The Hershey Bears Quarter-Century Groups

For the reason that calendar flipped to 2025, the Nationwide Hockey League (NHL) has been releasing Quarter-Century groups for the entire franchises within the league. Throughout that very same timeline, the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) has had their share of high-quality gamers and loved quite a lot of success. The Bears have received 5 Calder Cup championships in that span and superior to 2 different finals. That is the Hershey Bears Quarter Century groups.

Not like the NHL’s groups, there are three Hershey groups. That is because of the excessive quantity of turnover that goes on from year-to-year within the AHL. Additionally, the alternatives are primarily based on the play of the person participant in a Bears’ uniform and never the profession that participant had within the NHL. This implies a participant like Braden Holtby is omitted, as Holtby was extra profitable in a Washington Capitals uniform than he was with the Bears. John Carlson additionally misses out as a result of he solely performed 48 common season video games with Hershey.

Even with three groups, deciding on gamers for the spots was troublesome. With many deserving gamers, some worthy candidates had been left off.

FIRST TEAM

Ahead: Alexandre Giroux

Giroux put collectively probably the greatest two-season stretches in franchise historical past. In the course of the 2008- 09 season, the winger tallied a franchise and AHL file 60 targets, led the league with 97 factors and was named the winner of the Les Cunningham Award because the AHL MVP. On the finish of the season, he was named to the First All-Star Crew. Giroux added 15 targets (a franchise file) and 28 factors within the playoffs, together with the time beyond regulation profitable marker (his fourth game-winning aim of the playoffs) in Manitoba in sport one of many Calder Cup Finals. The Bears would win that sequence and declare their tenth Calder Cup in franchise historical past. He adopted that up by tallying 50 targets, once more main the AHL, and allotting a profession excessive 53 assists for a profession finest 103 factors. Once more, he was named to the AHL’s First All-Star Crew and performed a giant half because the group set AHL information for wins and factors. The Quebec Metropolis, Quebec native compiled 27 factors as Hershey captured their second straight Calder Cup championship. He additionally led the group in scoring throughout the 2006-07 season because the Bears superior to the Calder Finals. The one-time Hull Olympique posted 27 factors in 24 video games the following season after being re-acquired from the Chicago Wolves on the commerce deadline. Throughout his Hershey tenure, Giroux totaled 166 targets, 131 assists and 297 factors in 229 video games performed. He ranks twelfth on the franchise’s all-time aim checklist and twenty third on the all-time scoring checklist. Within the postseason, Giroux is the Bears all-time goal-scoring chief with 36 and sits third all-time in playoff factors with 70 factors in 67 video games.

Ahead: Keith Aucoin

Arriving in Chocolate City for the 2008-09 season, Aucoin centered the highest line with Alexandre Giroux. The partnership proved to be golden. The pivot assisted on lots of Giroux’s 60 targets and led the league in assists with 71. He completed second to his linemate on the AHL scoring checklist with 96 factors and was named to the AHL’s First All-Star Crew. The Waltham, Massachusetts native amassed 23 factors throughout Hershey’s march to the Calder Cup. He had three game-winners within the playoffs together with in sport seven of the Japanese Division Finals in opposition to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and in sport 4 of the Calder Cup Finals. The Norwich College alum delivered a good higher marketing campaign in 2009-10. Aucoin potted a career-high 35 targets and dished out 71 assists to seize the AHL scoring title with 106 factors. He once more earned a spot on the AHL’s First All-Star group and received the Les Cunningham Award as AHL MVP. Hershey set the AHL file for wins and factors that season. Aucoin had 23 extra assists, essentially the most ever in a single playoffs by a Bear, and 25 within the postseason because the Bears defeated the Texas Stars in finals to win their second consecutive Calder Cup. The middle would play two extra seasons with the Bears, main the group in scoring in 2010-11. He accomplished his Hershey profession with 89 targets, 255 assists and 344 factors. He sits seventeenth on the franchise all-time scoring checklist and is tenth in assists. Aucoin is fifth all-time in playoff scoring with 56 factors in 48 video games performed. In 2014, Aucoin was inducted into the Hershey Bears Hockey Corridor of Fame.

