Bears Mourn Passing of Calder Cup Champion Les Duff

November 6, 2025

The Hershey Bears are saddened to learn of the passing of former left wing Les Duff earlier this year at the age of 90.

Duff played seven seasons for the Chocolate and White from 1956-63, skating in 467 games with the club and generating 238 points (106g, 132a). Duff's 467 games played rank 18th in team history, while his 106 goals are tied for 33rd, and his 238 points rank 42nd in franchise scoring.

Duff was part of four Bears teams that reached the Calder Cup Finals (1958, 1959, 1961, and 1963), helping the club capture its second and third Calder Cup championships in 1958 and 1959. During this time, Duff established himself as one of Hershey's most reliable two-way players, and was widely regarded as one of the American Hockey League's premier defensive forwards of his era.

Duff became part of team and league history when he and teammates Marc Reaume and Mike Nykoluk each scored within a 21-second span on Nov. 14, 1962 vs. the Cleveland Barons to set a then-American Hockey League record for fastest three-goal sequence.

The native of Kirkland Lake, Ontario also played in the AHL with the Pittsburgh Hornets and Rochester Americans, capturing three additional Calder Cups with Rochester in 1965, 1966, and 1968; his five total Calder Cups won as a player are tied for the league record for most Calder Cup titles along with Bob Solinger, Fred Glover, and Mike Busniuk.

The Bears organization joins the AHL and Rochester Americans with the rest of the hockey community in extending its deepest condolences to Duff's family, friends, and teammates.