Hershey Bears Overview
The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1932 by chocolate manufacturer Milton S. Hershey, the Bears have competed continuously in the American Hockey League since the 1938–39 season, making them the longest-operating member club still located in their original city. Affiliated primarily with the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals since 2005–06, the team plays home games at the Giant Center. The Bears have captured 13 Calder Cup championships, more than any other franchise in AHL history.
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a subsidiary of the Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company, the entertainment and hospitality arm of the Hershey Trust Company. The team’s colors of chocolate, tan, cocoa, and white reflect their long association with The Hershey Company. Their official mascot, Coco the bear, has entertained fans since debuting at the Hersheypark Arena on October 14, 1978. With head coach Derek King and captain Aaron Ness leading the current roster, the Bears continue to serve as a vital development pipeline for the Washington Capitals organization.
Founding and Organizational Origins
The story of Hershey hockey began with a series of amateur matches played at the Hershey Ice Palace beginning in February 1931. The popularity of those contests prompted Milton S. Hershey, along with his entertainment chief John B. Sollenberger, to formalize professional hockey operations in the town. In 1932, Hershey established the Hershey Hockey Club to oversee a permanent professional team, creating what remains the oldest continuously operating professional ice hockey management organization in North America outside of the NHL’s Original Six franchises.
The organization’s first team was the amateur Hershey B’ars, who competed in the Tri-State Hockey League during the 1932–33 season. After that circuit reformed into the seven-team Eastern Amateur Hockey League, Hershey played first as the Chocolate B’ars and later simply as the B’ars. In 1936, in response to criticism from New York sportswriters who had nicknamed the club the Bears from Penn’s Woods, the franchise adopted the Hershey Bears name. On December 19, 1936, the Bears moved from the small confines of the Ice Palace into the newly constructed 7,286-seat Hersheypark Arena, where they would remain for the next 66 seasons.
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club, as it is known today, has operated four teams across three professional leagues since its founding. Throughout its nine decades, the organization has been guided by a handful of influential figures, including Lloyd Blinco, who served as a player, coach, and manager for half a century. Frank S. Mathers later joined the club as a player and remained active with the Bears for an unprecedented 35 seasons as an All-Star defenseman, player-coach, general manager, and club president, winning more than 1,500 games and six Calder Cup titles during his tenure.
Growth Into AHL Competition
When the International-American Hockey League formed in 1938 through the merger of the Canadian-American Hockey League and the International Hockey League, the Bears were granted an expansion franchise in the league’s West Division. The Hershey Hockey Club also continued to operate an EAHL team, the Hershey Cubs, for one additional season before leaving that league entirely. By 1977, the Bears had become the only original AHL hockey club to have continuously iced a team in the same city since the league’s inaugural fully merged season.
The Bears’ early AHL years were marked by immediate success, including a West Division title in their debut campaign under coach Herb Mitchell. Former Boston Bruins coach and Hockey Hall of Fame member Ralph Cooney Weiland guided Hershey through the World War II era, winning regular-season titles in 1942–43 and 1943–44. The 1942–43 campaign produced just 13 losses, still the fewest by the club in a single season. In 1947, under second-year coach Don Penniston, the Bears captured their first Calder Cup championship while also dominating the AHL’s East Division.
The 1950s and 1960s brought additional titles and legendary players, including Mike Nykoluk, whose jersey number eight became the first ever retired by the Bears in 1972. Arnie Kullman, whose number nine was later shared with Tim Tookey, played 753 games in a Hershey uniform. The acquisitions of Frank Mathers and several former Pittsburgh Hornets players following the 1956 demise of that franchise set the stage for back-to-back Calder Cup titles in 1957–58 and 1958–59, establishing Hershey as the AHL’s preeminent organization.
Hershey Bears Competitive Journey
Across nearly nine decades of continuous operation, the Hershey Bears have built one of the most successful traditions in American professional hockey. From their amateur origins in the Tri-State Hockey League to their current role as the top developmental affiliate of the Washington Capitals, the Bears have amassed 13 Calder Cup championships, 25 conference titles, 20 division titles, and 9 regular-season titles. The franchise has developed Hall of Fame players and produced record-setting performances while maintaining its place as a cornerstone of the Hershey, Pennsylvania community.
Early Seasons and Development (1938–1969)
The Bears’ first IAHL season ended with a West Division title but a first-round playoff loss to the Philadelphia Ramblers. Under Ralph Weiland, the club captured regular-season championships in 1942–43 and 1943–44, with Wally Kilrea becoming Hershey’s first AHL scoring champion in 1942–43. The 1947 Calder Cup championship, won under Don Penniston, marked the franchise’s first professional hockey title and was built on the goaltending of All-Star Harvey Bennett Sr.
The acquisitions that followed the 1956 collapse of the Pittsburgh Hornets transformed Hershey into a dynasty. Center Red Sullivan set an AHL scoring record with 119 points in 1953–54, while Willie Marshall became the league’s all-time leading scorer. Frank Mathers led the Bears to consecutive Calder Cup championships in 1957–58 and 1958–59, capping a run in which the Bears averaged more than 45 wins per season for nearly a decade. The Bears added their fourth Calder Cup in 1968–69 behind Gil Gilbert’s league-leading 100 points and Michel Harvey’s 93.
Breakthrough in AHL (1970–1996)
The 1973–74 Calder Cup championship came under Chuck Hamilton, who guided a young squad featuring nine rookies through the postseason with just two losses in three rounds. The title-clinching game drew a then-record crowd of 8,703 to the Hersheypark Arena. Five years later, Doug Gibson led Hershey to a sixth Calder Cup in 1979–80, scoring 19 points in 16 playoff games while goaltending was shared by Gary Inness and Dave Parro. Despite a sub-.500 regular-season record, the Bears swept the Syracuse Firebirds before upsetting both the New Haven Nighthawks and the New Brunswick Hawks to claim the championship.