Ahead: Chris Bourque

Pretty much as good as Giroux and Aucoin had been for Hershey, there isn’t any participant that had an even bigger influence on the franchise within the final 25 years than Bourque. The winger performed in 604 video games, the fifth most in franchise historical past and made an indelible mark on the Bears. As a rookie in 2005-06, he contributed 36 factors in 52 video games and skated in a single playoff sport because the Hershey received the Calder Cup. Bourque was larger a part of the group a season later, scoring 25 targets and recording 33 assists in 76 video games. He performed in all 19 playoff video games, posting two targets and eight assists, because the Bears made it again to the Calder Cup Finals, falling to Carey Worth and the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Boston, Massachusetts native led the Chocolate and White in scoring for the primary time in 2007-08 with 63 factors. Bourque would set a profession excessive (at the moment) the following season with 73 factors. Usually, that might be sufficient to steer the group. Nonetheless, with Giroux and Aucoin amassing greater than 90 factors every, Bourque completed third on the group scoring checklist. He pitched in with 21 factors in 22 playoff video games and Hershey captured the Calder Cup. Bourque had the game-winning targets within the deciding video games of the Japanese Convention Finals and the Calder Cup Finals. He had 70 factors in 49 video games throughout the 2009-10 season after the Capitals reclaimed him off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Within the postseason, Bourque tied for the group lead in scoring with 27 factors and Hershey once more received the Calder Cup. He was named the Jack A. Butterfield Award winner because the MVP of the Calder Cup playoffs. After spending a season abroad, the Bostonian returned to seize the AHL scoring title with 93 factors. Bourque got here again to the Chocolate and White as soon as extra for the 2015-16 season and spent the following three seasons in Hershey. He received the AHL scoring title as soon as extra with 80 factors within the 2015-16 season and was named AHL MVP. The winger scored 12 factors within the playoffs and helped the Bears make it to the Calder Cup Finals, the place they had been swept by the Lake Erie Monsters. Bourque recorded 60 and 53 factors in his final two seasons in Hershey. The son of Corridor of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque is all around the franchise’s file e book. He’s fifth all-time in factors with 586 and ranks third all-time with 390 assists. His 196 targets are the seventh most in group historical past. Bourque holds the franchise file for playoff video games performed with 106 and for factors with 86. He’s additionally tied for essentially the most playoff assists within the franchise’s historical past with 60. Hershey retired Bourque’s quantity 17 in 2023.

Protection: Aaron Ness

The present Hershey captain is the sixth main scoring defenseman in Bears historical past with 182 factors. Ness has performed in 421 video games with the Chocolate and White, the ninth most by a defenseman. That whole will solely rise with the blue liner being signed via subsequent season. The College of Minnesota alum arrived in Hershey for the 2015-16 season and made a direct influence. He was a veteran presence on a defensive corps that featured three rookies. Ness totaled 27 factors within the common season and added 12 helpers throughout a postseason run that noticed the Bears make it to the Calder Cup Finals (misplaced to Lake Erie). He would play the following three seasons in Hershey. One of the best of these seasons was the 2018-19 marketing campaign. Ness set a profession excessive in assists with 50 and 55 factors. He led all AHL defenseman in scoring and in assists. The Roseau, Minnesota native was additionally named an AHL Second Crew All-Star. Previous to the 2022-23 season, Ness got here again to the Bears as a free agent. His return coincided with the Bears getting again to championship glory. He teamed with Dylan McIlrath to determine a formidable prime protection pairing. Hershey made its approach again to the Calder Cup Finals and prevailed in seven video games over Coachella Valley. The 2022 United States Olympian compiled 23 factors in 2023-24 and once more was paired with McIlrath. He was injured in sport three of the Japanese Convention Finals in opposition to the Cleveland Monsters. The Chocolate and White misplaced its first three video games with out Ness earlier than profitable sport seven. He missed the ultimate sequence, however was a giant purpose the Bears received their second-straight Calder Cup.

