HERSHEY, PA — Against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday, Hershey Bears captain Aaron Ness played in his 800th career AHL game, becoming the 45th player in league history to reach the milestone (see the full list).
Ness, 35, is just the 16th defenseman in the league’s 90-year history to play in 800 games. Only nine players total have reached 1,000 AHL games, a list that includes former Bears Willie Marshall (1,205), Bryan Helmer (1,116), and Mike Nykoluk (1,069).
“It shows you what kind of guy he is, what kind of player he is, the character,” Bears head coach Derek King said. “Eight hundred games is a lot of hockey games.”
Hershey honored Ness for his milestone during a stoppage in play, airing a minute-long tribute video on the jumbotron that featured some of Ness’s teammates from past and present.
“Hey, Nesser, congrats on 800 American League games,” Matt Strome said. “You know, it takes a lot of heart and a lot of dedication to get to that milestone. You’re a true leader of our team. You have been the past couple years here. You come to the rink every day, smile on your face, laughing, making guys laugh, picking guys up on bad days, and that’s just a testament to your character.”
“What an accomplishment,” Dylan McIlrath said. “That’s a lot of bus rides, a lot of pre-game meals. You’re a true leader, definition of a gamer, and I’m honored to call you a friend and a teammate.”
“No doubt in my mind you’ll be in here (the Hall of Fame) one day,” Chris Bourque said. “It was an honor to be your teammate. Congrats.”
📸: Hershey Bears
When the video concluded, the crowd gave Ness a loud ovation. Clearly touched by the kind words and fans’ reaction, he waved back from the Bears’ bench.
Appearing in so many AHL games is difficult for a multitude of reasons. The AHL does not play as many regular-season games as the NHL, seeing its total fluctuate between 72 and 76 over the years. One of the league’s primary purposes is development, serving as a stepping stone for prospects. This forces many veterans out of the league perhaps earlier than they want, sending them overseas or out of hockey altogether. To stay worthy of a roster spot in the AHL, an older player must prove he can still be either a viable injury replacement-level player in the NHL or a leader who can help develop young players in the minors. Only the most reliable, consistent, tough, versatile, smart, and loyal players remain in the league and have long careers.
During his 16 seasons as a professional, Ness has played in all or parts of 15 seasons in the AHL. A 2008 New York Islanders’ second-round pick, Ness started his pro career with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers (2010-2015). The Roseau, Minn. native then had stints with the Hershey Bears (2015-2019), Tucson Roadrunners (2019-2020), and Providence Bruins (2021-2022) before returning to Chocolatetown from 2022 through 2025. Four hundred and forty-nine of his games have come in a Bears uniform.
Ness has recorded 335 points (60g, 275a) in 801 career AHL games (Hershey played on Sunday as well). He is the top-scoring American-born blueliner in Hershey history and the current active games-played leader among all American Hockey League defensemen. He’s won two Calder Cups with the Bears (2023 and 2024) and also reached the Calder Cup Finals with Hershey in 2016.
Ness has earned time in the NHL as well — nearly a full season’s worth — playing 72 career games with the New York Islanders, Washington Capitals, and Arizona Coyotes. He notched 7 points (1g, 6a) during those stints. Ness also represented Team USA in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, notching one assist in four games.
After the Bears’ 4-1 loss to the Penguins, which also served as Hershey’s Hall of Fame Night, Ness discussed his milestone in the Bears’ media room. Standing in front of a podium, the first-pairing defenseman wore his two decades of sacrifice on his face from missing teeth, various scars and cuts, to bumps and bruises from recent games.
Aaron Ness Q/A
📸: Ian Oland/RMNB
Questions are edited lightly for clarity.
Q: Congratulations, Aaron, on your milestone. Maybe not the best way to celebrate it with a loss, but take me through the game first of all, and what you saw on your side.
Aaron Ness: Yeah, I thought the first was all right. I think we had spurts where we got back to what you need to do to win games. You can see that. They’re a really good hockey team, all the way from top to bottom, so you have to play your best to beat them. Unfortunately, in the second, most of the third, I don’t think we did that.
Q: What did the tribute video from the Bears mean to you, and just the reception from the crowd and everything?
Aaron Ness: Yeah, it was awesome. I mean, obviously, 800 games to be able to get to that point is pretty cool and obviously a huge honor. But just hearing some of the guys that I’ve played with in the past or currently play with, some of the kind words, it means a lot. Obviously, seeing Bourquey up there is always fun. On his night tonight [Editor’s note: He was inducted into the Hershey Bears Hall of Fame.], that was an incredible ceremony, cool to see him get the recognition he deserves in the Hall of Fame and stuff, so yeah, just been really lucky to play with a lot of incredible players, good people, a lot of great coaches, and to be able to do it in a Bears jersey means a lot.
