars" again. In 1936, they became the "Hershey Bears." This name change happened because sportswriters 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 the old Ice Palace. The Bears played many games there until 2002. Since then, Hersheypark Arena has been used for practice.

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

Joining the AHL: A New Era

Newspaper clipping about the Hershey Bears joining the league in 1938

In 1938, two hockey leagues, the Can-Am and IHL, officially joined together. They formed 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 new team in this merged league.

The new Bears team took the place of another team in the IAHL's West Division. The Hershey Hockey Club also ran an EAHL team, the Hershey Cubs, for one more season. In 1977, Hershey became the only original AHL team to continuously play in the same city.

Hershey Hockey Club program and guide (1938–39)

Henry J. "Hank" Lauzon was the first player to sign with the new Bears. Herb Mitchell, their old EAHL coach, led the IAHL Bears for three seasons. In their first IAHL season, the Bears won the West Division. They had a great record of 31 wins, 18 losses, and 5 ties. However, they lost in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs.

During World War II, Ralph "Cooney" Weiland coached Hershey. He led them to win regular-season titles in 1942–43 and 1943–44. In 1942–43, the Bears only lost 13 games, which is still a club record. Wally Kilrea scored 99 points that season, becoming Hershey's first AHL scoring champion.

The Bears won their first Calder Cup in 1947. This was under coach Don Penniston. They dominated their division with 84 points. In the playoffs, they swept the Cleveland Barons. Then, they won the Calder Cup finals against the Pittsburgh Hornets in seven games.

In 1948, Arnie Kullman joined the Bears. He played almost his entire 12-year career in Hershey. He scored 629 points for the Bears. Only Tim Tookey and Mike Nykoluk scored more. Kullman played 753 games for the Bears, second only to Nykoluk.

The Bears in the 1950s and 1960s

Arnie Kullman (1948–60)

From 1950 to 1956, the Bears were coached by former Boston Bruins players. In 1953–54, George "Red" Sullivan became the second Bear to win a scoring title. He also became the first to be named the league's MVP. He set an AHL record with 119 points and 89 assists that season.

Don "Grapes" Cherry also played briefly for the Bears in the 1950s. He later became a famous and sometimes controversial hockey coach and TV commentator.

In 1956, the Bears gained several great players from the Pittsburgh Hornets. The most important was Frank Mathers. He was an amazing defenseman and stayed with the Bears for 35 years. He was a player-coach, general manager, and club president. Under Mathers, Hershey won over 1,500 games and six Calder Cups. He was honored for his contributions to hockey and was added to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Mathers led the Bears to win back-to-back Calder Cups in 1958 and 1959. In 1957–58, they won both the regular season and playoff championships. They had top scorers like Willie Marshall and Dunc Fisher. In 1958–59, even with an average record, they upset the Buffalo Bisons to win their third 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 1968–69. Key players like Barry Ashbee, Ralph Keller, Roger DeJordy, Michel Harvey, and Gil Gilbert helped the team. Gilbert led the league in scoring with 100 points. The Bears also won their third straight division title that season.

The Bears in the 1970s and 1980s

After the 1972–73 season, Frank Mathers stopped coaching to focus on being the general manager. His coaching record was 610 wins. Chuck Hamilton, a former Bears player, became the new coach. In his first season, Hamilton led a young team to their fifth Calder Cup title in 1974. They lost only two games in the playoffs.

Hershey won their sixth Calder Cup in 1979–80. This was under player/coach Doug Gibson. The team had finished below .500 in the regular season. But they surprised everyone by winning the championship.

In 1980–81, under coach Bryan Murray, the Bears had their best regular season yet. They scored 357 goals, which is still a record. Mark Lofthouse won the AHL scoring title. He also set a team record with eight points in one game. Tim Tookey joined the team that year. He would become the Bears' second all-time leading scorer.

Bears locker room at HersheyPark Arena

In 1984, John Paddock became the coach. Under him, the Bears won about 45 games each year. They won two regular-season titles and reached the finals twice. In 1987–88, they won their seventh Calder Cup championship.

In 1985–86, Ross Fitzpatrick scored 50 goals for the Bears. Rookie goalie Ron Hextall set a team record with three straight shutouts. Hextall was named AHL Rookie of the Year and best goalie. He later won major awards in the NHL.

HersheyPark Arena

In 1986–87, Tim Tookey set a single-season record for a Hershey player with 124 points. He also won the league's MVP award. His 124 points are still one of the best single-season totals in AHL history.

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 with a perfect 12–0 record to win their seventh Calder Cup. Goalie Wendell Young had a great season.

