History Is Made! Hershey Becomes First AHL Franchise To 3,000 Wins

HERSHEY, Pa. - On November 5, 1938 the Hershey Bears earned their first victory, a 2-1 victory over Providence in their first game in the AHL.

It’s only taken 84 seasons, a total of 30,467 days (granted that is a long time), but the Hershey Bears have made AHL history again, this time for becoming the first franchise to reach 3000 victories following Tuesday afternoon's 4-3 OT win over the Bridgeport Islanders.

According to HockeyDB.com, it has taken the collective efforts of no less than 1,334 players to accomplish this milestone. That list of 1,334 names reads like a Who’s Who of hockey.

Mike Nykoluk, whose name is one of just seven that hangs in the rafters, played the most games with 972 spanning 1958-1972. With 14 seasons under his belt, he leads that stat category as well, and neither likely will be challenged anytime soon.

"I guess it means I've been here a little too long," joked Shane Gersich, when told he leads all current Bears with 217 games played. "But no, that's cool. Obviously, like I said, I've been here it's my fourth year and I've enjoyed every minute of it. It's been a super special place to play."

Arnie Kullman, who at 12 seasons trails only Nykoluk in number of years, is honored in the rafters as well as is Tim Tookey, who played from 1980-1994 trailing only Nykoluk in points scored with 693 points in 529 games. As is Mitch Lamoureux who played for the Bears three different times in his career.

"Fortunate, humbled, proud, and lucky. Lucky," Lamoureux said when asked what it meant to him to be part of this franchise. "I mean, I had three stints here. And that came with a lot of luck. And you know, I took a lot of pride when I wore the chocolate and white...My number is retired with the all time point getter in the American Hockey League history, which is unbelievable. So that's where the luck comes in."

And while Lamoureux, who admitted he reinvented his game throughout the years he played in Hershey, is 8th in goals scored in frachise history, it's Dunc Fisher, who played 511 games, who leads in all-time goals scored with 260 between 1952 and 1960. Mike Sothers, who racked up 1519 penalty minutes in 487 games from 1984 to 1992 and was a name synonymous with toughness and grit, has also likely set a mark that will not be surpassed anytime soon.

Kale Kessy, who has 297 penalty minutes in just 92 games in the Chocolate and White, is another player who characterizes what Lamoureux referred to as having a “blue-collar” mentality that is loved in Hershey for his toughness and grit and never-back-down mentality.

"It's definitely special to be a part of it. I think that's (the blue-collar mentality and sticking up for teammates) part of my game," Kessy said. "I play hard and simple. I'm definitely not a point guy so just always sticking up for my teammates - play gritty and keep it simple."

That ability to bring together guys who have different strengths is evident throughout the years as is the continued connection to the organization these players share. In fact, many other former Bears who had a hand in the 3000th victory are still part of the organization. That list includes 13 current members of the Washington Capitals, current assistant coach Patrick Wellar (2008-2014), and current VP of Hockey Operations, Bryan Helmer who spent part of 2008-09 and the 2009-10 season with the Bears during their affiliation with current parent club, Washington.

"For the organization to accomplish a milestone like that is pretty amazing," Helmer told InsideAHLHockey.com. "If you look at the teams that did it in the NHL, there's a handful that did it. To be the first minor league team to do that it's pretty special. To be a part of it for two years to be a part of the 3000 wins as a player, as a coach, and now as the VP of hockey operations is pretty neat, to be honest with you."

Of course, 3000 would not be possible without some stellar goaltending.

Gordie Henry’s 510 games in goal for the Bears from 1944-1955 leads all goaltenders, but some more recent netminders likely come to mind when thinking of goaltending in Hershey. Names like Braden Holtby and Philipp Grubauer, who teamed up to bring the Stanley Cup to Washington come to mind. Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek, Washington’s current duo also come to mind. But that tandem has had some help this season from Hunter Shepard and current Hershey netminder Pheonix Copley, the longest current tenured Bear, and Zach Fucale, who set NHL and team shutout records this season.

After setting a team-record for his third consecutive shutout for the Bears, Fucale said, "There's that winning tradition in Hershey that's been here for decades. We're lucky to be here. We're lucky to wear this jersey, and I know after a long battle in my career in the East Coast, being in this league and in a town like this, it's a privilege and I will never take that for granted. 3000 wins to be part of that is cool, real, real cool."

Cool does not even begin to address the accolades bestowed on those involved with hockey in Hershey through the years. Hershey also boasts a connection to 24 current and soon-to-be members of the AHL Hall of Fame including Keith Aucoin (2022), Harvey Bennett (2013), Don Biggs (2018), former coach Bruce Boudreau (2009), Frederic Cassivi (2015), Don Cherry (2019), Bruce Cline (2016), Dave Creighton (2022), Jody Gage (2006), Bryan Helmer (2017), Ramph Keller (2016), Jean-Francois Labbe (2016), Mitch Lamoureux (2011), Willie Marshall (2006), Frank Mathers (2006), Gilles Mayer (2007), Jim Morrizon (2013), Mike Nykoluk (2007), former coach John Paddock (2010), Bob Perreault (2014), John Stevens (2012), Tim Tookey (2008), Zellio Toppazzini (2012), and former President and General Manager Doug Yingst (2017).

"It's a historic franchise, there's a lot of people that paved the way for that," said Mike Sgarbossa, who leads the current group in goals, assists, and points scored. "A lot of history behind this team and this organization and if you're part of that, that's something special. I think a lot of the guys before us contributed and we're doing our best to keep that rolling. I think when you think of Hershey hockey, you think of winning, you think of championships. Nothing really comes secondary. That's a goal every year - to win the Calder, be the best we can. They go and get players, they want to win. It's not just the development side, they want to win and that's a huge honor for myself and I'm sure for every guy here too."

Of course the current crop of Bears players fully understand the history behind this franchise, and they embrace it as they strive to earn another Calder Cup, a 12th, which would break their own league record. Now that yet another milestone is surpassed, the players can take a moment to reflect on what being part of this historic franchise means to them.

"It's unbelievable," Malenstyn said. "To be able to look back and be a part of history is something you can't take away from yourself. This is definitely a historic franchise, and we're definitely all lucky to play here. We see the fan support. We see the support in the community. It's phenomenal. 3000 games is a lot of wins."

While 3000 is a big number, there are those who wish this milestone would not have taken this long to attain.

"When somebody brought it up a while back, I was like, okay let's get it done sooner than later," Helmer said, adding, "I wish we had it done before now."

However, with that milestone victory now in the rearview mirror, the Bears are certainly eager to start working towards the next milestone - 4000 anyone?

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