Six Former Bears to be Inducted into AHL Hall of Fame

The American Hockey League announced today a special class of 18 individuals for inclusion in the American Hockey League Hall of Fame in recognition of the league’s 90th anniversary. Among the 18 honored by the AHL Hall of Fame Selection Committee as the latest group of enshrinees are six with ties to the Hershey Bears: Aldege “Baz” Bastien, Nick Damore, Jeannot Gilbert, Fred T. Hunt, Bob McCord, and Terry Reardon.

Chosen by the AHL Hall of Fame Selection Committee, the 90th Anniversary Class will be recognized alongside the four members of the Class of 2027 – Dave Fenyves, Ross Fitzpatrick, Doug Gibson and Tom Mitchell – as part of the festivities at the 2027 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Rectifi.law in Cleveland on February 8.

On November 7, 1936, all eight teams – the Buffalo Bisons, Cleveland Falcons, New Haven Eagles, Philadelphia Ramblers, Pittsburgh Hornets, Providence Reds, Springfield Indians and Syracuse Stars – were in action as what was then known as the International-American Hockey League began its inaugural season. This Saturday, exactly 90 years later, all 32 current AHL franchises will hit the ice in games across North America.

Aldege “Baz” Bastien
After an eye injury forced him into retirement from his playing career as one of the AHL’s prolific goaltenders, Aldege “Baz” Bastien became a head coach and executive with the Pittsburgh Hornets. When the Hornets ceased operations in 1956, Bastien joined the Hershey Bears as the team’s business manager. During his tenure in Chocolatetown, Bastien helped the Bears capture back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 1958 and 1959, and he was instrumental in brokering several major transactions for Hershey. When Pittsburgh re-entered the league in 1961, Bastien returned to the second incarnation of the Hornets, whom he coached to a Calder Cup championship in the club’s final season in 1967, before the Hornets ceased operations once again, this time to make way for the National Hockey League’s expansion Pittsburgh Penguins. Bastien later became the general manager of the Penguins in 1976, serving in that role until his death in 1983. Beginning in the 1983-84 season, the AHL has presented the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award to the league’s outstanding goaltender.

Nick Damore
Goaltender Nick Damore was the first goaltending superstar of the Hershey Bears. Originally a member of the Hershey B’ars in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League, Damore returned to the Bears during the 1939 playoffs after spending the regular season with the Providence Reds. Over the next seven seasons of AHL competition in Chocolatetown, Damore appeared in 365 games for Hershey and earned 190 wins, both of which rank second in franchise history. Damore led the Bears to appearances in the Calder Cup Finals in 1941, 1942, and 1945, while being named to the AHL First All-Star Team for three consecutive campaigns from 1943-46. Damore passed away in 1969 and was posthumously inducted into the Hershey Bears Hockey Club Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2014.

Jeannot Gilbert
Center Jeannot Gilbert joined the Hershey Bears as a prospect of the NHL’s Boston Bruins in 1965-66 after beginning his AHL career the season prior with the Providence Reds. Over the next eight seasons, Gilbert went on to skate in 552 games for the Chocolate and White to rank sixth in franchise history. He ranks fourth in scoring in franchise history with 595 points, while his 206 goals rank sixth, and his 389 assists rank fourth. In 1968-69, Gilbert turned in arguably his finest performance, capturing the John B. Sollenberger Trophy for leading the AHL in scoring with 100 points (35g, 65a) and helping the Bears capture the Calder Cup. Gilbert was previously inducted into the Hershey Bears Hockey Club Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2014. He passed away earlier this week at the age of 85.

Fred T. Hunt
Right wing Fred T. Hunt originally was a member of the Hershey Bears of the EAHL, and later the amateur Hershey Cubs in the 1938-39 season after the Bears were elevated to the professional ranks in the International-American Hockey League. Near the end of his final playing season of 1948-49, he returned to the Bears – now a member of the AHL – where he helped Hershey reach the Calder Cup Finals after recording nine points (7g, 2a) in 13 games and adding five points (3g, 2a) in nine playoff contests. Hunt won six Calder Cup championships in his career – three as a player with Buffalo (1943, 1944, 1946) and three as a general manager with Buffalo (1963, 1970) and the Cincinnati Swords (1973). Following his passing in 1977, the AHL has presented the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award to honor the player best exemplifying the qualities of sportsmanship, determination, and dedication to hockey.

Bob McCord
Defenseman Bob McCord saw time with the Bears during the 1964-65 season, helping the team reach the Calder Cup Finals; over parts of 12 seasons with Hershey, Springfield, and Pittsburgh, he appeared in 635 AHL regular-season games and captured four Calder Cups. McCord was named the AHL’s outstanding defenseman in 1969-61 and again in 1966-67; he was also named to five postseason All-Star teams during his AHL career, earning two First Team and three Second Team berths. In addition, he played more than 300 games in the National Hockey League. McCord passed away in 2016.

Terry Reardon
Before embarking on a legendary coaching and managerial career, Terry Reardon began his playing career in the AHL as a forward with the Bears during their inaugural campaign, and collected 75 points (23g, 52a) in 124 games for Hershey from 1938-41 while also seeing time with the NHL’s Boston Bruins and helping Boston capture the 1941 Stanley Cup. Reardon later won the Calder Cup in 1949 as player-coach of the Providence Reds, and again in 1956 as Providence’s general manager. Reardon went on to win 362 games and four division championships as a head coach over parts of 13 seasons with Providence and Baltimore, capturing the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach in 1970-71. Reardon passed away in 1993.

Formed in 2006 to recognize, honor and celebrate individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions in the American Hockey League, the AHL Hall of Fame is housed online at AHLHallofFame.com and is accessible to fans worldwide as part of the AHL Internet Network.

In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League serves as the top development league for the players, coaches, managers, executives, broadcasters and staff of all 32 National Hockey League teams. Nearly 90 percent of NHL players each year are American Hockey League graduates, and more than 130 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame spent time in the AHL in their careers.