Modern Era: Recent Success

The Washington Capitals became the Bears' main NHL partner again in 2005. The Bears have played in 22 Calder Cup Finals, which is a league record. They won back-to-back championships 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. Hershey also set an AHL record for winning eight playoff series in a row.

2006 Calder Cup Championship

In 2006, the Hershey Bears, led by new coach Bruce Boudreau, returned to the playoffs. They won their first two series easily. In the Eastern Conference finals, they faced the Portland Pirates. The Bears won the series in overtime of Game 7. On June 15, 2006, the Bears won the Calder Cup by defeating the Milwaukee Admirals 4–2. This was their ninth Calder Cup, tying the record at the time.

Tenth and Eleventh Championships

The next season, the Bears had a fantastic record of 51–17–6. They seemed ready to win again. They swept through the playoffs but were upset by the Hamilton Bulldogs in the finals. Coach Boudreau was then promoted to the Washington Capitals.

The Bears bounced back in the 2008–09 season. They finished with a 49–23–2 record. They swept the Philadelphia Phantoms in the first round. Then they came back from a 3–2 deficit to beat Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. They defeated Providence 4–1 in the conference finals. In the Calder Cup finals, they beat the Manitoba Moose 4–2 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 an amazing season. They won a franchise-record 12 games in a row. They also had a 24-game winning streak at the Giant Center. They won 60 games, breaking the old AHL record of 57 wins. The Bears came back from a 2–0 deficit against the Texas Stars to win their 11th Calder Cup. This was their second championship in a row and third in five seasons.

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, the Bears 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 2017–18. They made the playoffs in 2019 but were eliminated in the second round.

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 17,311 fans.

Hershey hosted the Outdoor Classic again on January 20, 2018. The Bears played the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The Phantoms won 5–2 in front of 13,091 fans.

Back-to-Back Championships (2023–2024)

The Bears won the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy in the 2020–21 season. No playoffs were held that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs, the Bears came back from a 2–0 deficit in the finals. They beat the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 7 games to win their 12th Calder Cup.

In 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 eliminated the Cleveland Monsters in 7 games. Then, they faced the Coachella Valley Firebirds again in the finals. The Bears won in six games, earning their 13th Calder Cup.

Team Information

Logos and Uniforms

The Hershey Bears' colors are dark brown, medium brown, tan, and white. These colors are often called "chocolate and white." This is a nod to The Hershey Company and its famous products.

The main logo shows a brown bear roaring. It stands on a hockey stick above the "Hershey Bears" name. The name "Hershey" is in tan, and "Bears" is in white. All of this is inside a tan circle.

Before 2002, the Bears wore simpler uniforms. They were chocolate brown and white. Their old logo was a skating bear silhouette inside a white oval shield. When they moved to the Giant Center in 2002, they changed their colors to burgundy, black, gold, and silver. The main logo then showed a maroon bear swatting a puck. The "Hershey Bears" name looked like a Hershey's candy bar.

Coco with a special St. Patrick's Day jersey

In 2007, all AHL teams got new uniforms. The Bears went back to an "old school" look. Their home jersey was white with "Bears" written diagonally in black. The away jersey was maroon with "Hershey" in white. Both had black on the sides and the Washington Capitals logo on one shoulder.

The Bears updated their uniforms again before the 2012–13 season. The home jersey is white with chocolate brown and tan stripes. The main logo is on the front. The shoulder logos have a bear-foot print. The away jersey is chocolate brown with white shoulders and tan stripes. Their third jersey has "Hershey" in a cursive style above the number.

The current uniforms are similar to the 2012–13 jerseys. They now feature the Capitals eagle logo instead of bear paws on the jersey. The stripes are larger, and the shoulders are tan.

Mascot: Coco the Bear

The official mascot of the Hershey Bears is a brown bear named "Coco." Coco wears a Bears home jersey, a white helmet, brown hockey gloves, and ice skates. He also wears black track pants and black shoes. Coco first appeared on October 14, 1978, at the Hersheypark Arena.

Teddy Bear Toss Event

Hershey Bears teddy bear toss held on January 5, 2025.

Since 2001, the Hershey Bears have hosted a special charity event called the teddy bear toss. This event usually happens around Christmas time. Fans throw teddy bears onto the ice after the Bears score their first goal. All the collected teddy bears are then donated to children's charities.

Since 2018, the Hershey Bears have broken the world record for the teddy bear toss multiple times. The most recent count, from January 5, 2025, was an amazing 102,343 teddy bears!

Teddy Bear Toss Numbers

Season-by-Season Overview

This table shows the Bears' performance in their last five seasons.

Team Players

Current Roster

Updated June 28, 2025.

