BEARS SIGN PATRICK WELLAR FOR 2013-14

May 10, 2013

HERSHEY, Pa.– The HERSHEY BEARS announced today that the club has assigned defenseman Patrick Wellar to the Reading Royals (ECHL).  Additionally, Wellar has been signed to a one-year contract for the 2013-14 season.  The announcements were made by BEARS President/GM Doug Yingst.
 
Wellar, 29, appeared in 19 games with the Bears this season – his fifth in Chocolatetown – recording one assist, 52 penalty minutes and a plus-two efficiency rating.  He was scoreless with 22 penalty minutes in five Calder Cup playoff contests.
 
The 6-3, 230-pound native of Carrot River, SK joins the Royals in their quest for the Kelly Cup.  Reading is three games into an Eastern Conference Finals series with the Cincinnati Cyclones, and lead two games to one.  Game Four of the series is tonight in Cincinnati.  He has recorded 15 points (two goals, 13 assists), 45 penalty minutes and a plus-seven rating in 37 regular-season games with Reading in 2012-13.
 
Wellar began his stay in Hershey in 2008-09, when he tallied one goal and two assists, added 37 penalty minutes and recorded a plus-three rating in 21 games.  In his Hershey tenure, Wellar has amassed 41 points (six goals, 35 assists), 452 penalty minutes and a cumulative plus-23 rating.  He was 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 260 total AHL games with Hershey, Toronto, Peoria and Worcester, registering seven goals and 39 assists.  He was originally selected by the Washington Capitals in the third round (77^th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
 
Information on season tickets for the Hershey Bears 2013-14 regular season is available by calling (717) 508-BEAR.