Protection: Patrick McNeill

McNeill is likely one of the most underrated and underappreciated defenseman in group historical past. When he accomplished his time in Hershey, McNeill was eighth in franchise historical past in defensemen scoring with 152 factors. He has since been handed by Aaron Ness, however stays ninth. The native of Strathroy, Ontario made 325 appearances throughout six seasons with the Bears and in addition skated in 31 playoff video games. A puck-moving defenseman, McNeill was adept at exiting his personal zone and persistently made good exit passes. The one-time member of the Saginaw Spirit received a Calder Cup with the Bears in 2009, compiling 18 factors taking part in 10 playoff video games. He broke out the following marketing campaign with profession highs in targets (8), assists (27) and factors (35). McNeill once more captured the Calder Cup, scoring two targets within the cup clinching 4-0 sport six win. The sleek-skating blue liner spent three extra seasons in Hershey. His finest season got here in 2011-12 when he set profession finest marks in targets with 10 (later surpassed when he performed with Springfield), assists 31 and factors 47.

Goalie: Hunter Shepard

Considered one of two Hershey goalies to win two Calder Cups up to now 25 years, Shepard has been a pressure in internet for the Bears. He gave was victorious in all three of his begins within the 2020-21 season, together with a shutout, with a 1.00 goals-against common and .969 save share. The next marketing campaign, the netminder went 5-3 in 9 appearances and posted a .922 save share and a couple of.06 goals-against common. Shepard was full-time with Hershey within the 2022-23 season and started the season because the backup to Zach Fucale. The Coleraine, Minnesota native didn’t keep the quantity two goalie for lengthy. He performed his approach into being the highest possibility for head coach Todd Nelson. The Minnesota-Duluth alum went 20-8-5 and completed second within the AHL in with a 2.16 goals-against common. Shepard shined in his first foray into the Calder Cup playoffs. He recorded three shutouts and received 14 video games. The primary two of these clear sheets got here within the Japanese Convention Finals in opposition to the Rochester People. He made 24 stops in a 2-0 win in sport two. Then, the Minnesotan once more turned apart 24 photographs because the Bears edged the People 1-0 in sport six to seal the sequence and advance to the Calder Cup Finals versus the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Shepard blanked the Firebirds 1-0 in sport 5 of the finals to place the Bears up 3-2 within the sequence. His largest save got here within the deciding sport seven. With Hershey down 2-0 within the second interval, Carson Twarynski broke in a shorthanded breakaway. Shepard denied Twarynski and the Bears rallied to win 3-2 in time beyond regulation to win the title. He could be named the recipient of the Jack A. Butterfield Award because the playoff MVP. The 2023-24 season was even higher for Shepard. He lead the AHL with a 1.76 goals-against common and his .929 save share was additionally the most effective within the league. Shepard recorded a career-high 5 shutouts and went 27-4-3. He and tandem associate Clay Stevenson had been the winners of the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award for having the most effective goals-against common within the AHL. Shepard additionally earned the Baz Bastien trophy because the AHL’s finest goaltender. Within the playoffs, the two-time nationwide champion at Minnesota-Duluth received 14 instances and helped the Bears to their second consecutive Calder Cup championship. He at present ranks 18th all-time in video games performed by a goalie with 106 and has the chance to maneuver as much as sixteenth by the top of the 12 months. Shepard’s 72 wins is ninth in franchise historical past. The netminder is three wins from shifting into eighth place.

SECOND TEAM

Ahead: Andrew Gordon

Gordon performed in 267 video games throughout 4 seasons with Hershey. Typically overshadowed by teammates Giroux, Aucoin and Bourque, the winger was an vital participant in his personal proper. The St. Cloud State product produced 35 assists, which might show to be his finest single season whole, and 51 factors in 58 video games throughout his rookie marketing campaign in 2007-08. He posted 45 factors the following season and added 10 factors, because the Bears received the 2009 Calder Cup. Gordon netted the sport profitable aim in sport six of the East Division Finals with the Hershey dealing with elimination. The native of Halifax, Nova Scotia took his sport to a different stage in 2009-10. He tallied a career-best 37 targets and totaled a career-high 71 factors to complete third on the group in scoring. Gordon was named a Second Crew AHL All-Star. He potted 13 targets within the playoffs, the third most within the league and second most on his group. After the Bears dropped the primary two video games of the Calder Cup Finals at dwelling, the Nova-Scotian scored the game-winner in sport three and Hershey would win 4 straight to safe their second straight Calder Cup championship. Gordan compiled 57 factors in his last season as a Bear in 2010-11. He ended his Hershey profession 102 targets, 122 assists and 224 factors. Gordon is eight all-time in playoff targets with 22.

