The Hershey Bears discovered themselves in want of a brand new head coach on Friday when bench boss Todd Nelson was employed as assistant coach by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Nelson’s departure leaves an enormous void behind the bench, as he steered the Chocolate and White to one of the profitable three-year stretches in American Hockey League (AHL) historical past, together with two Calder Cup championships and an AHL document nine-straight playoff sequence wins.
Two potential candidates to switch Nelson have been scoffed up earlier within the offseason. South Carolina Stingrays head coach Jared Nightingale, the reigning ECHL Coach of the 12 months, was employed by the Rockford IceHogs to steer the highest affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. Former Bear Louis Robitaille has original himself a powerful teaching profession, profitable over 300 video games within the junior ranks. He took a job in Russia final month.
So, the place does that depart Hershey? Who could possibly be potential hires to fill the place? Regardless of Nightingale and Robitaille being off the board, there are quite a few robust contenders for the place.
The primary candidate for the job is a well-recognized face, present assistant coach Patrick Wellar. A Calder Cup champion as a participant with Hershey, Wellar has been on the workers for the Bears because the 2018-19 season. He has run the protection and penalty kill. Hershey has been a powerful defensive crew underneath his management, being the very best or among the many finest defensive groups within the AHL. He helped the Bears win consecutive Calder Cups in 2023 and 2024. Eventually, Wellar goes to land a head teaching job and this could possibly be his time.
One other former Hershey Calder Cup winner who might make his return to Chocolate City is Bob Woods. Having received a Calder Cup as a participant in 1997, an assistant coach in 2006 and a head coach in 2009, Woods is effectively versed within the Bears’ custom of profitable. He has been an assistant coach within the Nationwide Hockey League (NHL) for 14 seasons, most just lately with the Seattle Kraken final season. Woods was just lately relieved of his duties by the Kraken with new head coach Lane Lambert wanting to herald assistants of his personal.
One-time Hershey winger Rocky Thompson is one other candidate for the emptiness. Thompson was an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers the previous three seasons and beforehand was the affiliate head coach with the San Jose Sharks. He was the pinnacle coach of the Chicago Wolves for 3 seasons, guiding the crew to a Calder Cup Finals look in 2019. Thompson received 113 video games in his time in Chicago.
Scott Barney is one other former Bear who could possibly be within the combine. Referred to as “the Beast” throughout his enjoying days, Barney just lately fully his first season because the bench boss of the Sudbury Wolves. Beforehand, he served as the pinnacle coach and basic supervisor of the Humboldt Broncos. Barney has a 132-55-9-2 document as a head coach. It might be too quickly for him to make the leap to the AHL, however Barney is rising up the teaching ranks and has an excellent status for working with younger gamers. With Hershey slated to have a number of rookies on their roster subsequent season, this attribute might make Oshawa, Ontario native a gorgeous candidate for the job.
Transferring away from contenders who’ve ties to the Bears, long-time AHL assistant Trent Whitfield is a risk. Whitfield performed with the Washington Capitals for 4 seasons. He has spent the previous 9 seasons as an assistant with the Windfall Bruins. Whitfield is revered across the sport and an opportunity at being a head coach on the AHL degree is overdue.
A coach with no connections to Hershey or Washington, however who may be very conversant in the Bears group is Dan Bylsma. The veteran coach was let go after a single season in command of Seattle. He led the Coachella Valley Firebirds to the Calder Cup Finals in 2023 and 2024, shedding to Hershey each time. Byslma was additionally an assistant and head coach in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for 3 seasons, in addition to spending one season as an assistant with Charlotte. He received two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins and has confirmed monitor document as a head coach.
Additionally, there are some present NHL assistants that could possibly be prospects in the event that they have been focused on dropping down a degree to be a head coach. There are not any ensures that any of the next names can be keen to take action. Nonetheless, in the event that they have been, these coaches could possibly be candidates: Los Angeles Kings assistant and former Hershey captain D.J. Smith, Seattle Kraken assistant Jessica Campbell, Tampa Bay assistant Jeff Halpern and Calgary Flames assistant and former Bears’ captain Brad Larsen.
Lastly, a wild card. Bruce Boudreau was the pinnacle coach of Hershey when the received the Calder Cup in 2006. He appears content material in his present function as proprietor of the Hershey Cubs and as an analyst for each the NHL Community and the Washington Capitals. Nonetheless, Boudreau nonetheless lives in Hershey and has been a frequent customer to the Large Middle at Bears video games. If referred to as, he could hear.
So, there are many potential candidates for the Bears and their father or mother membership, the Washington Capitals, to think about. One of many above names very effectively might land the job as the pinnacle coach of the Hershey Bears. Nonetheless, one can by no means rule out an surprising candidate. Few anticipated Spencer Carbery to be employed previous to the 2018-19 season. That alternative proved to be a wonderful one. One factor is for sure, whoever will get chosen, they’ve large sneakers to fill in the case of changing Todd Nelson.
By Eric Lord
