It was announced on Monday that the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the AHL’s Hershey Bears have extended their affiliation agreement through the 2029-2030 season, adding another 6 years to the partnership. The teams have been affiliated with each other continuously since the 2005-2006 season, and Hershey boasts a record of 783-428-72-91 since the partnership began. In addition, the Bears have won four Calder Cup Championships since the 2006 season, adding to their league-record 12 Cup Championships. No NHL-AHL affiliation has won more Calder Cups in that time span. Additionally, the teams were previously affiliated for seven seasons from 1977 to 1984 and notched a Calder Cup Championship win in 1980. 17 players from the most recent Calder Cup-winning team have been called up to the Capitals at some point, including current roster regulars Beck Malenstyn, Connor McMichael, and Aliaksei Protas.
Bryan Helmer, Hershey’s vice president of hockey operations, spoke highly of the partnership. “The Hershey Bears are thrilled to extend our affiliation agreement with the Washington Capitals. Our longstanding partnership with the Capitals has established a proven model of success in creating a winning culture and promoting development. Hershey’s 2023 Calder Cup title was the organization’s fourth championship since partnering with the Capitals in 2005-06, and we take great pride in seeing players who helped us win in Hershey graduate to Washington. We look forward to continuing this strong partnership for the next six seasons.” Brian MacLellan, the Washington Capitals General Manager, also spoke about the affiliation extension, saying, “The Hershey Bears have played an integral role in the successful development and maturation of players within the Washington Capitals organization for many years, and we are excited to extend our affiliation for the next six seasons and continue our longstanding partnership.”
Not only have players come to Washington by way of Hershey, but a handful of staff have as well. Most notably, Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery served as the head coach of the Bears from 2018-2021, earning a combined record of 104-50-9-8 and an AHL-best record of 24-7-2-0. Capitals assistant coach Scott Allen was also on Carbery’s Hershey staff for two seasons before being named Bears’ head coach in 2021. Other Washington staff that have come from the Bears organization include video coach Emily Engel-Natzke, goaltending coach Scott Murray, athletic trainer Murphy Luatua, strength and conditioning coach Mike Wagner, and radio broadcaster John Walton.
Many notable Capitals players have come through the Bears’ organization in the teams’ affiliation history, proving that the partnership creates continued success and strong players. Some of these names include John Carlson, Tom Wilson, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Martin Fehervary, Sonny Milano, and Ivan Miroshnichenko, to name a few. 10 former Bears took the ice in the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup-clinching game. The teams look to continue their success as they approach their 25th consecutive season affiliation in 2029. The Hershey Bears are the AHL’s oldest and most decorated franchise and currently sit at the top of the league’s standings with a season record of 34-7-0-2. The future of the Washington Capitals is certainly very bright as the partnership continues over the next six seasons!