Ahead: Tomas Fleischmann

The speedy Czech winger was extremely productive in two full seasons with the Chocolate and White. Fleischmann lead the group in scoring with 63 factors in 57 video games in his first 12 months with the Bears in 2005-06. He additionally netted a group excessive 30 targets. Nicknamed “Flash,” Fleischmann excelled within the postseason. The Koprivince, Czechia native dished out a then file 21 helpers (damaged by Keith Aucoin) and recorded 32 factors. That whole stays essentially the most by a Hershey participant in a single playoffs. He scored 11 targets within the postseason, together with the game-winning marker in sport two of the Calder Cup Finals versus the Milwaukee Admirals. Fleischmann additionally had three assists in that contest for a four-point evening. The Bears went on to win the Calder Cup in six video games. He registered 51 factors in 45 video games within the 2006-07 season after which contributed 21 factors in 19 playoff video games with Hershey making it again to the Calder Cup finals. For his profession, Fleischmann totaled 53 factors in 39 playoff video games. That’s 1.36 factors per playoff sport. He’s sixth all-time in playoff factors. Flash additionally averaged greater than a degree per sport within the common season, amassing 115 factors in 104 profession video games.

Ahead: Mike Sgarbossa

Within the AHL, it’s uncommon {that a} participant performs for a similar group for seven seasons. Sgarbossa has accomplished simply that with the Bears. The Campbellville, Ontario native made a direct influence upon his arrival for the 2018-19, pacing Hershey with 65 factors. These 65 factors had been a profession excessive, as had been the 30 targets he tallied. A season later, he was averaging somewhat over a degree per sport when the season was halted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He accomplished the marketing campaign with 40 factors in 39 video games. The pivot had 10 factors in 14 video games throughout the restricted 2020-21 season. Sgarbossa was beset by accidents within the 2021-22, limiting him to 30 video games, however he returned the next season to steer the Bears in help with 37 and in factors in 58. The middle had three factors in 4 playoff video games earlier than an damage sidelined him for the remainder of Hershey’s run to a Calder Cup Championship. Sgarbossa was main the Bears in scoring with 43 factors in 44 video games in 2023-24 when he was recalled to the Washington Capitals for the rest of the season. The Ontarian at present has essentially the most assists on Hershey with 24 and is time for the group scoring lead with 31 factors. For his profession, Sgarbossa has 93 targets and 176 assists for 266 level in 263 video games.

Protection: Dean Arsene

Arsene was by no means an offensive defenseman. His finest season in his six seasons with the Bears noticed him rating 15 factors. Nonetheless, the rugged blue liner was a staple on the again finish for Hershey. He was the quintessential stay-at-home defenseman that might be counted on evening in and evening out. The Mayor was a stalwart on the penalty kill and took on the job of shutting down the opposite group’s prime forwards. Arsene additionally was there to face up for his teammates when mandatory. Alongside that line, he ranks eleventh in franchise historical past with 674 penalty minutes. The Murrayville, British Columbia native served as co-captain throughout the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. Arsene helped the Bears to a Calder Cup Championship in 2006. The 15-point season got here the next season and the Chocolate and White made it again to the Calder Cup Finals. He tried to play via a double sports activities hernia damage within the playoffs, however the damage wound up sidelining him for a lot of the finals. The Bears missed his presence within the championship sequence. The damage restricted him to 14 video games in 2007-08, however Arsene returned in 2008-09. He posted his second highest level whole with 11 factors. The British Columbian performed in 22 playoff video games and captured his second Calder Cup.