Q: The Aaron Ness of 15 years ago, when you first started your professional career, what would he say about where you’re at now? Proud, happy, where would you be?
Aaron Ness: I said this the other day, but I think the older you get, the more you start to look back. I think it’s just habit. I don’t know why you do that. Yeah, it feels like a long time ago. It’s pretty cool. Obviously, any time you get to play professional hockey for as long as I have, it’s a pleasure and really lucky to do so. And obviously, without your parents making sacrifices when you were a kid growing up to get you to this point, and my wife obviously, without her, I can’t do this. I’m unable to, especially when we have three boys running around at home. So without her, I mean, this never starts, and it doesn’t go this long. So just a lot of people. I think the biggest thing you see when these guys are going in the Hall of Fame tonight, you hear them say ‘sacrifice’ a lot because I think we as players get the credit, but people don’t see all the sacrifice, family, friends, people in organizations, and staff members and what they do to get us to these points in our career and ultimately have success. So I think ‘sacrifice’ is a big word I took from tonight.
Q: Are there any, obviously the Calder Cups, but what are some of the highlights of your career that you look back on really fondly?
Aaron Ness: Yeah, I was thinking about this the other day, too. I can’t remember who I was talking to, my dad or something on the phone, and talking about the last few years. Obviously, the big ones, you dream to play in the NHL. That was always a big one, first NHL game, and getting the opportunity to do that. That was pretty special. And then, got to play in the Olympics. That was incredible. That’s still up there. Just be able to play for your country. Nothing like it. That was a great moment. And then, like you said, the Calder Cups. That’s why you play the game. I think people forget that. Everyone in that room wants to win every night. To be able to win the Cups and bring it back to this town, this city, means so much to me and my family. Those were two incredible years. Then, the one other year that we didn’t win, but we went to the final with Bourquey. We were talking about earlier today, I ran into him. That was still an incredible team. It was a great group of guys. Like I said before, I’ve been so lucky to play with a lot of really good people. It’s been a lot of fun.
Q: Did you have anyone special here tonight?
Aaron Ness: My wife. She gets to come to the games here and there. So, yeah, no, it’s obviously great having her in the building. It’s hard with the three [children] running around at home to get here to a lot of games at times, and everything like that. I got a lot of family back home watching me and watching the games tonight. They’ve been watching games for 15 years, so they tune in every night. It’s pretty special to talk to them after the game, kind of wind down, run through the game a little bit with my dad or with my wife or whoever else. So it’s been a lot of fun, obviously, again, without their support and everything they’ve done, this doesn’t happen.
Q: You have now passed Hershey Bears legend Frank Mathers for sole possession of 16th in league history. What does this accolade mean to you?
Aaron Ness: Yeah, I think the cool thing now is you start seeing, it’s crazy what people can pull up now and find what’s happened a long time ago. But just to hear some of these names, it’s pretty special. There’s a lot of unbelievable players that have not only played here but in this league. To even be side by side in the record books with some of these guys, it’s pretty cool. So, you know, I’m just really blessed to be able to continue to do this and continue to do it with this organization.
Q: How have you been able to play this long at such a high level?
Aaron Ness: Yeah, I think it just goes back to timing. I think there’s a lot of great players that never get a chance or an opportunity, right? I think what people kind of forget is so many things need to go right just to win a game, let alone have a long career. So, you have to stay healthy. You have to have sacrifice from yourself, family, friends, other people. Things have to kind of line up for you. I guess I’ve just been really lucky. A lot of great coaches helping me along the way, and teaching me, and helping me understand the game, and just putting the work in and trying to enjoy it every day.
Q: Hershey hasn’t been your only stopping point along your career, but what makes Hershey so special in your mind?
Aaron Ness: I think it’s just the community side of it. You come to a game on a Tuesday night at 5 o’clock if you want to, and the stands would be full. I just think that’s so rare now. It’s something special. People love hockey here, and they’re just good people. I said this a lot too before, but it kind of reminds me of my hometown. It’s a small-town feel, and people are friendly, and they want to win here. I think that’s special. I think if you continue to strive to win, it creates a high level of hockey, and they’ve had that here for countless years.
Q: After hitting a milestone like this, do you have any celebratory plans for later in the week, maybe tonight?
Aaron Ness: Anything with the guys? Yeah, no, nothing. No, I don’t think so. Nothing tonight. Obviously, we have a game tomorrow (on Sunday), so just getting back to it. We actually play a ton here in the next week, week and a half. I’ll just sit back and relax after this one. Obviously, a little frustrating with the outcome and the way we played at times. I’ll probably just go home, watch video, go to bed, wake up tomorrow, and play another game. It’s our job, and I’m just lucky to do it and having a lot of fun.