It’s the end of the 2023-24 season for the Hershey Bears, and that means it’s time to crown the winners of the second annual Bears Hockey Nation Player Awards! The same categories based on some of our favorite Bears of all time return for this year’s show, with a special thanks to Carl Minieri for his photos for each category. We’ll start with an award based on the man of the hour from Saturday’s season finale, Mr. 800 professional games himself!
Aaron Ness Outstanding Defenseman Award – This award goes the Hershey blue liner who contributes the best all-around performance this season, inspired by legendary defensemen Aaron Ness, who is playing his sixth season with the Bears. Ness has skated in 376 regular season games in Hershey, 428 when adding in playoff games. He helped the team to their 12th Calder Cup after winning his award a year ago.
This year’s recipient of the award goes to blue liner Chase Priskie, who skated with the Bears for the first time this season. Priskie played the most games among defensemen with 69 and paced the Hershey blue line in scoring with 34 points (eight goals, 26 assists). His plus-15 mark was tied for seventh on the Bears. Priskie has been a jack-of-all trades for the team this season, showing offensive prowess and outstanding skill in his own zone. Even on the rare instance Priskie might make a mistake, he usually makes up for it with an even more brilliant defensive play. Nearly every Bears blueliner would make a great candidate for this award, but Priskie has been a reliable presence all year long.
Nathan Walker Unsung Hero – This award goes to the Bears player who succeeds under the radar, inspired by long time Hershey forward Nathan Walker. The first Australian to play in the AHL, Walker skated in 300 regular season games for the Bears and became an irreplaceable part of the team’s identity during his time here. Walker has gone on to play for the St. Louis Blues where he’s made an impact and stuck on the roster thanks to his hard work and energetic style that earned him the nickname “Stormy”.
This year’s recipient is forward Matt Strome, who started off the season as an extra but quickly became an irreplaceable part of Hershey’s lineup. Strome, along with Riley Sutter, became core components of the penalty kill for the Bears and became a secret weapon of sorts. 50 games for Strome are the second highest in a single season for him. He set career-bests in goals, assists, and points with 20 (seven goals, 13 assists) including two shorthanded tallies. His plus-13 mark ranks fifth among Bears forwards, an impressive mark considering the defensive orientation of his play. Strome has been strong on penalty shots and shootouts, tallying once in both categories.
Riley Barber Outstanding Forward Award – This award goes to the player who lights the lamp and does it all for the Chocolate and White, much like former Bear Riley Barber. Barber turned pro during the 2015-16 season and spent four years in Hershey, scoring 20 or more goals in three seasons while eclipsing the 30-goal mark during the 2018-19 season when he had a career high 60-point season. Barber, simply put, was a player who would burn the opposition with the puck on his stick.
This year’s recipient of the award is forward Alex Limoges. In his first year with the Bears, Limoges has been an irreplaceable contributor to the success of the Chocolate and White. He tallied 51 points (24 goals, 27 assists), ranking second on the team in total points and third in both goals and assists. Limoges’s goal count is a single season best for him at the AHL level, and his production has been an important factor in negating the loss of Mike Sgarbossa.
Travis Boyd Team MVP Award – Over the course of three full seasons and parts of three others, Travis Boyd racked up so many memorable goals over the years. His three playoff goals as a part of the Bears were all game winners, including the Game 7 overtime winner against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs. One of many players to go on to hoist the Stanley Cup in Washington and stay in the NHL, Boyd was a cornerstone of Hershey’s success in that era of the team’s history.
Joe Snively is this year’s recipient of this award. In a tie for 13th place overall in league scoring, Snively has blown away his previous bests in offensive production. He finished the season with 59 points (14 goals, 45 assists) in 69 games played. His point count is 21 higher than his previous best set during the 2021-22 season. Snively’s game count is his highest in a single season, over double the amount of times he dressed last year due to varying factors. It’s safe to say the offense flowed through him, finishing the season with ten points (three goals, seven assists) in his last seven games played. He’s done it all season long with or without Sgarbossa as one of key cogs in Hershey’s outstanding offensive season.
Vitek Vanecek Outstanding Goaltender – Not many goaltenders will go down in the storied history of the Hershey Bears as beloved as goaltender Vitek Vanecek. “VV” was beloved for his short but memorable postgame remarks to the fans at Giant Center that differed significantly from how the first star is typically recognized, and he quickly became a fan favorite who has also graduated to the NHL ranks.
For the third straight year, this award goes to Hershey’s tandem of goaltenders rather than one individual netminder. Hunter Shepard and Clay Stevenson rank number one and two, respectively, in the AHL in terms of goals against average. The duo have combined to set Hershey’s franchise record for shutouts in a single season with 12. In addition, the league recognized them with the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award for the 2023-24 season. The award is presented to the goaltender(s) on the team which allows the fewest goals per game in the regular season. It’s just the fifth time in Bears history that the award was received since 1972. Hershey’s goaltending due has been fantastic for the past few years, but there may not be any replicating this year’s success in the future. Both goaltenders have left their mark in Hershey Bears history.
Garrett Mitchell/Liam O’Brien Character Award – If there’s anything that can make a player endearing to Hershey fans, it’s hardworking players who bring a variety of qualities to the table that make them ideal leaders. Mitchell was captain of the Bears and brought leadership, dropped the gloves at times, and had a knack for scoring big goals in his time in Hershey. After retiring, he’s moved back to Hershey and now does color commentary for televised Bears games. A similar story could be told of O’Brien, who played in Hershey for many years and similarly brought many intangible qualities that very easily could have made him captain of the Bears. It’s no secret both players were beloved by Bears fans for those reasons.
This year’s recipient of the award is forward Jimmy Huntington, who has become a fan favorite this season as well as a leader on and off the ice. Personable and always generous with his time, Huntington is a player who is impossible to admire. At times, Huntington has even worn the alternate captain’s crest on his jersey in the absence of Hershey’s leaders, making him the only new player to this year to do so. Huntington took on an expanded role with the Bears as the season wore on particularly in the absence of key players at the center position. He set new single season bests in terms of goals (16) and points (33) as well as leading the team’s forwards with a plus-25 mark. It’s safe to say he’s been a key player to this Hershey team and one who is continuing to hone his game in the Sweetest Place on Earth.
Congrats to all of this year’s winners from Bears Hockey Nation!
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