Protection: Lawrence Nycholat

When Nycholat arrived in Hershey for the 2005-06 season, he was coming off the most effective season of his profession. He elevated his sport to a good larger stage in his first marketing campaign with the Bears. The Calgary, Alberta native delivered the most effective offensive season by a Hershey defenseman within the final 25 years. Nycholat set profession highs throughout the board. He dished out a group excessive 44 assists and netted 13 targets, 10 of which had been energy play tallies. His level whole of 57 was the second most on the group. The Albertan completed fifth within the AHL in defensemen scoring. Within the postseason, Nycholat had seven assists via the primary three sequence. Nonetheless, he broke out within the Calder Cup Finals in opposition to the Milwaukee Admials. He potted Hershey’s lone aim in a sport one loss. Nycholat then netted the primary aim of sport two and added two major apples because the Bears evened the sequence with a 6-3 win. He picked up two extra assists in sport 4, together with a secondary helper on Joey Tenute’s game-winning energy play marker. The one-time Swift Present Bronco had yet one more help in sport 5 and completed the ultimate sequence with seven factors to finish the playoffs with a complete of 14. The Chocolate and white prevailed in six video games and Nycholat received the lone championship of his profession. The blue liner break up the following season between the Hershey and Washington earlier than being shipped to the Ottawa Senators group on the commerce deadline. He had 28 factors in 29 video games with the Bears. Nycholat signed with the Bears for 2010-11 season. He once more compiled 28 factors, this time in 32 video games. The Calgarian ended his Hershey profession with 113 factors in 134 video games.

Goalie: Michal Neuvirth

The Czech netminder received 25 video games in 40 common season appearances with the Bears. It was the postseason the place Neuvirth stood out. He received 75 p.c of his playoff video games throughout two seasons. As a rookie, he began all 22 video games within the Calder Cup playoffs. Neuvirth recorded 4 shutouts throughout the run. That may be a franchise file for shutouts in a single playoff by a rookie goalie. All of these 4 shutouts got here at vital instances. The primary sealed a four-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phantoms within the opening spherical. With Hershey dealing with elimination in video games six and 7 of the East Division Finals, Neuvirth blanked the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in each contests to advance the Bears to the Japanese Convention Finals. The final of his clear sheets was in sport three of the Calder Cup Finals when he made 28 saves in opposition to the Manitoba Moose and put the Bears up two video games to 1 within the sequence. Hershey received the sequence in six video games for his or her tenth Calder Cup championship. Neuvirth was named the winner of the Jack A. Butterfield Award because the playoff MVP for going 16-6 with a 1.92 targets in opposition to common and a .932 save share. The native of Usti nad Labem, Czechia break up time with the Bears and Washington the following season, taking part in 22 video games with the Chocolate and White. He was again in internet for the playoffs and went 14-4 with one shutout and Hershey as soon as extra skated their option to a Calder Cup title. In 40 profession playoff video games, Neuvirth went 30-10 with 5 shutouts. His playoff targets in opposition to common was 1.98 and he posted a .927 save share within the postseason.