#	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	Acquired	Birthplace
49		Bear, EthanEthan Bear	D	L	28	2024	Regina, Saskatchewan	Capitals
1		Bjorklund, GarinGarin Bjorklund	G	L	23	2022	Calgary, Alberta	Capitals
13		Chesley, RyanRyan Chesley	D	R	21	2025	Mahtomedi, Minnesota	Capitals
43		Cruikshank, GrantGrant Cruikshank	C	L	27	2024	Delafield, Wisconsin	Bears
18		Dube, PierrickPierrick Dube	RW	R	24	2023	Lyon, France	Capitals
14		Funk, ZacZac Funk	LW	L	22	2024	Vernon, British Columbia	Capitals
35		Gibson, MitchMitch Gibson	G	L	26	2023	Phoenixville, Pennsylvania	Bears
48		Gucciardi, DavidDavid Gucciardi	D	L	22	2025	Toronto, Ontario	Capitals
25		Hofer, RyanRyan Hofer	C	L	23	2023	Headingley, Manitoba	Capitals
77		Hunt, BradBrad Hunt (A)	D	L	36	2024	Maple Ridge, British Columbia	Bears
6		Iorio, VincentVincent Iorio	D	R	22	2022	Coquitlam, British Columbia	Capitals
34		Isley, JaceJace Isley	F	L	23	2024	Grand Prairie, Alberta	Bears
29		Lapierre, HendrixHendrix Lapierre	C	L	23	2022	Gatineau, Quebec	Capitals
5		Lee, JaydenJayden Lee	D	R	24	2024	North Vancouver, British Columbia	Bears
4		Leivermann, NickNick Leivermann	D	L	26	2023	Eden Prairie, Minnesota	Bears
12		Limoges, AlexAlex Limoges	LW	L	27	2023	Boulder, Colorado	Capitals
–		Magera, AustinAustin Magera	C	L	27	2024	Suwanee, Georgia	Bears
2		Massie, JakeJake Massie	D	L	28	2021	St-Lazare, Quebec	Bears
47		McDonald, JonJon McDonald	D	L	27	2023	Livonia, Michigan	Bears
46		Miller, MicahMicah Miller	RW	R	26	2024	Grand Rapids, Minnesota	Bears
10		Miroshnichenko, IvanIvan Miroshnichenko	LW	R	21	2023	Ussuriysk, Russia	Capitals
32		Nachbaur, JustinJustin Nachbaur	LW	L	25	2024	Cross Lake, Manitoba	Bears
27		Ness, AaronAaron Ness (C)	D	L	35	2022	Bemidji, Minnesota	Bears
39		Philp, LukeLuke Philp	C	R	29	2024	Calgary, Alberta	Capitals
38		Rybinski, HenrikHenrik Rybinski	RW	R	24	2022	Vancouver, British Columbia	Capitals
20		Saulnier, BrennanBrennan Saulnier	C	L	31	2024	Halifax, Nova Scotia	Bears
11		Smallman, SpencerSpencer Smallman	RW	R	28	2024	Summerside, Prince Edward Island	Capitals
37		Smith, DaltonDalton Smith	LW	L	33	2024	Oshawa, Ontario	Bears
31		Stevenson, ClayClay Stevenson	G	L	26	2022	Drayton Valley, Alberta	Capitals
45		Strome, MatthewMatthew Strome	LW	L	26	2022	Mississauga, Ontario	Bears
24		Sutter, RileyRiley Sutter (A)	RW	R	25	2019	Calgary, Alberta	Capitals
41		Suzdalev, AlexanderAlexander Suzdalev	LW	L	21	2023	Khabarovsk, Russia	Capitals
33		Thornton, HudsonHudson Thornton	D	L	21	2024	Winnipeg, Manitoba	Bears
44		Trineyev, BogdanBogdan Trineyev	LW	R	23	2023	Voronezh, Russia	Capitals
19		Vecchione, MikeMike Vecchione (A)	RW	R	32	2021	Saugus, Massachusetts	Bears

Retired Numbers: Honoring Legends

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 players by retiring their jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team will wear that number again. It's a special way to remember their great contributions.

Team Captains Through the Years

The team captain is a very important leader on the ice. Here are some of the players who have worn the "C" for the Hershey Bears:

Hockey Hall of Fame Members

These individuals connected to the Hershey Bears have been recognized in the Hockey Hall of Fame for their amazing careers:

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

AHL Hall of Fame Members

Many Bears players, coaches, and executives have been inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame:

• 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 had their own Hall of Fame. It honors people who made big contributions to hockey in Hershey. The Hall of Fame is located 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

The head coach leads the team. Here are the coaches who have guided the Hershey Bears: Asterisk (*) denotes number of Calder Cups won