BEARS ADD VETERAN KENNEDY, BRING BACK NEWBURY FOR 14-15

July 7, 2014

HERSHEY, Pa. – The Hershey Bears announced today that the organization has signed center Tim Kennedy and forward Kris Newbury to one-year contracts for the 2014-2015 season.  The announcement was made by Bears President/GM Doug Yingst.
 
Kennedy, 28, brings 162 games of NHL experience to Hershey.  The 5-10, 176-pound native of Buffalo, New York spent the majority of the 2013-2014 season with the Phoenix Coyotes, where he posted eight points (two goals, six assists) in 37 games.  With the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate Portland Pirates, Kennedy recorded 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 30 games.
 
Nearly half of Kennedy’s NHL career was spent playing for his hometown Buffalo Sabres, as the forward appeared in 79 regular-season games from 2008-2010 and tallied 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists).  He added a goal and two assists in six Stanley Cup Playoff games in 2009-2010.  Kennedy also dressed for the Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks and Coyotes, and has a total of 39 points (15 goals, 24 assists) in his NHL career.
 
In the American Hockey League, Kennedy has played in 260 regular-season games with the Pirates, Hartford Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whale, Rochester Americans, San Antonio Rampage and Worcester Sharks, and has amassed 208 points (60 goals, 148 assists).  He finished in the league’s top 20 in scoring in his rookie year of 2008-2009 with 67 points (18 goals, 49 assists), and was named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team for his efforts.
 
Prior to turning pro, Kennedy played three years of collegiate hockey at Michigan State University (CCHA), tallying 105 points (42 goals, 63 assists) in 113 career games.  He was named a Second Team All-Star in his final season of 2007-2008, and in his second year, helped lead the Spartans to the 2007 NCAA National Championship.  He was also a member of the 2007 NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team.
 
Kennedy was originally selected by the Washington Capitals in the sixth round (181^st overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
 

Acquired on loan from the Philadelphia Flyers on March 12, Newbury had a significant impact on the Bears’ offense.  Playing in Hershey’s final 17 regular-season games, he posted 13 points (four goals, nine assists), which included a Bears season-high four-point game and plus-four rating on April 6 at Bridgeport.
 
The 5-11, 205-pound native of Brampton, Ontario is a veteran of 662 American Hockey League games, and has amassed 488 points (160 goals, 328 assists) while playing with the St. John’s Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies, Grand Rapids Griffins, Hartford Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whale, Adirondack Phantoms and Bears. 
 
Newbury appeared in his 600^th AHL game on October 25^th against the Norfolk Admirals, and played his 700^th professional game on December 21^st also against Norfolk.  The 32-year-old has produced three 20-goal seasons and four 60-point seasons in his 11-year professional career.
 
Newbury has also appeared in 76 NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Flyers, and has recorded 10 points (four goals, six assists) and 139 penalty minutes.
 
Prior to turning pro, Newbury played five years of junior hockey with the OHL’s Belleville Bulls and Sarnia Sting, totaling 306 points (122 goals, 184 assists) in 306 games.  He was originally selected by the San Jose Sharks in the fifth round (139^th overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
 
Season tickets for the 2014-2015 Hershey Bears regular season are on sale now by calling (717) 508-BEAR.  Many different flexible plans are available and start as low as $170.