THIRD TEAM

Ahead: Kyle Wilson

When Wilson arrived in Hershey throughout the 2006-07 season, it was with little fanfare. In any case, he was solely 12 video games into his rookie marketing campaign. The Oakville, Ontario native would show to be a superb addition. He would pot 24 targets and dish out 30 assists to compile 54 factors in 54 video games. Wilson then scored 16 factors in 19 playoff video games because the Bears superior to the Calder Cup Finals. The Colgate College product led all AHL rookies in playoff scoring He had two game-winning tallies on the march to the finals. The pivot the most efficient offensive season of his profession the next season. Wilson tallied a group excessive and profession finest 30 targets and had 31 assists to complete with a career-high 61 factors. He completed second on the group scoring checklist and had a group excessive eight game-winning targets. With Keith Aucoin becoming a member of the group for the 2008-09 season, Wilson slotted into the second line heart function. He netted 28 targets, one among seven Bears to attain 20 or extra targets, and concluded the marketing campaign with 58 factors, one among six Hershey gamers to surpasses 50 factors. The Ontarian contributed 10 factors within the postseason. He scored the deciding aim in a 5-3 sport one win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton within the East Division Finals and had the lone help on Chris Bourque’s game-winning aim in sport six of the Calder Cup Finals to permit the Bears to remove Manitoba and seize the Calder Cup. Again in Chocolatetown for the 2009-10 season, Wilson once more surpassed the 50 level mark, this time with 53 factors. He was one among seven Bears to take action and was additionally one among seven Hershey gamers to attain 20 targets or extra, discovering the again of the online 24 instances. Wilson recorded 12 factors within the playoffs. His finest sport of the postseason got here in sport three of the Calder Cup Finals in opposition to the Texas Stars. The Bears dropped the primary two video games at dwelling and had been in a should win scenario. Wilson scored the primary two Hershey targets. The second kick began a five-goal barrage and the Bears rallied for a 6-3 victory. The Chocolate and White would roll off 4 straight and earn their second straight Calder Cup. In 291 video games performed in a Hershey uniform, Wilson tallied 106 targets and had 120 assists for 226 factors.

Ahead: Eric Perrin

Perrin performed for the Bears throughout a tricky two-year span. It was the top of the Colorado Avalanche affiliation period and the Avalanche was not sending a lot expertise to Hershey. Previous to the 2003-04 season, the middle was assigned, together with 4 different gamers, to the Bears by the Tampa Bay Lightning as a result of Tampa Bay did have an AHL affiliate that season. Hershey missed the playoffs by a degree, but it surely definitely was not the fault of Perrin. The Laval, Quebec native paced the Bears with 54 assists and 75 factors in 71 video games. He had 17 extra factors than teammate Steve Brule. Perrin completed fourth within the AHL in scoring and was second within the league in assists. The pivot signed an AHL take care of Hershey within the offseason to return for a second marketing campaign. He once more was far and away the group’s finest participant, however didn’t have sufficient assist to get the Bears to the postseason. The Québécois once more led the Bears in assists (49) and factors (73). Perrin was 19 factors forward of Mathieu Darche who completed second in scoring. He was second on the group in targets with 24. For his Hershey profession, Perrin tallied 45 targets and dished out 103 assists for 148 factors in 151 video games. He additionally scored 12 game-winning targets and 15 energy play targets.

Ahead: Brian Willsie

The Ontario born winger started his profession with the Bears within the 1998-99 season, however he was additionally an offensive staple for Hershey within the early 2000’s. Willsie scored 18 targets and registered 23 assists in 48 video games throughout the 2000-01 season. After spending the whole lot of the 2001-02 season with the Colorado Avalanche, Willsie got here again to the Bears for the 2002-03 marketing campaign. He tallied a group excessive 29 targets and totaled 57 factors to second on the group in scoring. Willsie performed the following seven season elsewhere, however returned when he signed on for his second stint within the Washington Capitals group previous to the 2010-11 season. The London, Ontario native picked up proper the place he left off. He set profession highs with 30 targets and 68 factors. Willsie tied for the group lead in targets and amassed 27 energy play factors, essentially the most on the Bears. He was additionally second on the group in scoring. The one-time NHL roommate of Alex Ovechkin performed in 183 video games for Hershey throughout three seasons beginning within the 2000-01 season. Willsie recorded 77 targets and 89 assists for 166 factors throughout that span. He performed for the Bears throughout the 1999-00 season as nicely. Nonetheless, the statistics on the AHL web site don’t return that far. Willsie undoubtedly had factors in that season from January 1 to finish of the common season, however that info has proved to be elusive.

