BEARS RECALL DEFENSEMAN PATRICK WELLAR FROM READING

December 7, 2012

HERSHEY, Pa.– The HERSHEY BEARS announced today that the club has recalled defenseman Patrick Wellar from the Reading Royals (ECHL).  The announcement was made by BEARS President/GM Doug Yingst.
 
Wellar, 29, returns to the BEARS after an 18-game stint with the Royals, his first ECHL action since the 2009-10 season.  He has recorded one goal, four assists and 25 penalty minutes in Reading.  Wellar did play one game with HERSHEY earlier in the season, going scoreless with seven penalty minutes.
 
The 6-3, 230-pound native of Carrot River, SK is currently in his fifth season with the organization.  He began his stay in Chocolatetown in 2008-09, when he scored one goal and two assists, added 37 penalty minutes and recorded a plus-3 rating in 21 games.  In his HERSHEY tenure, Wellar has amassed 40 points (six goals, 34 assists), 407 penalty minutes and a cumulative plus-19 rating.  He was also a member of the 2010 Calder Cup championship squad, chipping in six assists in the BEARS’ run to their second title in as many seasons.
 
Wellar has appeared in 242 total AHL games with HERSHEY, Toronto, Peoria and Worcester, registering seven goals and 38 assists.  He was originally selected by the Washington Capitals in the third round (77^th overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
 
HERSHEY heads north for a 7:05 PM faceoff tonight, December 7 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.   The BEARS will then return home tomorrow, December 8 for a 7:00 PM matchup against the Hamilton Bulldogs.  Tickets for this game and all HERSHEY BEARS home games are on sale at the GIANT Center box office, by calling (717) 508-BEAR, or online at TicketMaster.com.