The 1980s marked a golden era for the franchise. Under Bryan Murray, Hershey recorded 357 goals in 1980–81, a single-season record that still stands. The arrival of Philadelphia Flyers affiliation in 1984–85 ushered in a 12-year partnership, and John Paddock coached the Bears to four consecutive 45-win seasons. Rookie Ron Hextall became the first Hershey Bear to win the AHL Rookie of the Year award in 1985–86, while Tim Tookey set a still-standing single-season record with 124 points in 1986–87. In 1987–88, the Bears became the first professional hockey club outside the NHL to reach the half-century mark, sweeping all three playoff rounds for a 12–0 postseason record and their seventh Calder Cup.
The 1990s brought additional success despite multiple NHL affiliation changes. The Bears captured their eighth Calder Cup in 1996–97, continuing a tradition of championship-caliber hockey that had now spanned five decades.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2005–Present)
The Washington Capitals returned as Hershey’s NHL parent club in 2005 after a 21-year span that included affiliations with the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Colorado Avalanche. Under Bruce Boudreau, the Bears captured their ninth Calder Cup in 2006 after rallying from a 3–1 series deficit against the Portland Pirates in the Eastern Conference finals. The 2008–09 and 2009–10 seasons produced back-to-back championships, with the 2010 squad setting franchise records with 12 consecutive wins, a 24-game home winning streak, and 60 total victories. The 2009–10 Bears also became the first team in AHL history to win a Calder Cup series after trailing 2–0, defeating the Texas Stars in six games.
Since 2012–13, the Bears have overhauled their uniforms multiple times while maintaining the chocolate-and-white color scheme tied to The Hershey Company. The franchise won its 12th Calder Cup in 2023 and followed it with a 13th title in 2024, extending their record as the AHL’s all-time leader in championships. The current program operates under head coach Derek King, with Bryan Helmer serving as de facto general manager and VP of Hockey Operations. The Bears’ partnership with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays extends their developmental reach.
The franchise’s modern identity also includes the beloved Teddy Bear Toss, an annual charity event held since 2001 around Christmas. From 2018 through 2025, the Bears consecutively broke the world record for the event, with the 2025 record standing at 102,343 stuffed animals collected.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
The Hershey Bears have long emphasized player development, defensive structure, and disciplined two-way hockey. The franchise’s commitment to organizational stability, evidenced by its continuous operation since 1932 and decades-long relationships with the Hershey community, has produced a culture that values sustained excellence over short-term volatility. The Bears have historically excelled at developing goaltenders and defensemen while maintaining a balanced offensive attack built on veteran leadership and emerging NHL talent.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
The Hershey Bears have recorded 13 Calder Cup championships, with their first in 1947 and most recent in 2024. The franchise’s 12–0 playoff run in 1987–88 remains an AHL record for an unblemished postseason. The 2009–10 squad set AHL records with 24 consecutive home victories and 60 wins in a single season. Frank S. Mathers was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992, becoming only the second individual honored primarily for an AHL career. Jersey numbers 8 (Mike Nykoluk and Tim Tookey) and 9 (Arnie Kullman and Tim Tookey) have been retired in honor of the franchise’s all-time greats.
Hershey Bears Achievements and Results
The Hershey Bears have compiled one of the most decorated histories in American Hockey League history. Their 13 Calder Cup championships, 25 conference titles, 20 division titles, and 9 regular-season titles establish them as the most successful franchise in the league. Beyond team accomplishments, the Bears organization has produced Hall of Fame players, AHL award winners, and numerous NHL stars who honed their skills in Hershey.
AHL Achievements
The Hershey Bears have won 13 Calder Cup championships, more than any other AHL franchise in history. Their titles came in 1947, 1958, 1959, 1969, 1974, 1980, 1988, 1997, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2023, and 2024. The Bears have appeared in 22 Calder Cup Finals, a league record. The 2009–10 championship was particularly historic, as the Bears became the first team in AHL history to win a Calder Cup series after trailing 2–0, rallying to defeat the Texas Stars in six games. The franchise’s 1987–88 title run featured a perfect 12–0 playoff record, an AHL mark that remains unmatched.
Conference Achievements
The Hershey Bears have captured 25 Eastern Conference championships across their AHL history. Notable title runs include back-to-back conference championships in 2009 and 2010 during the dynasty under the Washington Capitals affiliation, as well as conference titles in 1997, 2007, 2016, 2023, and 2024. The 2009–10 conference championship capped a season in which the Bears won 60 games and posted a 24-game home winning streak. The franchise’s consistent conference-level success has made the Bears one of the most formidable Eastern Conference competitors for nearly a century.
Divisional Achievements
The Hershey Bears have won 20 division titles, including their very first in the 1938–39 IAHL season. The Bears captured three consecutive Eastern Division titles from 1967 to 1969, the latter two coinciding with their fourth Calder Cup championship. Under Bryan Murray, the team claimed the 1980–81 Southern Division title with a then-franchise-best 103 points. More recently, the Bears won Atlantic Division titles in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2024, and 2025, reflecting the franchise’s continued dominance within its division.
Series Achievements
The Bears’ regular-season excellence has produced nine Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophies as the AHL’s top regular-season team, earned in 1942–43, 1957–58, 1980–81, 1985–86, 1987–88, 2006–07, 2009–10, 2020–21, and 2023–24. Individual accolades have been equally abundant, with Bears players winning the Les Cunningham Award as league MVP on multiple occasions and earning recognition as AHL scoring champions, playoff MVPs, and top goaltenders. The franchise’s eight consecutive playoff series victories during the 2009–10 championship run set an AHL mark, underscoring their postseason pedigree.