Protection: Bryan Helmer

When he signed with the Washington Capitals group forward of the 2008-09 season, Helmer had 15 skilled seasons beneath his belt. The veteran instantly took over as captain and helped direct the Chocolate and White to a extremely profitable two-year stretch. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native recorded 25 assists and 27 factors throughout the common season. Helmer surpassed his common season aim whole within the playoffs, tallying 3 times. Two of these three targets and 5 of his eight playoff factors got here within the Japanese Convention Finals in opposition to the Windfall Bruins. In sport three, he had the first helper on Graham Mink’s game-winning aim within the third interval and added an insurance coverage energy play marker to offer the Bears a two video games to 1 lead. With Hershey down 2-0 in sport 4, Helmer scored one other energy play aim to begin a rally that ended with the Bears prevailing 3-2. The Ontarian then picked up two assists in sport 5, together with one on Chris Bourque’s game-winning shorthanded tally, as Hershey received the sequence to advance to the Calder Cup Finals. The Bears bested the Manitoba Moose in six video games to win the Calder Cup. The subsequent season, Helmer was again to captain the Bears. He posted 32 factors. Three of his six targets had been game-winners. Within the postseason, the veteran of 146 NHL video games dished out 4 assists. He had the first apple on Patrick McNeill’s second aim within the third interval of sport six of the championship sequence as Hershey nabbed their second straight Calder Cup. Helmer completed his profession because the AHL’s all-time main scoring defenseman with 564 factors and performed extra playoff video games, 159, than some other participant in league historical past. He was inducted into the AHL Corridor of Fame in 2017.

Protection: Dylan McIlrath

Generally a participant’s influence is larger than the numbers. There have been quite a few Hershey defensemen up to now 25 years who put up extra factors than McIlrath. Honestly, he was one of many lowest scoring defensemen that performed a number of seasons with the franchise in that point span. In 192 video games throughout three seasons with the Bears, McIlrath amassed 32 factors. He scored seven targets and went via the whole 2022-23 with out a single marker. His playoffs whole are two targets and 4 assists in 43 playoff contests. Regardless of his lack of offense, the native of Winnipeg, Manitoba was a guiding pressure behind Hershey current success. Serving as group captain for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 season, McIlrath’s management performed a serious function within the Bears skating to Calder Cup championships in each these seasons. He led by instance, in addition to vocally. If an opponent ran a Hershey teammate, that opponent needed to reply to McIlrath. If the group wanted a spark, the blue liner would drop the gloves or ship a giant hit. He introduced all of the tangibles that championship groups want.

Goalie: Frederic Cassivi

The primary goalie to steer the Bears to back-to-back Calder Cup finals appearances since Bobby Perrault did so within the 1957-58 and 1958-59 seasons, Cassivi performed in 215 video games from the 2000-01 season onward. He additionally appeared in 31 video games throughout the 1999-00 season, however what number of of these video games (and his wins for that matter) that got here after January 1 has not been discovered on account of a scarcity of availability on the AHL web site. Starting in 2000-01, the Sorel, Quebec native received 99 video games in two totally different tenure’s with Hershey. The netminder’s first run with the group was first rate, however Cassivi raised his sport throughout his second time period with the Bears. He was traded by the Colorado Avalanche to the Atlanta Thrashers for defenseman Brett Clark within the 2001-02 season. Throughout his time within the Thrashers group after which the Cincinnati Mighty Geese, the Québécois’ sport grew and he matured as a goalie. In his first marketing campaign again with Hershey in 2005-06, Cassivi led the AHL in wins with a profession excessive 34 victories. He adopted that up with a stellar efficiency within the playoffs. Enjoying in 21 postseason video games, Cassivi went 16-5 with a stout .931 save share and a 2.10 goals-against common. He recorded 4 shutouts, essentially the most by any goalie within the playoffs and guided the Bears to their first Calder Cup championship since 1997. For his efficiency, Cassivi earned the Jack A. Butterfield Award because the Calder Cup playoffs MVP. For an encore, he received 22 video games within the 2006-07 season and posted the second finest save share of his profession, .921. He led Hershey again to the Calder Cup finals, prevailing 13 instances within the playoffs earlier than the Chocolate and White fell to Hamilton within the championship sequence. Cassivi earned 20 wins in his final season with the franchise. He ranks fifth all-time in Bears’ historical past in goalie video games performed with 246 and in wins with 113. Cassivi was inducted into the AHL Corridor of Fame in 2015 and the Hershey Bears Hockey Membership Corridor of Fame as a part of the Class of 2021.

By Eric Lord