HERSHEY BEARS HOCKEY CLUB HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCED

August 29, 2012

HERSHEY, Pa. – The HERSHEY BEARS announced this evening the inception of the HERSHEY BEARS Hockey Club Hall of Fame, which will showcase the team’s history and recognize outstanding players, coaches, executives, officials and individuals who helped shape the BEARS and the antecedent HERSHEY B’ars.  The announcement was made at a formal event for season ticket holders, club seat holders and suite holders by BEARS President/GM Doug Yingst.

The HERSHEY BEARS Hockey Club Hall of Fame will be located at GIANT Center in Hershey, Pa., on the main concourse.  The inaugural class will be announced later this fall, and will be inducted during another special event announced by the club this evening.  The BEARS’ Hall of Fame Night will take place on Wednesday, December 19 when the BEARS host the Norfolk Admirals.  The night marks the anniversary of the BEARS’ first-ever home game, played on December 19, 1938 at HERSHEYPARK Arena – then known as HERSHEY Sports Arena.

“The HERSHEY BEARS Hockey Club Hall of Fame is long overdue,” Yingst said.  “There is no better time to introduce the Hall than in our 75th season, and we are fortunate to be hosting a game on the very same night that the excitement of hockey began here in Chocolatetown 75 years ago.”

The four induction categories are Player, Builder, Officials, and General.  Nomination and election of candidates by the HERSHEY BEARS Hockey Club Hall of Fame committee will take place annually.  A candidate must receive 80 percent of the votes from the 10-person voting committee for election.

The members of the HERSHEY BEARS Hockey Club Hall of Fame committee are Bill Simpson, President and COO of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company (non-voting member); Doug Yingst, HERSHEY BEARS President/General Manager; J. Bruce McKinney, retired President, CEO and Chairman of HERCO (1986-2000); Ken Hatt, retired President and COO of HERCO (1980-86); Dr. Bob Goodman, AHL Linesman; Dave Parro, President of the HERSHEY BEARS Alumni Association; Don Scott, HERSHEY BEARS Public Address Announcer; Randy Waybright, HERSHEY BEARS Supervisor of Off-Ice Officials; Vikki Hultquist, Managing Director-Entertainment of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company; Maria Stouffer, HERSHEY BEARS Business Services Manager; and Tim Leone, Patriot-News Columnist/Reporter.